The Spiritual Work of Black Lives Matter, Patrisse Cullors, Robert Ross
Black Lives Matter co-founder and artist Patrisse Cullors presents a luminous vision of the spiritual core of Black Lives Matter and a resilient world in the making. She joins Dr. Robert Ross, a physician and philanthropist on the cutting edge of learning how trauma can be healed in bodies and communities. A cross-generational reflection on evolving social change in this wonderful interview with Krista Tippett at The On Being Project.
Patrisse Cullors is a co-founder of Black Lives Matter and the founder of Dignity and Power Now. She is currently touring with her multimedia performance art piece POWER: From the Mouths of the Occupied. Her artwork can be found on her website.
“Black Lives Matter is our call to action. It is a tool to reimagine a world where black people are free to exist, free to live. It is a tool for our allies to show up differently for us.”
Robert K. Ross is president and chief executive officer for The California Endowment. Trained as a paediatrician, Dr. Ross has been a leader in work surrounding trauma, resilience, and community as a clinician, public health executive, and health philanthropist. He previously served as director of the Health and Human Services Agency for the County of San Diego and as the Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Philadelphia.
“When we have actions of people — it’s deeply spiritual. It’s often led by opening prayer. Folks are usually sage-ing. We use a lot of indigenous practices. People build altars to people who have passed. And so it’s this moment to both stand face-to-face with law enforcement, but it’s also this moment to be deeply reflective on the people who’ve been killed by the state and give them our honour. ”
“The movement for black lives isn’t just about black people. Black liberation has never just been about black people. It’s been about a fight for our humanity, for our dignity.”