Today, the weight is real. Many of us woke up feeling a heaviness that settled into our bones and threatened to stay. The outcome of this election, with the re-election of a leader who represents so much of what divides us, is not just a political loss; it's an assault on the democracy we’ve fought so hard to build, piece by piece.
And the dream we had in Vice President Kamala Harris — seeing her break those ceilings and lead our nation forward — has been pushed further down the road. It’s a heartbreak we didn’t need, but here it is.
As Black women, we’ve learned to carry loss with resilience, but that doesn’t mean we skip past the pain. We need to feel it, honor it, and let it teach us.
But let me remind you: we don’t just sit in our sorrow. We rise, always, and we do it with purpose.
And one of the greatest tools we have to rise is the power of our words. Writing has always been our secret weapon — an instrument of healing, of protest, of change.
Today, I want us to pick up that power, to write our way through this moment and shape what’s next.
"When the soul is hurting, writing is a way to heal. Each word, a balm; each sentence, a release. In writing, we unburden, uncover, and begin anew." Unknown
In times like these, we need space to let our feelings spill out. Journaling, letter-writing, even quick notes on our phones — every word is a step toward understanding and release. Writing allows us to pour out our anger, our fears, our dreams. When we write, we create a space to be raw, unfiltered, and whole. This is where the healing begins.
Just this past weekend, I had the pleasure to "sit at the feet" of an elder who is always so generous with her wisdom. We were outside, under the shade of the most majestic pecan tree at a friend’s house, sharing stories of those significant moments that shape who we are. She pressed upon me and the other woman there the importance of documenting our lives. “When we fail to write and store it some place for future generations to read, our experiences get lost. That's how lies about history get told.” This morning, her advice sits with me so heavily as I reflect on the resounding question that filled me as the election results rolled in: “So, what do we do next?”
The answer, in part, lies in our commitment to document, to honor our truths on paper, and to make sure our voices aren’t erased.
Journaling gives us a space to connect with our true selves and put down what’s most important, even if no one else reads it but us. Sister, let your journal be the sacred ground where you plant your truth. Write through the anger, the sadness, the hope, and the dreams that don’t die, even on days like these.
"You write in order to change the world…if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you can change it." James Baldwin
Our words have power beyond measure. Writing has been essential to every movement for change that ever was — from the underground writings of abolitionists to the bold words of Zora Neale Hurston, Audre Lorde, and Angela Davis. Words ignite revolutions because they speak truth to power, and they remind us that we are not alone.
In moments like these, when democracy feels threatened and our voices are dismissed, we need to write our truths. Journaling can be a private, revolutionary act, and it can lead to action. Your words have the potential to spark something inside you that demands more. Keep records of what you see, feel, and know — the good, the hard, and the hopeful. These are the testimonies that can’t be erased.
If you’re called to share, write letters to leaders, sign petitions, write articles, make your voice heard wherever you can. This act of putting pen to paper, of claiming your truth in ink or type, is an act of resistance. Remember, our words are a force that cannot be silenced. They carry the weight of generations who fought before us, and they carry the urgency of our fight today.
"All writers are political. We have to be. We deal with the human condition. I believe in writing because I believe that we can effect change with the power of words." Sonia Sanchez
And finally, writing gives us the power to dream — not only for ourselves but for the world we want to create. When we put our visions on paper, we start to manifest the world we know we deserve. Writing allows us to shape our intentions, and it builds a roadmap for future generations to follow.
This election may feel like a setback, but it doesn’t define our future. We do.
Each of us has the power to write that future, to plant seeds of hope in every word. Document your dreams, your goals, the world you want to see. Write it out with fierce intention and plant those words like seeds. They may grow slower than we’d like, but they will grow.
"I have this theory that anything that happens to you that leaves an impression becomes memory, and memory becomes an inspiration for legacy." Octavia Butler
Today, I ask you to do this for yourself, for your community, and for those who will walk this path after us. Let your writing — whether it’s a journal entry, a letter to the future, or a shared piece of inspiration — be part of your legacy, a testament to our resilience, our vision, and our power.
We’re not just surviving — we’re building, we’re healing, and we’re paving the way forward.
Together, let’s pick up our pens and write our way through. Let’s leave a record of this moment, and let’s create a map that leads toward justice, peace, and unity. Our words have the power to shape revolutions, to hold governments accountable, and to reimagine democracy.
So take a moment, wherever you are, to let the words flow. Journal your heart out. Because through our words, we not only heal and honor this moment — we build the bridge to a better tomorrow.
In Light, Love & Solidarity
Kenya Dunn
Founder, The POWER Tribe Community
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