connecting to ancestors
perhaps my own, if i know they were
whole
and not assholes

but ancestry is not just about dna
it is also about identity
non-blood relatives form found family
and found family becomes the ancestors
we wish we had when our own submit to
or uphold
white supremacy

being a good ancestor for future generations
is also about finding good ancestors
for yourself today

[note: it took me a while to come to this conclusion
and i’m still learning the nuances,
because it is not just about disavowing yourself away
from relations you don’t want — that is where
the ‘becoming a good ancestor’ comes in
choose your ancestors
choose your ancestry
and choose how you show up and speak out
for those your bloodline may have committed such atrocities against
they have little to no bloodline today; you don’t have to take responsibility
for everything done, but for goodness sake, don’t perpetuate a cycle
you don’t want out in
the world
or in your
legacy
your future
ancestry]