When she walked onto this campus more than a year ago, international studies major Emem Obot would have never imaged that she’d find her voice and purpose within her first year as a student in DC. In April 2015, the world saw firsthand how an unarmed Black man, named Freddie Gray, could lose his life while being detained by the Baltimore police department. Rather than just voice her concerns behind her phone or computer, she chose that moment to be her intro into the world of social injustice and began to fight.
Her Campus American University: What made you decide to start organizing?
Emem Obot: I decided to get serious about organizing after Freddie Gray and hearing about Natasha McKenna in Fairfax County Jail. I realized I might as back up the big shit I talk. I was tired of my only presence in the movement being on Facebook and Twitter. I wanted to do more and add more. I’m not good at sitting back and watching injustice.
HCAU: Please explain what organizing entails?
EO: Organizing for me includes mobilizing within your community and advocating for the needs and rights of your community. How you do it is up to you. I’m good at demonstrations and intersectional facilitations. I like to learn but also guide other people to discover the knowledge that I have gained. That doesn’t mean I teach at them or preach at them, but I help them discover on their own the reality of our situation.
HCAU: What causes are you most passionate about?
EO: At this point, I’m so intersectional and in everything. I think I’m probably the most focused on race (anti-blackness) and patriarchy and how that affects the black community.
HCAU: What is it like being a woman of color organizing in a male-dominated activity?
EO: Rough. I’m talked over a lot. I’m sometimes ignored. There’s a lot of head butting and teaching sometimes instead of actual growth and movement. Cis heterosexual men make sh*t hard if they are not intersectional and don’t fully understand what it means/looks like.
HCAU: How do you manage your time being a student and being an organizer?
EO: I don’t! I mean I try, but I’m not great at it. I always put school first and make sure majority of my work is getting done. Also my teachers understand what I’m doing. Organizing isn’t hard to manage; it’s the emotions that come with it that are hard to manage with school.
HCAU: How do you stay sane or unwind when you are not organizing?
EO: I have friends who are my self-care. They create safe places for me and truly bring me joy. They see me as Emem and not some super woman organizer. They see me as me and treat me as such. They love me for who I am and support me in everything that I do. The happiness they bring to my life always re-energizes me. I also have organizing circles where we all just gather and relax and be happy and black. Those are always the best. Recently (mainly ’cause of the season), I just like to isolate myself sometimes and go into the city. I just try to relax and look at the world around me; it’s beautiful when you stop and just look.
HCAU: Any organizing activities you are planning at AU this year?
EO: Yep. I can’t say what though.
HCAU: What are your plans after you graduate?
EO: After graduation, I plan on going to law school and becoming an international criminal lawyer focused on Human Rights. I’ll mainly focus on anti-blackness. Still figuring out my regional focus.
HCAU: What was the most memorable organizing activity you have participated in?
EO: The most memorable activity was shutting down U street in April after Freddie Gray. It was the first time I had done something like that, and there was a power with me that day that I can never forget. Also, that was the first day I met one of my best friends and my family. The love that was shown that day will stay with me forever.
HCAU: What was the most challenging organizing activity you have participated in?
EO: Black Out DC. It was the first time I had planned anything that huge. Also it was international. It was rough but rewarding. However, it also showed me the dangers of this movement. There are people who are only doing this for their own recognition and fame. I’m not here for that. I’m here for the liberation of my people. You can keep all the glory and the fame. It’s not for me.
HCAU: Any words of advice for people who are interested in organizing?
EO: Think about it. Organizing is not easy. I would never recommend anyone to really do any of this because it’s so hard. That has nothing to do with time commitment, but mainly mental health. If you can handle it, I applaud you.
Remember:
To always hold yourself accountable
Remember that we are all learning and some people are at different stages so be patient
Self care and self love.
This isn’t about you or Sally in your Econ class, this is about a system and ideations. We’re only an aspect of it.