The NBSM: Our Marathon Continues A GDN Exclusive

Tracey Morrison, Contributing Writer 

Click here to visit The New Black Student Movement’s website.

After many years of activism, I am supporting The New Black Student Movement (The NBSM) and its initiative, “It’s a Family Affair: NAACP membership.” The evolution of the NBSM is archived on the website of Greater Diversity News (GDN).

My typical morning routine includes spiritual meditation, staying abreast of the news, and sometimes browsing on social media. On this particular morning, I logged onto Facebook. I grew fond of photo memories from 2 years ago of my participation in the peaceful police brutality protest in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. Simultaneously, anniversary pictures of the Anthony Brown protest in Elizabeth City, Black Lives Matter graffiti, and highlights of George Floyd’s viewing appeared on my iPhone. I was in awe as I stood in solidarity with like-minded individuals against racism and police brutality.

 I’ve witnessed a gruesome form of police brutality in my present time on media platforms. My mind took me to the civil rights era. I reflected on the stories and television clippings of those who boldly participated in the Civil Rights Movement in response to injustice among African Americans, particularly in the south.

Tracey was born in the Ronald Reagan era. The aftermath of slain civil rights era leaders, the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam era. Hope vanished after the tragic murder of Martin Luther King, Robert L. Kennedy, and Malcolm X. Riots had plagued urban cities. The post-Vietnam. The drug epidemic plagued our country. Hip-hop culture dominated the mainstream media.

I heard stories told by family members about racial discrimination. I learned about the history of Black leaders at school, read books on Civil Rights, and watched autobiographies and movies about it. That era sparked my awareness of segregation, slavery, racial discrimination, Jim Crow, and the Civil Rights Movement. Not only did it spark my attention, but my admiration grew intense for the leaders of the civil rights movement. I understood why activism was essential but had never witnessed racial discrimination in my time to an extreme degree. I never stepped in the shoes of the ones who had to endure the pain of being whipped, chained, lynched, etc. Furthermore, I knew that racial discrimination existed, but it wasn’t distinctly visible in my world. My reality at the time was MTV, In Living Color, traveling, Nickelodeon, BET, Word Up magazines, socializing with my peers, and collecting money to buy cassette tapes.

Flash forward to 2020, the era of social media and Smartphones, in which you can record everything and witness it on social media. I saw the most gruesome murder of George Floyd on social media. George Floyd, dying in our very own eyes, sparked outrage worldwide. The world witnessed the visible pain of George Floyd pleading for his life after a police officer placed his knee on his neck. Something in us in which enough was enough. That same year, I attended a march on the Edmund Pettus Bridge with my sorority sisters to Selma, Alabama, in honor of the 55th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. John Lewis delivered an emotional speech to “Vote Like You’ve Never Voted Before” to Redeem the Souls of America before passing away five months later in July 2020. I understood the assignment. Tracey made it a mission to carry out the task.

Not only did I protest peacefully against police brutality, but I also wanted to dissect the plague of racial discrimination and its domino effect on the African American community. I reverted to my Sociology days at NC A&T by examining the trends on how racial discrimination had a domino effect mentally, physically, economically, socially, and spiritually on the African American community. I had those tough conversations on racism, listened to the voices of African Americans who were victimized by racism, engaged in meaningful conversations with community leaders, attended several community workshops, and linked with like-minded individuals who share the same vision to promote equality among Americans. Additionally, I partnered with and supported the vision of the George Floyd Memorial Foundation.

I reflected on what our ancestors underwent—the true essence of not forgetting why our ancestors stood up for equality. We carry that legacy from leaders like Jesse Jackson, Rosa Parks, the Greensboro Four, Martin Luther King, and Marcus Garvey. It teaches us that we can also advocate for our civil rights and the rights of others. I might not live through slavery and the Jim Crow era, but I comprehend why activism is essential. Activism is vital to promote equal justice for myself and the next generation. My hope is for the next generation to continue to fight this race.

Supporters, volunteers, and others are encouraged to sign up for GDN’s free eNews @ greaterdiversity.com and register to post in The NBSM student “Think Tank” @nbsm.greaterdiversity.com .