Nicole Cardoza says that because there is so much at stake, it is essential that we mourn. Acknowledging our grief has to be the first step forward.

"Mourning is a necessary and urgent part of change – individual change and collective change. The process of acknowledging and processing grief has the capacity to change much about who we are, and what we know about ourselves. And that’s true on a collective level, too. Many of the moments that have shaped policy, shifted institutions, and reshaped communities were sparked by loss – the deaths of everyday people and political figures, the heartbreaks in mass shootings, the turmoil of elections lost. Without giving them space to be seen, felt and acknowledged, we couldn’t transform today to tomorrow. 

"And we need that now, desperately. We’ve all watched this election descend into chaos, the threats to democracy unchecked, the vile and vulgar racism, antisemitism and xenophobia fueling both policy and practice across the country. This isn’t just an election where one candidate lost, this is an acknowledgement of how far we’ve fallen, and how grave the stakes are. This deserves every moment of solemnity, rage, disbelief and heartbreak we can muster. Let it linger. Let it languish. Let it weigh so heavy on our hearts we cannot bear to carry it anymore, and we vow to never let another generation take this burden on." - Nicole Cardoza

ARTICLE: Mourning Is A Tool Of Resistance. Use It.