a few weeks ago i went to the Kehlani concert at radio city music hall.
before playing the song altar, they shared about people in their life who they lost over the past two years. they also spoke to the levels of grief that we are all carrying, through the pandemic and always, about how their own relationship to grief is changing.
just before the song began, they said their ancestors were standing right behind them on stage, and posed with their arms crossed and a tough face, demonstrating how they’re positioned in their minds eye, how they have their back.
they dedicated the song to everyone in the audience and to all the people floating around us, still loving us, who are with us in the space, even though they’ve left their earthly bodies.
so many tears streamed down my face during that performance. how truth and tenderness break surface tension.
Kehlani’s dedication reminded me of this clip i encountered a while back, in which Maya Angelou says when she sets about to do something that matters to her, “i bring everyone who has ever been kind to me with me.”
bringing my living people and my dead people with me. these people who are not “here” right now, and are here always, or as often as we want them to be.
with me. and with you.
hold them close.