Editor’s Take

BY NJEMILE Z. ALI

What Inspires the Social Roles We Take?

L. Ann Lewis grasped the threads of hate that were meant to ensnare her childhood dreams and wove them into a tapestry of enduring community connections. She courageously transformed pain into purpose, putting to work her inborn sense of justice. L. Ann’s true story, “The Evolution of My Revolution,” takes us inside her experience, helping us feel through the innocent heart of a child and see opportunities for change through the eyes of her adult self. Her writing shows us that inspiration can come from unexpected places.

Columnist Zakiyyah Ali continues her telling of the lives of the only documented female Buffalo Soldier and the historian who embodies Cathay Williams’ life in the present. The story of Dr. Daisy Century parallels the lives of the women in history that she portrays in her character _____. Dr. Century takes available materials and forms them into living lessons for audiences around the country. Inspiration moves her to bring history alive, demonstrating how Black women in history have pushed the boundaries of their prescribed social roles.

Capucine Peterson inspired a new KIZA column, entitled “Deep Wisdom.” Her clear and unwavering statement of purpose is motivation for us all. Check it out.

KIZA’s writers and speakers continue our look at the social roles that we play, individually and collectively. What sort of molecular bonds do we create to form societies? What are the elements? The compounds? The structures that reflect Earth’s soil, mountains, trees and rivers? What roles do we play in our social Universes? How do we treat our fellow creations? How are we treated?

Every week during this month of May 2025, our writers travel through the forces that shape social worlds and set the stage for the interactions that define individuals and communities. They carry precious cargo in their vehicles: childhood, love and relations lost and found—the true treasures of life.