Our imagination, hopes, and dreams are things that can never be taken from us. Since I was young, I have envisioned spaces where all beings are liberated and free to express themselves and their aspirations as they please without fear of dismissal or derision.

Since beginning my college journey, I have tried my best to create this reality: attending community events to foster meaningful connections, tabling for social justice clubs, advocating for sustainable and ethical changes on campus, and even starting an environmental organization. As a young Black vegan and animal rights activist, this mobilization also fulfills me by helping to educate and empower people to make ethical food choices that don’t exploit animals. Participating in these efforts to transform my campus and the broader community gives me a deeper sense of purpose and causes me to reflect on the beauty that resides in our imagination and calling to take action, no matter how small.

As a student studying policy and law, I’ve found excitement in attending guest speaker events, summits, and conferences related to service, policy, and government. These events have taught me about community members who are igniting change and in positions of service that interest me; however, they also present the sad fact that we still have a long way to go before we reach equality.

Long before the election and the positioning of the Trump administration, we have faced oppressive forces as a nation and even more so in marginalized communities. Since the election, though, it seems that this hatred has been given a more forceful and convulsive vessel to spew its contempt. The new presidential administration is making it a priority to remove Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility initiatives (DEIA). Many states are following suit, which harms and prevents Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQ+ communities from thriving. The rescission of these programs puts environmental justice, grants, and thousands of workers in jeopardy. Many states depend on federal grants for environmental and social justice work, not limited to education programs, community development projects, and research. Right now, this is all threatened. This undoing also leaves a big question mark for the future of college DEIA spaces and opportunities, historically Black colleges and universities, and the ability of individuals to take action against discrimination.

The administration is also actively ripping families and communities apart with the longstanding act of deportation. Immigrants are more than just a workforce; they are individuals who have given so much to the community and have made their lives and raised their families here.
The administration is using executive orders and the militant-like use of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE), emboldening racism toward immigrants and U.S. citizens. As a result, many immigrants are fearful of leaving their homes. The sudden influx of deportation has many communities and organizers wondering what rights can be used to protect those who are vulnerable. Organizations like the Asian Law Caucus have created a “Know Your Rights” resource to help with confrontations by ICE and work to bring more security to families.

It frightens me that centuries of slow progress are quickly being rolled back, that diversity is being villainized instead of uplifted, and that my peers’ futures and the very planet in which we live is being treated as if it’s expendable.

But through this storm, I find immense joy and hope in knowing there are youth who won’t falter and are ready to accept radical change. The revolutionary scholar and activist Angela Davis once said, “Diversity and inclusion without radical change accomplishes nothing.” This statement encapsulates the message that we must be willing to look deeper than the surface level to dismantle schismatic and unjust structures. Our power lies in the belief that we are not free until we are joined hand in hand in collective liberation, which includes embracing veganism as a path to justice for all living beings.

No matter if you have feathers, fur, or scales.

Are in chains, behind bars, or houseless.

Are “undocumented,” food insecure, or burdened by crushing debt.

We must embrace radical change for the sake of our inner imagination and freedom for all to simply be. Happy Black History Month!