Turning to Grace: How we can proceed post-election with love in the midst of struggle
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In the aftermath of a divisive election, it can be all too easy to retreat to our respective sides and succumb to feelings of either revelry or resignation. The winners claim their spoils and the losers lick their wounds and strategize for the next election cycle.
I’m recalling a conversation I had on Election Day with Matt from Des Plaines Illinois, who wisely said that no matter who wins, half of us will be elated and half of us will be sad. But the one thing people voted for was movement. Some voted to move back, while others voted to move forward. And a few voted for a third-party that will forge an entirely new path.
We all want change. The question is how do we proceed with change and not destroy each other in the process?
Upon reflecting on these truths, I’ve been calling upon the wisdom of my mentor, Grace Lee Boggs. Although Grace passed in 2015 at the age of 100, her powerful presence still guides me. Here are two teachings from Grace that may help us all navigate these times.
Lesson 1: In Love and Struggle
Grace often said, “Because I was born female and Chinese in 1915, I knew my life was going to be a struggle.”
And indeed it was. For 80 years, Grace was an organizer, activist, writer and philosopher, tirelessly advocating for justice and equality. Yet, despite the hardships she faced, Grace never lost her capacity for joy and wonder in the midst of her struggles. What I learned from Grace was that she took moments in every day to experience love and joy, whether it was laughter, a good meal, her favorite music, a hug from a friend, or a conversation with a child. These small but meaningful moments, Grace believed, were the fuel that sustained her through even the toughest of times.
In all of her correspondence, Grace closed with the salutation, “In love and struggle.” It became a mantra that she shared with everyone, especially young organizers like me who were frustrated with the slow arc of justice. “Lead with love,” she would always say, “and we’ll be able to see it through to another day.”
Lesson 2: Now is the time to Reimagine Everything
Another key lesson imparted by Grace is the power of reimagining everything.
Grace was an optimist at heart, and was always thinking 10, 20, 50, 100 years from now. Re-imagining everything was a part of that dialogue.
“The time has come for us to reimagine work and go away from labor,” Grace said in 2012. “We have to reimagine revolution and get beyond protest. How do we reimagine education? Community? Family? Sexual identity? How do we reimagine everything in the light of a change that is so far reaching and is our responsibility to make?”
“We have to see every crisis as both a danger and an opportunity. It’s a danger because it does so much damage to our lives, to our institutions, to all that we have expected. But it’s also an opportunity for us to become creative; to become the new kind of people that are needed at such a huge period of transition. That’s why it’s so wonderful to be alive at this moment in time.”
This ability to envision a radically different, more equitable future was central to Grace’s worldview. Rather than succumbing to cynicism or resignation, Grace remained steadfast in her belief that transformation was not only possible, but necessary. Her approach toward Visionary Organizing inspired me to adopt a mindset that refuses to be constrained by the status quo.
In these turbulent times, Grace’s teaching offer a much-needed roadmap for navigating uncertainty with resilience, empathy and a steadfast belief that we can bridge the divisions that threaten to tear us apart. I invite you to join me when you are ready in conversations of leading with love and struggle and re-imagining everything.
Kevin John Fong is an internationally recognized cultural translator, facilitator, and speaker in transformative justice, leadership development, and building beloved communities. Kevin is the Founder of the Kahakulei Institute, whose mission is to weave people and possibilities to cultivate communities of belonging.
Kevin is a featured host on the CNBC News series, Changing the Narrative, and the author of, “The Five Elements: An East Asian Approach to Achieve Organizational Health, Professional Growth, and Personal Well-Being.”
Most importantly, Kevin is the child of Bob and Mary; the spouse of Greg; and the parent of Rafael, Santiago and Conner. Kevin lives in the traditional land of the Ramaytush Ohlone people, now known as San Francisco, CA.
