The following letter was posted on social media on June 2nd as a response to #BlackOutTuesday, a social media movement aimed to bring light to the events plaguing our nation. The letter is Joseph's response to a discussion he had with Project 440 students and alumni.
Dear Students:
I spoke with some of you recently about all that’s been going on in our world. It’s overwhelming; it’s frightening. It's sad.
I also mentioned I’ve never been a fan of using social media to make “statements.” Those platforms can be such caustic and combative environments; I choose to stay out of the noise. My "statements," instead, are lived daily; action is how I respond to adversity. That said, I'm not blind to what’s going on in our country; I’m also not surprised by it. It's why I write to you now.
As a black man, I’ve had my share of experiences that have upset me and a few that have scared me a bit, too. Our world is far from perfect, and while that’s no excuse for injustice, it’s been the dark reality in this country for hundreds of years. It’s why the heinous and untimely deaths of our black brothers and sisters hurt so much.
When faced with challenges - there are many ways one might respond. One might feel anger. One might feel rage. One might want to crawl up into a ball and cry, and that’s okay. I’m certainly not going to tell you how you should feel or how you should react - that’s personal. We all grieve in different ways.
While you may not have seen me protesting in the streets, I've been actively protesting for years. The sign I carry is the color of my skin, and my message to the world has been my advocacy for you.
We want the world to be perfect. It isn’t. We want the world to be full of love; sometimes all we might see is hate.
But, stand firm.
To my black students, don’t be discouraged. Walk with your heads held high. Our ancestors survived the insurvivable, and their blood runs through our veins. Our lives do matter. Let your light shine as a daily reminder to all.
Let music be your inspiration. Bring your authentic selves to the concert hall - unabashedly. Music belongs to all of us. Music making is a celebration of our individual and shared experiences in the world. You have a place on that stage. Claim your spot; own it.
Practice boldly (and often 😉). Lead by example. Use your art to tell your story. Stand up for what is right; don’t settle. You can’t make others love you, but you can inspire them with how you love others. Don’t rewrite the narrative, write your own books. Provide pathways for those who can’t forge a path of their own. Advocate for each other.
Be a good person.
When feeling powerless to make change in the world, start by sowing your own seeds of goodness for the future. You can make a difference.
Love hard; play hard; and know that y’all make me proud every day.
Love,
Mr. Conyers