BLCD—A Vision of Power and Potential
Back when the pandemic was beginning its first big spread, Barbara Love called a leaders’ team together and posed this question about the Black Liberation and Community Development Workshop (BLCD): “In person or virtual?” I lobbied hard for us to wait before we cancelled the in-person plans. At the time, I couldn’t imagine or permit myself to think about having our precious BLCD on Zoom! I deeply believed that we needed to be together physically—face to face, hugging, holding hands, shoulder to shoulder—for our BLCD to work effectively, for us to get the discharge we needed, for us to figure out how to challenge the internalized oppression that’s always floating in the air around us whether we are separate or together.
This is when I learned something about truly thinking “outside of the box.” It’s when I got to follow the lead of a truly revolutionary, big, bold thinker and visionary, Barbara Love. Being around Barbara’s mind during the emergence of the plan for BLCD reminded me of how I’ve imagined great women like Harriet Tubman, or Fannie Lou Hamer, or Ruby Sales—who’ve seen the goal and no matter what obstacle has blocked the way have never believed in the power of the obstacle but only in “there is a way, and it will be found.” This was my experience of being led by Barbara Love—moving all obstacles, keeping all our eyes on the prize—to one of the most wonderful BLCDs that I’ve attended in over twenty years.
I celebrated and continue to celebrate the wonders of this extraordinary event. Over three hundred Black people from all over the world came together to see each other, discharge together, and learn from each other, while being guided by the unconditional love, warm generosity, and brilliant intelligence of our Barbara.
A particular thing that touched my heart was just being there with over fifty Co-Counselors from the continent of Africa and another fifty-plus African-heritage Co-Counselors from the diaspora. What a wonder! The thought that kept coming to my mind was that after more than four hundred years of separation, we have come back together.
Barbara did a class about home. We were able to discharge huge amounts about making a home with each other after all those horrifying years of oppression, dehumanization, and isolation. It was stunning because the joy of us, the beauty of us, the humanness of us, the creativity and superb intelligence of us were on unending display. I was unendingly happy to be there and be a part of all of that.
We had a great team thinking about language liberation. They had a deep understanding of the importance of easing the burden that language separation can create. They made it possible for everyone who spoke any language to not only participate but also know that they and their language were unconditionally welcomed at BLCD.
There were eighty-four support groups. As someone who has organized workshops with fifteen or twenty support groups and felt the challenge of organizing even that many well, I have my hat off and kneel before the leadership team, including Barbara, that organized those amazing support groups. Many if not most people wrote in the chat that their support group was their highlight, and it was certainly one of mine as well. And what a great opportunity the groups provided for new and emerging leadership. Many continental Africans and Africans from the diaspora got the opportunity to lead.
Tech team! There aren’t enough words to express the excellence, commitment, and brilliance of this gifted team. We all admired and fell in love with the BLCD tech team.
As for me, I have been leading BLCD Regional workshops for the past several years, and I’m accustomed to working hard to make sure they go well for me and all the beautiful Black RCers who attend. This workshop was a different experience. I didn’t think I was playing a key leadership role, and my material [distress] about not being central (some of which I’m still working on) came up for discharge. Yaaaah! What a great opportunity. I was gifted the chance to see and understand that I bring a valuable contribution to wherever I am; my value is not defined by how much or how hard I work. Also, I have an excellent mind and spirit and am an important leader despite the fact that I don’t yet feel technologically qualified. I plan to enroll in a college-level computer science class so that I can push back on the technological intimidation.
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Reprinted from the e-mail discussion list for RC Community members
(Present Time 201, October 2020)