I’m Not Going to Let Us Go Down Like That.

“This has been the most frightening year of my life: between this pandemic, and the world finally waking up to anti-black racism, I’ve never felt more caught in the crosshairs. It’s a crazy and disorienting time that can leave a lot of people feeling helpless… and I’ve never been great at feeling helpless. 

It’s no secret that in America, in times of strife, Black people tend to get left behind, or worse, shoved right into the front lines. Now, we are dying at disproportionately high rates from Covid-19, and I wasn’t going to let us go down like that, so I started sewing. 

I had never touched a sewing machine before the first mask I made. I just kept making them, and tore up every sheet in my house before I moved onto buying my own fabric. I started carrying them around with me, and giving them away on the streets; it was a great way to stay connected with my community and give back, while keeping myself and others safe during a pandemic. 

Friends heard about my mask making, and started sending me small amounts of money,  here and there. Before long, they were telling their friends, and both donations and requests came harder and faster. Feeling overwhelmed, I reached out, asking for help to keep up with demand, and some incredible women stepped up to donate their time and effort to assist production! 

It’s been about eight weeks and at this point I estimate we have hand sewn and donated around 400 masks. I couldn’t have done any of this without the  support of my people. 

It was fear and and a sense of self-preservation that first spurred me into action, but it is love and community that will sustain me.”- Adaeze : @adaeze

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To help and support, donations can be made : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScLW4rYGg5gEWYnM5633rEoymjL4sdyH1bOzrdRWn9rJkUiMA/viewform