“Look at what they did to my sisters / last century, last week / They put her body in a jar and forget her / They love how it repeats.”
Every member of the audience swayed along to Jamila Woods’ a-capella performance of her song, “Blk Girl Soldier,” hands clasped to their hearts. Many mouthed the lyrics silently, a testament to how well loved Woods’ piece has become in this community of activists.
Woods’ performance was one part of Chicago-based national nonprofit A Long Walk Home’s Unity and Freedom event Saturday at Nichols Tower in North Lawndale—a celebration of Rekia Boyd’s life on what would have been her 26th birthday.
On March 21, 2012, 22-year-old Boyd was shot in the head by off-duty Chicago police officer Dante Servin. Servin was charged with involuntary manslaughter, but his charges were cleared in 2015. Before a scheduled departmental hearing in May to decide whether or not Servin should be fired, he resigned. Boyd’s killing sparked a community movement that has continued to this day.
Woods’ song was written in honor of Boyd, and she had been invited to perform it as a part of A Long Walk Home’s mission to engage women and girls through the arts while raising awareness for the issues surrounding gender-based violence. Saturday’s event also recognized activists and organizations involved with Boyd’s case.
“A Long Walk Home for a while has been working with a lot of the activists who are protesting police brutality,” said Leah Gipson, a board member of A Long Walk Home. “We really see a link between ending violence against women and ending state violence.”
Saturday’s celebration began as any birthday party might. A live DJ played upbeat music as the sixty-plus guests arrived. Bright yellow balloons adorned tables and banisters. Amid all the festive décor, a painting of Boyd hung in the center of the room. Photographs and artwork by the girls of A Long Walk Home— their contribution to Boyd’s memorial—were also displayed.
“This summer the girls started working to develop ideas about the project,” Gipson said of Boyd’s memorial. “It’s part of a larger strategy…to address gender-based violence to include women and girls and their stories in a broader movement for change.”
Black Lives Matter activist Kimberly Veal also spoke to how remembrance of women victims, and their stories, is essential for moving forward.
“Saying her name. Showing other women that we are saying their names as well,” Veal said. “Because women have been marginalized and basically erased, but we will not allow that to happen.”
Fighting the nation’s forgetfulness of violence against minorities was the main undercurrent in Saturday’s agenda. The afternoon alternated between emotional performances of song and poetry and poignant speeches from award recipients who vowed to keep fighting. The audience was ever supportive, chanting and clapping and expressing their love for the community with exclamations and hugs in equal turns.
Martinez Sutton, Boyd’s brother, gave an impromptu speech after the performances and awards.
“I want to say deeply now, I love you all,” he said, laughing while accepting a tissue to dry his eyes. “I want to say thank you…I know her presence is here.”
Scheherazade Tillet, one of two sisters who founded A Long Walk Home, was all smiles during the event.
“I couldn’t imagine a better group here to celebrate Rekia Boyd’s birthday,” she said. “All the people that have been giving her love and support.”
The program concluded with a discussion of Boyd’s memorial. Plans have yet to be finalized, but the most popular idea revolved around a community garden. The memorial will hopefully be realized next year.
