The Sabbath for the Descendants of Slaves

People think the sabbath is antiquated; I think it will save us for ourselves…

When we rest, we do so in memory of rest denied. We receive what has been withheld from ourselves and our ancestors. And our present respite draws us into remembrance of those who were not permitted it.

[Tricia] Hersey says that “our dream space has been stolen, that there has been a theft, a complete theft. What could have happened if our ancestors had a space to rest, if they were allowed to dream?”

When I rest my eyes, I meet those ancestors and they meet me, as time blurs within us. They tell me to sit back. They tell me to breathe. They tell me to walk away like they couldn’t.

Rest is an act of defiance. . . . It’s the audacity to face the demands of this world and proclaim, We will not be owned.