The Only Hope We Have are the Stories We Tell

We never stayed quiet

We were there

Telling stories of a day when impossible

things would be daily routines…

If you were at #STORY2016, you remember how you felt during Micah Bournes’ talk and spoken word piece.

Empowered.

Proud.

Emotional.

The theater was silent, yet heavy with expectation of what was to come.

We felt like this piece needed to be shared today as we strive to create art that matters and tell stories that influence change.  And as we follow in the footsteps of the likes of Martin Luther King, Jr., who had the courage to tell the stories of dreams. Dreams that would one day become reality.

We hope that this talk inspires you today, and any other day that you may need to hear it.  Watch, listen, and share it with anyone who may be looking for the reminder that the stories we tell are powerful.

Today’s absurdity will be

tomorrow’s common sense

And we’ll be there

With more stories to be told

more voices to be heard

More nevers becoming everydays…

 

Full transcript of “Until Tomorrow”:

We are proud to be storytellers

But there was a time when we were considered fools

When only birds could fly

and the earth was flat

When Hip Hop and Jazz

were not considered music

When Black and Brown

were not considered human

When humans could not walk on the moon

When pictures could not move

When women could not vote

When we could not share a meal

unless we shared a skin tone

Yes, we were there

way back then

being mocked and dismissed by most

But we never were ashamed

We never stayed quiet

We were there

Telling stories of a day when impossible

things would be daily routines

Today’s common sense

was yesterday’s absurdity

Yet, here we are

Flying on airplanes

Walking on moons

Watching moving pictures

in multiple dimensions

Voting FOR women

Listening to MCs flow rivers of words

over Jazz beats

Having meals

and children with

lovers from other cultures

Yes, here we are

Today

still considered fools

being mocked and dismissed by most

but we never are ashamed

We never stay quiet

Here we are

Telling stories of a day when impossible things

will be daily routines

Today’s absurdity will be

tomorrow’s common sense

And we’ll be there

With more stories to be told

more voices to be heard

More nevers becoming everydays

We’ll be there

When creative things are not considered electives

but core to the education of human beings

When developing your creativity is a responsible thing

and working a passionless job to get rich is a silly dream

We’ll be there

When art is taken down from its ivory tower

consumed less like caviar and more like bread and water

We’ll be there

When artists are not starving

When humans are not starving

When being White is not a privilege and being Black is not a curse

When we love Mother Earth like a mother

instead of only taking from her

We’ll be there

When our fantasies become common sense

And even then

we will speak of impossible things

The only hope we have are the stories we tell

Stories not bound by what is possible

By what is dead

We walk on water

We resurrect

They laughed us to death

but here we are

Humming fools

Unashamed of hope

Our stories are future

Our stories ARE foolish

Only until tomorrow

– Micah Bournes