Progressives are often accused of acting like “special snowflakes”, which I guess is meant to imply that we’re delicate, and fancy ourselves as oh-so-unique and precious, and which is also made extra ironic considering the insult is often hurled at us by folks who literally lose their shit at hearing the words “Happy Holidays” OH THE HORROR.
But anyway, I like snowflakes. And you know what? They are unique, and each one is special. Every single snowflake is different. That’s what makes them beautiful.
And on Saturday January 21, 750,000 special snowflakes descended on Los Angeles. And 2,900,000 special snowflakes gathered around the globe. And they did what delicate snowflakes do when you add them all together.
They created an unstoppable avalanche.
“My body, my choice!”
“Her body, her choice”
“My body, my choice!”
“Her body, her choice”
And that’s the one that broke the seal for me. I always cry at protests, because I am overcome with emotion when feeling such incredible solidarity with strangers — the Power of the People! — and this beautiful chant is the one that put me over the edge. Than you, male feminists. I see you and I appreciate you.
There is a line from Hamilton: “This is not a moment; It’s the movement”.
And that’s what it felt like we were witnessing on Saturday. The birth of an entire movement. And like any birth, it will be messy, and the contractions will sometimes make us uncomfortable, maybe even be downright painful. But that’s part of the work. And there’s lots of work to do.
In the aftermath of Saturday, there has been a series of pieces written by women of color about how they experienced the marches. And although almost every woman, including the women of color, that I have spoken to or heard from (even in these pieces, to be clear) has said that ultimately, the march they attended was uplifting and positive and felt like solidarity . . . these negative experiences are *also* true. Simultaneously.
And that means there is more work to be done — especially if you are a white/hetero/cis person reading this. There is more work to be done inside our own progressive communities.
Woman in Viral Photo From Women’s March to White Female Allies: ‘Listen to a Black Woman’
When You Brag That The Women’s Marches Were Nonviolent
Women of color are being blamed for dividing the Women’s March — and it’s nothing new
One indigenous woman’s take on the Women’s March
I hope you’ll take the time to read these pieces, and please feel free to leave your own contributions in the comments, if you’ve found a voice you feel needs to be heard. And please, share your own experiences! Did you march?? Was it magical? Tell us all about it.
Solidarity, my reSISTERS!
♥
♥ ♥ ♥
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Bianca Phillips
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Sarah C.
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Kelly Hache
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Judith
