Welcome to when mothers lead a podcast created by mother for soulful grassroots collective of single mothers. I'm Heidi and I'm Lisa and we will discuss how you can be a part of this movement and what the world will look like when mothers lead
see the mothers screaming?
Welcome to win mother's lead a podcast sponsored by mother fool. My name is Heidi house.
And I'm Lisa Woodward. Yes, and we co founders, our
co founders of Mother full co directors of Mother full and we are excited today to have our good friend and comrade and mentor, Aramis Sundiata. Aramis Sundiata, of people's justice project here in Ohio. And I'm just gonna do a welcome, Aramis, thank you for being here. And joining us and sharing yourself today. We know your time is valuable. So we're super blessed to have you with us. I just want to sorry, go ahead. Yeah, we're so excited to have you. So I'm going to go ahead and start off with just sharing about Aramis Aramis Sundiata is the founder and executive director of BJP people's justice project, with almost a decade's experience of building organizations grassroots organizing and leading large scale campaigns. Aramis brings a deep understanding of global social movements and has a unique outlook on how to build power in Ohio. And I also want to share a little bit about the history of people's Justice Project. And of course, gonna have Aramis speak on it more. But according to your website, the People's justice project during the quote unquote hot phase of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2014, when black people were engaged in spontaneous revolt over the countless assassinations of Eric Garner and Mike Brown, John Crawford and Tamir Rice created favorable conditions to accelerate the dynamics of political life for the African black working class. In analyzing the national conditions which gave birth to Black Lives Matter. The People's Justice Project reinforce and insisted on building an organization to house the energy of the African masses in Ohio in a revolutionary trajectory. People's justice project became a mass or popular political organization seeking to answer the ideological, philosophical and CLASS Question from the black revolution of the 60s. PJP is a political organization that organizes the black working class and other oppressed peoples leading the struggle against all state institutions that oppress or occupy our communities whose survival has been assured time and time again, by linking our struggle to the struggle of the African working class and all oppressed people. Yes. Yeah, that's powerful. All right. Yes. We love it. We love it. Welcome, Aramis. Thank you. Thank you for your powerful leadership with a PJP and everything you're doing and we got embarrassing. It's awesome.
No, I think, I don't know half the things that is out there, though. I just think it's very embarrassing.
That's your website. That's your website. We love you. We love you. So welcome, Aramis to the show. I wanted to start out today. After your intro. It's just like kind of sharing how we met and how we came into being mentored by you. So I don't know if you remember Aramis that we met at like the Roosevelt coffee shop here in Columbus. I think it was $2 Okay to radio. And so I think I'd reached out to you and and I was this was in 2018, maybe early 2018. And Lisa and I were we are gearing up to kind of start the organization mother full. And I really didn't know technically the first thing about organizing and actually, you're the one that I think introduced me to the word in our in our conversation at the coffee shop. I remember you had a piece of paper and you wrote down the word organize. And I was talking to you about how I was I wanted to do this thing was single moms and and you broke it down for me. And I don't know if you have any memory of that conversation.
Oh, I do. You know, I do. You know, the thing about the the idea of multiple or you know, came, it's always a question of like, the first the first thing is always the idea. Like, how do I do this thing? And then when you said it, I was like, hell yeah, like, are you gonna do it for people like, and see intention and see what happens, you know what I mean? Like, the idea isn't the cheapest commodity on the blog. And so what what often times like, people run up against this wall, where the action and also the vulnerability that comes with the process of failing or succeeding or failing or any insight circles back, that's the part where, where we have to get clear on like, it doesn't mean shit. Unless you test it, and test it, then you will see if the idea of function can function in the real world, never function in the real world, you circle back from who you organize, and the people you have on your team, whether it's Lisa with whoever, and you circle back to it, and it keeps going quantitatively in the process. But the first phase is, hey, I have an idea. You know, oftentimes, you'll see mugs outside, like, have ideas and then it becomes in the head becomes individuals who just want to operate individually. And think there are to me anything, you know, you gotta get past that. Test it and then once you create the conditions that Okay, now we have something here it can grow organically by the mass of the people who are who are engaged in your thus name, remember was like, mothers in the did it were like, nah. And then go back and like, well, what can it be mother for? That's fine, right. And now it was able people were able to come into the organization they mother full, yeah, great goddess content that I got your buttons over here. So that's the process. And it's a Boreas process of loving. Watching develops? Well, yeah. But yeah.
Yeah, I would definitely say that you empowered me that day. And you gave me such a spark that I was, I think it's really like, one of the major I don't know like catalysts for us, for me, in in birthing mother full. And I know Lisa has like a story of how you've supported her too.
Yeah, just You're the when you walk into a room like Wu Tang was just here last night, like just that feeling of like, cow that's how I feel like around you. around you, like it's gonna get done. And, you know, us really supported me in finding my voice. My powerful voice to be bold and you know, take was mine because it's already mine and go into these rooms and just like lay it out raw.
Yeah, cuz no one Yeah. But we gotta get past Yeah, no one cares. Like, you gotta get over yourself. Like, yeah. The people like, like the thing when you organize people when you and you're vulnerable all the time you quickly understand it, no one cares if it's a question that you like, Why do you care? What are those conditions that are pushing you back? You know, the opposition or the colonized? colonizer does not have that problem. So the question is, why do we have that but why do we operate in a way that like we have to hinder our bonus and power? It makes zero sense to me because last time I checked, you have sparked all of this so why are we sitting here pretending that we don't have power last time I checked who's on the tour late the revolution in Haiti started Corp led revolution in in state of it is so many examples. Harriet Tubman Ella Baker we can go down the line. You think they were sitting there like Hmm Maybe that's too bold. Think of that because their conditions were calling lead to what the hell are we all be questioning what we can do? Yeah. So you have to push the people either as Lisa or whomever like who cares? Because literally they said to us long time ago, I think with a solder said only thing we can lose is our chains. Mm. Is that basic?
Right?
What are you gonna lose? You know? Yeah, how far you want to go. How bad do you want to help? What is riving you where do you fit into this thing of ours? And what do you fit in the overall legacy? That's the job of Oregon to push that puck, and yeah, you know? Yeah. Well,
thank you. Thank you. We just want to, you know, want to give you your flowers today because of how you guess, how you impacted our lives and our organizing. I mean, we're five years in now, Aramis. We are five years in
and go last that long. Most
people don't last that long. I mean, we've certainly had our our downs and our ups and we're, we're celebrating December 17. I think this episode will be out before then. So if anybody is listening, please come to our celebration at seven sun on December 17. It's going to be a party, a birthday party. And we want to there, Aramis. Yes, yes. Yeah. So we're gonna, we also just kind of wanted to let you stretch out today and share about, you know, how you came into organizing work. I know, we had some questions that we sent you. But we'll we'll probably be organic, but wanted to. Like, from the earliest point I know, you shared when we talked yesterday, a little bit about your mom. And I would love to hear about your mom's shaping of you, and even your dad if you want to share but we of course, because we're talking about when mother's lead, we want to know how your mom's leadership has has has impacted you. And I know you had a couple stories to share about that. Think about my mother. Is that?
Yes, amazing. And I don't know wherever it comes. But, you know, there are stories we share with each other, she totally forgets about, you know what I'm saying? And like how it impacted me like, little little nuances like and so she doesn't even know she she did it. And but it's particularly like, so I remember, like being a really, really little kid like, like, even in third grade. And she didn't know this impacted me more than any. For one word, ya young, my mother would go to, you know, the library and get like VHS tapes your and like, sit us down. And like this watch, like, BJ says in the film or documentary somewhere. What was about pregnancy before like, I remember that. Um, but there was one tickler one, it was named on his fourth, it was for VHS tapes, and it was called the eyes on the prize. And then the first tape is about 53 You know, going into the civil rights struggle. In the south, you got King, you got the top guys, you know, doesn't matter. But then it was a fourth tape, where I remember putting it in. And then watching like the beginning of recapping the last couple. And then I will never forget seeing these African people. And in Baray, black raids and leather jackets like lined up flat, and I'm gonna I'm literally I have no idea with this. But watching them and like, see it, right. And like to see today and and hear them say Black is Beautiful free Huey. And I didn't know what they were talking about. I had no idea but it was badass to me. Like who though? You know, they like watching like, the time and thing I was kid like at the time watching African people walk up the steps of the State House and like with guns and like, you know, the passionate voices and the afros and just like, you know, the seeing it, you know what I mean? Like and watching them in the community with their offices that have spoken cigarettes and chilling and talking. You see Huey jail and how he I didn't know what he was saying. But whatever he was saying, You know what I'm saying like, hit me to the core. Andrew Davis, in the film, smoke a cigarette in jail. It was like blue. It was you know what I mean? Like I remember vividly that was the beginning of the of the path. Where you I circled back to all the time is that was my mom's my mother. My first book report my mother gave me to do in school was Harriet Tubman. So I remember my first book I ever read me And then all the way through my studies, you know, no, and it was she instilled, she cared so much. And she really was like, just being a good mom. And like, anything I was interested in, she would do it 10 times, and, uh, you know, it can get basketball, it could be guitar, it could be hip hop, and whatever. She helped me figure it out. And so once I got, once I got to the Academy, I was on probation. And, and I couldn't drive, you know. And so I was in my courses. And I met my professor. And she was driving me to the community to be with my professor government raising her on my father. They were like something going on with him, but he won't need to go. But ever since I'm nobody about Africa.
What grade was this? No, I
wasn't undergrad. So that was in okay. So like, I'm in college now. So like, they still come to pick me up. Got my mom's and my father, I will go to the house, boom. I'm gonna probation and they were driving to the central center, dropped me off, and I'll be there with my professor and all the people that were doing the Africa stuff. Why I'm saying as because they were telling me, we didn't know what was going on with you. But we knew we had to get you there. Yeah, I'm saying Yeah. About what materialism in Africa. We didn't know what you're talking about. But do you have? Yes, yes. So like to support my mom's and my father, like, transcends, I mean, like, it is, when you get older. And you step back and think about the sacrifices they had to make, especially. Um, you're like, my god, like, I'm, you know, me understand your path and everything. So Mike, it was certainly they just knew, alright, my mother made him and my mother knew we had to get him there. Whatever. He's, he's gonna take it, you know. And that's kind of like how my mom's really impacted me. I mean, she doesn't care. She just knows I'm safe and do what I do. But, you know, she, she can't do our first demonstration. A couple of weeks back with it young. And they never seen the work. So like the Madison your family, they have your parent. And even a decade, you know, they're, you know, like, they saw the community. They saw talk about, and they're like, mascara was like, someone's come on mascara kept going, Carla, and I get into PJP mode. I'm like, I've even told him before we left. I was like when you see me. This is how the people see me. So I have to do this. You know, I mean, I'm your son here. But over there. You know, certain things. So boom. So what am its Carlos getting antagonized by reactionary force, and I step in, like you better pull back because all of our sons are here. You touch it. Like we're ready to go, you know what I mean? Right now. And so to watch my mother have a sign and do a little mock. And then now she's with the side and she's all over the internet. And my dad, you know, he's there if my dad was a preacher guy, so he told you Oh, hey, and I'm looking like my dad's that guy. Oh, my God. Like, he's that dude at the protests? Yes. And to watch them be there and see the not only the community, but also what their son does. And I'm explaining that to them what's actually happening in the background? You have no idea there's security and no doubt talking to you on my text. No, no, no, that we told the guy come in 10 minutes before we know where the cops are. So he didn't I don't know all of these things. And I said to him, I was like, Dad, like mom, like, you know, we have to your community members. Our job is to make sure you're safe. And our job is also the next step. I'm not thinking about this part. I'm thinking about the next things you know, and so but that was glorious for them to see that you know, it was interesting I felt like a kid again cuz I was like it was my mom's y'all it was like oh your house your house. This is be like, Oh, he's such a good boy. Your break is leading the community you know, wash the face. You know, I've never experienced this fulfilled moment. Yet all right, like this is what we do.
Wow, that's awesome. So good. I made it.
Yeah, I mean, it was due at the house so they do here so like this watch my mom's reaction to since a young being murdered and watch my family. I'm like, huh Yeah, I want to come here like, yeah. Yeah, like, of course I want to be there. Because that was a safe one. Because back in the day, it wasn't safe for them. You know, I mean, used to be like, remember back in the day we had to pig roll up on you and I would never let it come on you. No, no, no, no. Because someone's right for you. Like, it's literally I get chills thinking. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, it's my mom's
beautiful. Yeah, we love her. We love her too. Thanks to your mom, give thanks for your parents. And, yes, thank you. They're amazing education.
Yeah, it is ridiculous. It's oftentimes I like sit back and watch, like, how many still enormous throwing and so I'm thinking about the time period, I'm thinking about what to do. And I'm like, I don't care about nobody that yeah, and to be able to sacrifice and, and make decisions as a as a as a married couple and then make decisions. And, you know, invest so much in the fold that your, your children, your child or my sister, I have a sister that would at least make it through. And the watch to know that down. Like you did the damn thing that it will happen by my by my mother grocery for the first time, like your mind is a sport. So I feel when I was 16 I'm buying some grocery. I'm sorry, I pay that. And I mean, like, it was like, it was like a forgiveness period. Like, oh, I got the money for him on that once I when I got arrested. Yeah. I didn't mean to put you through that, you know? Yeah. stood by is being protected. There.
Did they I wonder if they realized they were raising a revolutionary? No. Idea.
Like, that's the thing. Yeah. They but they will tell you there was no way my mother told me recently. She said I had no idea you'll be so into history. If you would told me that you would, you know, read books? Or like Be who you became, I would have never known. Yeah, it wasn't it was already instilled in those type of determinations and those type of things. I honestly feel that like, it's just who you are. And you just have to find the niche to get them. And without them. I don't know if I would have found it. You know, I'm saying but like, in in us who? Who are like, like, my I'm around them all the time. So we're all the same person. Yeah, I mean, yeah, natural spaces that we all are the same person you're using to find them. Yeah. And
I have a question for you that you probably haven't been asked before. Because I know you and I had the like honor of officiating your wedding. And I'm now that now you're a dad. You're a dad now. And I'm curious about your thoughts on caregiving? Because I know that you're a primary caregiver now in a lot of ways for your son Marquis. And I was wondering if you could share like how caregiving has like impacted your your work and like how you you view caregiving now because obviously we are you know, invested in revolutionising care and maternal justice and care justice in our work so
plus you don't sleep so?
It wasn't hard you know, remember that one time I texted you How do you like I know I have respect for respect for stay at home mothers like I was what like to be very transparent It wasn't hard it wasn't a choice it was like this is what I'm gonna do you know saying like don't don't do a lot of thinking through it. You don't I mean, it was it was more so many people talk about Balanced stuff like that. It was pretty like committing to Okay, y'all have you're in the house marks here I'm good. It has got damn sense. So this is going to do is interrupt what I'm what we're doing as an organization you know I'm saying so now all by de facto. So like, so me it was really like it so you got comfortable with you know, the morning routine. I'm a routine guy. So like, Okay, if you get too great about man, I realized what cereal they were eating. I'm like, Are you kidding me? Like, kid this type of calories and sugar every day? Are you crazy? Like, and then you tap in, you're like, Man, I can cook now. So I'm making eggs, you know, the joints, you know, I'm saying I eat breakfast, people eat breakfast. So I'm like, okay, he structured so. So like he, Mark has his things. And so you have to just get them learn him. But also, I'm really good with young kids. So now it's not hard for me to tap. But it really didn't necessarily sacrifice the work. I mean, like, a COVID was over. Like, I don't know how many times mark with me meetings. I'm saying like, we both were in and out. And he just knew, like, Okay, we're on with B, and we're in the meeting. And everyone knows mark. And so like, he will come on call and he'll pick his head and say hi to everybody. I mean, it wasn't, it was me accepting that you have to invest is not difficult to make this decision to invest in young people when they have no idea how to function doesn't make sense. It's like, market special needs. So like, you have to see him you have to know you have to be hyperaware. And and then just be just a good person. Yeah. Like, you know, and be honestly in passion. Yeah, compared to like it and it's not that deep. Like, like, hey, notice, like, you know, he had this moment. So Mike, so what he broke something and, but that there's not they're not used to the calmness of me, because I used to like, throw something he breaks TVs Stop pissing them off. saying like, command mark. Good. Yes. Okay, we're done. We're done. I'll be combined on the TV. Like, it's not a big deal. And so bringing, I don't respond to his behavior. I've been trained as a teacher, so it was like, He's gonna do thing. Oh, yeah, they'd have structured you have to see him. He has to you have to hear what he's saying. You have to be able to duck that understand what he needs. And as opposed to raising your voice, he responds to it, you know? It's not it's not on this calm about. Don't take that deep. It's like, man, he's hungry. He's hungry, hungry. You don't want to you know, wanting to go for it down his throat. Like he had. So what couple a couple of weeks ago, when I'm passed out. And like, popped in and I took everything calling him on bone from the hospital, boom, he's fine. Right. And, and my position was like, he just passed out. You know, but everyone else is thinking like, is this like this grandiose thing, but obviously he gets passed out. And so if you put him in the hospital, he's gonna do the CAT scans now for as long as he just kind of stuff. So, yeah, I mean, run around doing a regular thing. But he does. Yeah, he does come to me first. I guarantee you. Don't happen. He's in my room.
Be that's amazing. That's hard for moms to be that, you know, just not like adding in your emotions and just being calm all the time that that takes skill. But that thing? Yeah.
Yeah, you was. Did he die? You don't need like, he bit his and or he tripped. Okay. Did he die though? He's right. And it's not like, you know, I'm not saying like, you know, I like when he falls. Oh, you can? You can differentiate the false, right? Yes. It was like, it was like you Good. Good. All right. But like a certain fall is like probable, probable. It's like, okay, you're gonna Yeah, oh, that's just my kettlebell falling down the stairs. Okay. So it's really about like what I did, because I know you're going to pick up that kettlebell. You'll see me working out with it. So you want to try and swing it? So I gotta like, fix that's part knee. So it's a learning. It's a learning process, of course, but it answer your question. It wasn't that difficult. If there are moments when like, Oh, my mark, but then you're like, have a seat. Have a call like right now. I'm gonna have podcast. You'd be good boy. Yes. He's on the couch, sitting there with sci fi. And once on the door, he knows Oh, he's free. You know,
so you find a good balance with it. It sounds like Yeah,
yeah. It doesn't it doesn't hinder my development and organization. I just always primary so it was like it that's primary we have to be able to enlist Then about yourself and make a decision and say like, well, I know I'm not not going to do this. So you're just coming with me. I have to meet, I have to do these things. And this is uniquely me. So you have no no children in the House have any clue? How, however, because it's a primary thing of mine, you're just coming along for the ride. There's no, there's no set, there's no sacrifice. It's like you're coming. We'll have a dentist appointment, or we're going to go to the meeting and then go to the dentist, saying, like, I have a call and make sure this happens. Schedule it all day. Well, guess what? tough tough luck. No boundaries like that, you know, I'm saying that's just not going to happen ever.
It's it's been really cool to see you, as a dad to see you. Become a dad and be
proud of all of them. Like, you know, the kids got their cars and, and that's a new phase. He was like, now I'm like worried because I didn't have any sweet like muscle cars. And you're like, Oh, my car guy. So I'm like, they really liked his stuff. And so you now you have a good sense of what fathers feel about their sons being black and being in cars and you're like, Okay, well, we're just gonna see what happens when it happens. Yeah, I mean, I can't stop it. You know? And so and you're watching them like be responsible and like doing paying bills that phase or like when you have old girlfriends that is like that part like that, that that alone is enough. Like, like one time, but Dorian, like wanting to buy his girlfriend flowers, right? And he comes. I didn't know what was going on. I'm just sitting there. He gives me a phone like, we can do this. He's told me these bouquets and like, like, oh, right down, like you'll come in. I was like, Yo, how much is probably like, okay, but now scrolling through it. Never go wrong with that one. Okay, so what do I do? We ship it over there. Boom, boom. Let's go get some like, you know, you know, things and stuff like that. I said to him, I was like, Yo, do you have a hoodie? Yeah, but which one are you willing to sacrifice? What's why number nine is to get that that one right there. Boom. folded it up. Put your snow good on it. All right, cool. Ah, you're good, bro. Those things? I love it. That stuff gives me so much.
Oh, yes. Sweet Daddy.
Oh
wow. It's just very like fun. I enjoy Yeah, oh my gosh, we I think we're getting some some prime moments. Some prior miss mom is here. Yeah,
what's up with PJP? What are you guys doing currently? And how can everyone that's listening support.
I mean, you know, subscribe, you know, Instagram, and Twitter, the whole John. It's just a glorious state of PJP. I'm just proud of the team. You know, I'm saying like, it's one thing. I remember you talking earlier about vision and like, an ideas and then like the process of it all. Like, I really enjoy it. Enjoy the practice, I enjoy, like, waking up and like getting to it, you know what it means and study, like really trying to break down these things and concepts, whatever. And then when you are vulnerable and honest with folks that they come in, and they and you give them you provide the I don't care what you do business fundamentals. You are talented, go. My only role is to manage it. And make sure you're good. You know, that makes but you can be the most powerful here. That's the operations that's from comms that's from organizing it from the bases. It's like when you watch people believe in something that is a symbol, like the logo and or the history of the organization and watch them you know, own it. You never get tired of the weak part sack calls. You never get tired of the questions you know nearly always but never get tired of that. So where we are right now just A fundamental, glorious development where we are exactly what we need to do with our state partners, our national partners, like, you know, it's just you put in so much work. So much struggle and answering questions of like what happened in past time examining conditions. And then you watch people come in, like the wild thing. Heidi, I'll tell you this. And Lisa, is you when you watch leaders, do a training that you created. And they're saying your words. And you're like, you have no idea I wrote that with a long beard with a vodka bottle next to me, like the books that we wear, you know what I mean? Like it like, like, racy cups, like just down and stuff like, like, you have no idea that like, I was sitting at a table with like, cigarettes and butts everywhere, and like just writing that and you are reading it, and you're able to take the pieces of study and then and then make it your own and say it out loud in your own experiences. That part I was not prepared for. So it's really it's really about, like making sure that we're doing what makes sense, with the bases and the masses that we're with, as opposed to coercing people into things like I am so intentional about that. You know, we're a partner, who do we work with, like, Who do we talked, right? Like, who is who, and then watching them, assess it by themselves and say, You're right, they're like this, or we should pose rings. Now. You don't I mean, discipline, indeed, as well, like, we got to stop for yesterday, and I'm emphasizing discipline and what it looks like, yeah, as I said to them, like, you know, you're not going, I don't expect you or anybody on staff to be disciplined to dying, you know, however, people in our ecosystem and people in the state and national, see us a certain way, we have to show up that way. You know, and everyone on team on squat, is that period, where you want to be own that you like one of the I think one of our leaders said, staff said something about turnout. And I said to the boy, I was like, Look, you're a 4040 to 30 turnout person, don't ever take that away. By don't say 10. Five, I've seen you turn out 4050 You know, own that. You need it, because we went spaces see you that what I'm saying? Like, they will see you as the organization also individually, you able to move masses of people. But when you say a number that doesn't match what the material world sees, what are you actually picking your head about your own leadership? Because I know you can do when it be here. That saying that like like, I'm not saying that? You know, I see. I see you don't don't think that you are less than you really are. pushing that forward. You know, that's really
encouraging. Empowering,
please. Like, yeah, you don't I mean, truly there. Yeah.
So I'm curious about your thoughts on unmindful at our fifth birthday, like, we just to give you a little update, in case you're not, you know, following us super closely. You know, we are on the precipice of some big developments that are really exciting for us. You know, we we have probably around 500 members now in our collective. Yes, you know, we've touched over 500 You know, single mother families who have agreed to our membership, and we're feeding 75. We're feeding 75 families a week, you know, we are, were giving cash to moms cash, helping them, you know, over $100,000 in the past four years. It's probably more than now. We just started a micro loan program, micro lending program. So one of our donors seeded that for us. And so we're able to give moms who are in a collective for over a year, a 0% interest loan. And we you know, we have our emergency fund grants, so we're really creating like this, like micro economy. That's an alternative economy for our members. And we are working we just submit had a grant yesterday on a on a collaborative effort with another nonprofit in town to build out one of our social enterprise ideas, which is a meal preparation, like a prepared meal service. That when they're prepared meals because they don't have time, right, yeah. And so that are working two to three jobs. You know, single moms are really struggle with that. And also the food costs are so expensive. So we're working on that. Yeah. And then also we are we're developing Austin, where did you sing? All right? We have all kinds of little offshoot projects. And we're also working on a housing project housing development with a partner. It hasn't, it hasn't. It's not in the contract phase yet. But that's what we're developing. And hopefully, we'll break ground in 2025. If everything goes well. So, you know, we have a lot of things happening. And I'm actually going to DC next week with mom's rising, I'm an Ohio delegate for the organization mom's rising, we're going to the White House to advocate for moms. And you know, I'm really excited about that. So I'm just, you know, what curious about like, what you see, what's your vision for mother full? You know, and what do you see? And what kind of kind of ideas do you have for us? Or encouragement is,
boost us?
I'm slowing down. No, that is courageous work. And yeah,
thank you want to go back
to the first question. You know, you have to believe, like, you got to go hard. And you got to go, no matter what trials and tribulations are in front of you, you're good to throw is beautiful. But so no one's had to struggle and even know, those who decide to take a risk, and do the things and like what that takes, I mean, that's a different type of person. That on the ground, on the ground toy, and like, I don't know what I'm doing, but I know I have to do you get it? I don't know when, but like, this is fire to me. And like, I gotta go, you know, and so you must commend your own leadership, your own vision, and all three or two of your weapons or the crew. And because that even like, even when I was in the beat, and recently where they were talking about needs, and it was like, Why don't y'all hit on multiple? They were like, Oh, we didn't think about that. Why haven't y'all thought about that? And like, but then I'm realizing, Oh, I'm the only person I know some other people in this group. How do we, how do we? What's that word? New intellectual? Sorry, say intersections like it? How do we use the struggle? Because I think we have to be more intentional about like, who's in ecosystem? You know, we have, like PJP, and other orcs are like, in the political arena, we're thinking about that stuff. You know, I'm saying no, we're not thinking about when we organize people who are coming into organization who was through the ground and need basic thing. They ask for things, because there's a new culture. But this has nothing I found is that there's a new culture now, where there is a thing called Mutual Aid. It's a thing about like, knees. Like when we came into the game that didn't exist, it was like, bodies, we're building power we're taking. And like all that capitalism, you don't need all that fire. Captain body, there was nothing of like, helping people. You know what I mean? Like, I think now the culture has shifted. It's not just only in the cities in the state, and also where there we have to begin to think about how do we plug in those who are in organization who fight for these things? Were a struggle for these things. Yeah, to move them to the wreck the
other services.
Why isn't that a 14? Like why? And I think in time, I think we're getting there because I think we're all powerful, PDP other ORS included, like we're getting to the face. We're closing in and saying, yes, relationships where it's okay now. Who's really? Yeah, yeah, just for the community with who can really throw down outside of outside of the poker arena.
And we, you know, and we definitely want to bring mothers into the political arena. You know, that is one of our goals, too, is to empower mothers to lead and that's what this podcast is about, you know, this podcast is about Yes, it's about it's about when mothers lead what will the world look like? And I think we're, we're working on you know, if moms can't eat if moms can't take care of their children, and They are going to have a harder time getting active in the political arena, right and like going out to protest if they don't feel safe or if they don't have anyone to wash their children or they can bring their kids with those clothes, you know, so we are a mutual aid organization and we focused on that because we know how disenfranchised single mothers are especially black and indigenous and mothers of color. You know, we know how disenfranchised they are the working class, single moms, you know, poor single moms, and so we know that if we, if they're eating, if they're housed, if their children are safe, then then they can also be empowered to, to lead you know, and they're already leading their families, you know, they're they already are leaders. That's our that's our, you know, philosophy and stance and the you know, I'm curious about your thoughts and this is kind of our final question of our podcast, every episode We ask our guests like, what would the world what will the world look like when the mother's lead like what what do you see?
When you see it, I never thought about the mother part to this so you guys can learn about like how most most of you have dynamic leaders in struggle our mothers and women who like we admire like and so like I I examine that piece a lot I remember like you know, telling someone like 80% of the soul do you go to any of these rooms where I'm at my dad was even surprised myself because I call these rooms is no not brothers. It is mostly systems trans or just regular spaces whenever you need it's really just badass you know saying like Don and Chelsea people who are really look up to international spaces people Chicago and they're all women. Like don't ever use that in the real world. It is women who are have children who are in the rooms with PJP so I don't know what it's like but I know they're leading any you know what I mean? Like it's no like it's like it's not a concept that I don't see it's everywhere I go pause everywhere I go. Whether it's Chicago it agree anyway. It is majority women sitting in those chairs who are running their cities, I'm talking like not just like awesome like basically I'm talking like you coming to North Carolina you gotta talk to Darn it. I mean, you can't come sit you can't come to the state with a hot dog you deal with people in Virginia when marijuana said you got to talk to Chelsea full stop you don't need to go to LA you can't so in my actual real reality of that we are already leading already has not confirmed yet. But if you're arrogant and you're ignorant, you will think that like that's brothers doing is like like that is what the bourgeoisie media pushes out you you know didn't mean Negro leader you don't need the so called petty bourgeoisie leader you know who asked potentials. The rooms Amen. Did people have credentials, but there are solid in the struggle for the people anymore have so you know, and that's just my, my, my own perspective of saying that like, I am, like, more than aware that I have to follow the leadership of the sisters here. Like I gave you something like like recently this is like, a sidebar like recently, this has actually happened like we are in Chicago, right? With the national people and we in the building. And these so called trainers come in and you could bow the pitch and you were like, Oh no, they walked in the room of the revolution. So like and they're doing their training or whatever. And then the sisters are in there's like me and everyone in Sofia and they're on the back talking to me and I'm talking to them and it was like this bullshit. And then there was a push back where from one of the comrades Chelsea she's like, pushed back on training. And he kind of dismissed her and I've been black all my life. Oh, dismiss sisters. And then like they're gonna close right because you know, they just like you just fucked up bro leg. So long story short, he got to a point when it got to critical mass where they start dismissing Alicia who was in Chicago doing tough work and then She started crying and then Oh, it went down and so as soon as the systems closed ranks on talking they went in on do in my all the trainings and mind you they run the cities. So like they're coming in like that, you know the I've run my shit like they'll fuck you know say I like and as that's going one of the Commerce Brittany texted me because they said something about history said no I don't want to do that you know I don't want to get them alright and i like none of this properly understand you know what I mean I started going off and I basically said to disrespect the people in this room so as you don't understand who didn't want you know right there's Chelsea essentially she's Ella Baker right there was Dawn she just sent me this article right there was so and so she's uh you know you know I went down a line of sisters that I knew I was like, who they represent and it's like so so before you come in here know that we are a direct lineage of the same people and so that means that you have to respect because our for for father for mothers are those same people and once that was said they stopped this truck they stopped the training and the hotel and now people are looking for new jobs like that it was like don't disrespect the sisters in Macomb. What happens is that African people will call Frank immediately. And then if you're a brother, you know that like there and you understand all their brothers are in the room. So it was like we will we run our cities to our donors are fine with us beat us, you know, saying? I'm saying we're good. You know, I'm saying so we can do it right now. Hey, we got a bill fund where you remember all that to say there's any spaces I'm in the women, the sisters, the mothers run it. The struggle and where we are with PJP ran my sister's nice. But that's what you got to talk to.
And Mic drop. Love it. Bam
you know where you were like you know what's going on zone.
That's encouraging. Thank you so much. Aramis, for joining us today. We love you. We support you. Everybody go check out Ohio. pjp.org.
Thank you. Yeah, right. And
it's people's justice on Instagram. Correct? Yeah. So at people's justice and support. I know October is a big month. This will probably come out after October. But check out what they've been up to building power. And we love you, Aramis. Thank you for all your leadership and support and mentorship of us. Oh,
thank you for inviting us to this discussion. Yes, what we're gonna pray together.
