Imani Perry

How many of them were kicked out of school? How many of them devoted their lives to a struggle that they didn't survive to see win, didn't survive to see actually take place? This is a period where there is an effort to relitigate the 60s and 70s and all of the transformations of that period. So for me, though, as a faculty member,

who studies these things that are under attack, I'm finding myself consistently turning actually to people from the past. And this is what I mean. I'm turning to thinking about those enslaved people who learned to read despite the risk of death and who never, you know, despite that danger, insisted that this was a pathway to freedom. I'm thinking about

who studies these things that are under attack, I'm finding myself consistently turning actually to people from the past. And this is what I mean. I'm turning to thinking about those enslaved people who learned to read despite the risk of death and who never, you know, despite that danger, insisted that this was a pathway to freedom. I'm thinking about

who studies these things that are under attack, I'm finding myself consistently turning actually to people from the past. And this is what I mean. I'm turning to thinking about those enslaved people who learned to read despite the risk of death and who never, you know, despite that danger, insisted that this was a pathway to freedom. I'm thinking about

Those educators who insisted on the study of black people and black life and black history and black culture, despite the fact that they were told that black people had not contributed meaningfully to any civilization. I'm thinking about it being 99 years since antiquity. Negro History Week was formally established.

Those educators who insisted on the study of black people and black life and black history and black culture, despite the fact that they were told that black people had not contributed meaningfully to any civilization. I'm thinking about it being 99 years since antiquity. Negro History Week was formally established.

Those educators who insisted on the study of black people and black life and black history and black culture, despite the fact that they were told that black people had not contributed meaningfully to any civilization. I'm thinking about it being 99 years since antiquity. Negro History Week was formally established.

And that celebration happening in underfunded, segregated schools, students being nevertheless given a glorious story of their own past. I'm thinking about it being 125 years since the writing of Lift Every Voice and Sing, which I wrote a book about called May We Forever Stand. You know, this

And that celebration happening in underfunded, segregated schools, students being nevertheless given a glorious story of their own past. I'm thinking about it being 125 years since the writing of Lift Every Voice and Sing, which I wrote a book about called May We Forever Stand. You know, this

And that celebration happening in underfunded, segregated schools, students being nevertheless given a glorious story of their own past. I'm thinking about it being 125 years since the writing of Lift Every Voice and Sing, which I wrote a book about called May We Forever Stand. You know, this

The song that became the national anthem for black people at a time when black people were systematically excluded from virtually every sector of society except for labor. And so it's not new to do this work under adverse conditions. And I am standing in a tradition of people who did extraordinary work under adverse conditions. And so I feel equipped to do it despite that.

The song that became the national anthem for black people at a time when black people were systematically excluded from virtually every sector of society except for labor. And so it's not new to do this work under adverse conditions. And I am standing in a tradition of people who did extraordinary work under adverse conditions. And so I feel equipped to do it despite that.

The song that became the national anthem for black people at a time when black people were systematically excluded from virtually every sector of society except for labor. And so it's not new to do this work under adverse conditions. And I am standing in a tradition of people who did extraordinary work under adverse conditions. And so I feel equipped to do it despite that.

And I will continue to do it even if by some, you know, turn of events. I can't do it in the same way or in the same type of institutions. This is my, you know, it's my life work.

And I will continue to do it even if by some, you know, turn of events. I can't do it in the same way or in the same type of institutions. This is my, you know, it's my life work.

And I will continue to do it even if by some, you know, turn of events. I can't do it in the same way or in the same type of institutions. This is my, you know, it's my life work.

An admission. I am very much an American, and that is an uneasy title for me. I have a culture and an identity tied to this land. I am without apology who and what I am. The unease is about the relationship between my citizenship and the rest of the world. My blackness is a conduit, but my American-ness is so often a betrayal of that connection with others.

An admission. I am very much an American, and that is an uneasy title for me. I have a culture and an identity tied to this land. I am without apology who and what I am. The unease is about the relationship between my citizenship and the rest of the world. My blackness is a conduit, but my American-ness is so often a betrayal of that connection with others.

An admission. I am very much an American, and that is an uneasy title for me. I have a culture and an identity tied to this land. I am without apology who and what I am. The unease is about the relationship between my citizenship and the rest of the world. My blackness is a conduit, but my American-ness is so often a betrayal of that connection with others.

I know the classic response is coming from some. People want to come here from all over the world. The American dream is universal. I think that dream is of a castle of security that exists inside the palace gates. I come from inside the territory, but outside the gates, so I know better. But I have one take. There are many others. We are no monolith. This is my blues.