All Ah We
My family in the US Virgin Islands often say, “All Ah We,” which is a reminder that we are all one family. They’ve created t-shirts and crewnecks with the local phrase to spread the message via fashion. As I write this post, I am encouraged by my Uncle’s deep baritone voice reminder that “all ah we.”
As the country wrestles with the gross display of white supremacy, seen in the attack on the Capitol and its fallout, I want to name the disgusting show of antisemitism that was present. From the vile t-shirts to the harassment of Jewish journalists, neo-Nazi sentiments were present and high. Those feelings are unfortunately deeply linked to white supremacy.
Historically, Black and Jews have been pitted against each other because it ultimately serves white supremacy and its divisive aim to create distance between groups. Nonsensical debates about whose oppression was and current pain is worse have been comically and rightfully named the “Oppression Olympics.” All marginalized and vulnerable identities have been forced to participate, while whiteness resides and dominates in the background.
All ah we.
My heart hurt when I saw the disgusting antisemitic t-shirts. My arms wanted to be a place of comfort for my Jewish family as they looked for safety and protection. My eyes searched to make eye contact with theirs so that they knew and, more importantly, felt that I saw them - all of them.
One of the ways to challenge and push back against white supremacy is to “get proximate” and reduce the distance that separates us. And my Uncle reminds us, “All ah we.”
