Myron Clifton
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thread 1/9
I keep thinking of this scene. It captures america & our history horribly perfectly.

I think all Black folk connected in the moment we saw this in that Rodney King memory. In Emmet. In strange fruit. In lynching postcards.

In photos of whites at picnics celebrating our deaths.
06:40 PM - Aug 08, 2023
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Myron Clifton
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thread 2/9
I think about Michael Brown left lying in the street for hours. Of that knee to George Floyd’s neck, Trayvon’s back, Sandra’s hanging, and Breonna waking up to gunfire from police.
06:41 PM - Aug 08, 2023
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Myron Clifton
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thread 3/9
I don’t think any white american can fully understand the dna scars we carry.

It surfaces like a tornado during the moment we collectively see that scene.

It’s fear. Anger.

And it’s the Not Again that shreds or collective consciousness.
06:42 PM - Aug 08, 2023
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Myron Clifton
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thread 4/9
But then something happened that has rarely rarely happened.

It was so rare and unique and called upon that we stopped in unison and expressed centuries of pent up joy.

Don’t be fooled into thinking it wasn’t and isn’t joy.

That’s exactly what we’re expressing, full stop.
06:42 PM - Aug 08, 2023
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Myron Clifton
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thread 5/9
Aside from sports or our idols and legends in concert, and for church folk the spirit in song or preaching.. we rarely get this moment.

It’s different than Obama being elected or Kamala or Jeffries or Ketanji.

Those are life affirming in lofty ways.

But Montgomery is unique.
06:43 PM - Aug 08, 2023
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Myron Clifton
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thread 6/9
Montgomery is not moving off sidewalks, and not dreading police pulling us over just because.

It’s years of underpaid, overworked, dismissed, and disrespected the moment we step outside.

Montgomery is a rescue.

A response long overdue.

An answered scream for help.
06:44 PM - Aug 08, 2023
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Myron Clifton
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thread 7/9
There are few things that pull the diaspora together.

Montgomery was one and it’ll always be a rallying point because the answer to our call to stop a lynching was answered by.. Us.

By young nephews and older uncles. And aunties were, as always, right in the mix.
06:45 PM - Aug 08, 2023
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Myron Clifton
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thread 8/9
Someone said Black folk are tired.

Tired of it “all” and so this collective celebration is beyond what white americans expected or can grasp.

The outpouring of humor within minutes of the videos being released proved again that the best American humor comes from us.
06:45 PM - Aug 08, 2023
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Myron Clifton
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thread 9/9
And I’m glad it does because there’s something powerful about expression after repression.

Something wonderful about defeating the confederate army with Black lives skipping, running, & swimming into battle.

The summer hit isn’t in theaters it’s online in Black twitter. End
06:48 PM - Aug 08, 2023
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DS Spouting
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Thank you Myron for summing this up. I felt all this and still do days later. Salud
In response to Myron Clifton.
08:54 PM - Aug 08, 2023
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