Liberation in 2024: Our Time to Rise

Our potentially first woman Commander-in-Chief is running her presidential campaign on the concept of 'freedom.' With every rally, she reminds us that going back means moving away from the freedom our country promises to provide—freedom that should no longer be the everyday privilege of some while being hidden from others. Freedom that should be extended to all, including women of Black and Brown communities, without exception.

I wholeheartedly agree with the necessity of reminding us that we, too, deserve and are entitled to the freedom to be, to live, to work, and to thrive. As a Black/Brown woman, I have seen the repercussions of believing I am granted the same freedoms as those who are not from marginalized communities. But as I’ve reflected more deeply, I began to wonder—are we really seeking freedom?

While the female presidential nominee couldn’t possibly run a campaign based solely on the true concept of freedom for Black and Brown women, the underlying truth is this: what we truly need is liberation.

Yes, our country was built upon the foundational concept of freedom, but for the past 250 years and more, that freedom has often been followed by oppression for those expected to silently serve and accept the bondage imposed on them. Before we can truly walk in and live out the freedoms that have been held just out of our reach, a critical pre-existing condition must be addressed: our need for liberation.

We need to be renewed in our hearts and minds. Our souls need healing and wholeness. Our identities must be freed from the impositions of society's roles and expectations. Only then can we become empowered through our own liberation.

Why do so many of us struggle to break free from the chains of low wages, massive debt, unfair gender roles, and systemic oppression that make success and accomplishment so much harder to obtain and sustain?

From my own experiences, I can say it's because we weren’t taught to. There’s little incentive to rock the boat. So, we accept norms like code-switching, gender inequality, and inferiority, and all the tools put in place to remind us to stay in our lanes and cooperate with the status quo.

But in 2024, something is changing. We, Black and Brown women, are finding a new rhythm. We’re marching to a different beat, finding each other, and linking up along the road to empowerment. We’re becoming seekers of liberation through self-discovery, spiritual growth, and purposeful living. We’re grabbing the reins of our own existence, determined to influence the generations to come.

So, what is liberation?

Liberation is the act of freeing ourselves from the mental, emotional, and social shackles that have been placed on us—sometimes even by ourselves. It’s about reclaiming our identity, our power, and our voice. Liberation is not just about breaking free from physical chains but from the invisible ones that bind us to old narratives and limited possibilities. It’s about creating a space where we can live authentically, love fully, and lead fearlessly.

For Black and Brown women, liberation means dismantling the internalized beliefs that tell us we are less than, that we must work twice as hard for half the recognition, or that our dreams are too audacious. It means rewriting the stories of our lives, on our own terms, and with our own pen.

As we march forward in this movement, we must remember that true liberation begins within. It starts with knowing ourselves deeply, loving ourselves unconditionally, and being unapologetically who we are. It’s about embracing our power and using it to create change—not just for ourselves, but for those who will come after us.

This journey is not easy, and the road is long, but with each step, we move closer to a future where Black and Brown women can live, work, and thrive in true freedom—liberated and empowered to be all that we are destined to be.