There is hope - Chewstick

Yesterday afternoon I had a disturbing conversation with a young lady who told me how difficult it is to find young men who are not on drugs, not in gangs, or not selling drugs.  Her words stayed with me all day as I tried to figure out a solution until last night when I witnessed a phenomenon that spoke of Hope. I saw light in young people’s eyes. I saw a sector of the supposedly disenfranchised populace in not just Bermuda’s society but the global society, black males with their eyes lit up and pride in their stride performing at the ninth anniversary of Chewstick here in Bermuda.

There were so many black males with their backs erect, shoulders high and eyes looking to the sky as they rapped, chanted, spoke their poems, danced, or did whatever they needed to do to express themselves. With each one of their performances the only feeling I can describe that I felt was hope. And what I realised more than anything is our youth definitely needs a place where they can go to vent their frustrations in an expressive and constructive way. There were young men and women on stage who talked about how difficult it is for them when they step outside the box that tries to define who they are meant to be. They talked about their struggles. The names they are called. The difficulty they have when they try to be who they are and rise above all the destruction, chaos and negativity they encounter on a day to day basis in their natural environments.

They started out nervously then as they got into their words, you could see their whole demeanour and stature swell until it seemed as if they became the words they spoke rather than just going through the motions. For some of them it was the first time they were on the stage of one of our premiere locations, The City Hall. They stood side by side with others who they may not have even come into contact with – people from all walks of life, races, beliefs and social stature and they held their own.  Not one of them was judging the other based on the colour of their skin or where they came from or what school they attended or what their social standing is. But what brought them together was the common desire we all share and that is the desire to be seen, heard acknowledged for who we are. These young people shared from their hearts last night. They felt safe because they were a part of a family that they may not have at home.  And what was even more rewarding was looking around at the audience and seeing it was as diverse as the people on stage – coming together to listen to the words of our youth intermingled with the elders of the group.

The reason they blossomed so much is because they were allowed to express themselves in whatever form resonated with them. They were not told to tone it down or change it to appease the crowd. They were like birds learning to fly for the first time because they spread their wings and soared sending chill bumps down my spine. Bringing to mind Maya Angelou’s tale, “I know why the caged bird sings”. In their common life some of these young people are caged and can only sing and recite to find their authentic selves and bring them to the surface so they can understand the depth of their emotions. So they can explore who they are. So they can become who they are meant to be. If all of us would support institutions like Chewstick that provides a refuge for these youngsters from all walks of life to congregate and be heard think of how we can turn the next generation away from destruction. Think of the hope we can turn into doing rather than wishing.  Think of the numbers of lives we could save and families not destroyed. At the end of the day, all we all want is a family, a tribe where we feel safe and when we do that’s when we open up and become true to ourselves. Organisations like Chewstick provide such an outlet and they need to be supported.