This playlist, “BREATHE,” is curated by DJ Dandara for the inaugural issue of the Land, Food, and Freedom Journal. Inspired by the power of energy and fortifying ourselves for the radical change we need and deserve, this playlist is an homage to reclaim our relationship with the earth, including the waters, the land, and all of the beautiful roots that flow through and connect us. When listening, imagine standing on land with your bare feet firmly planted. Take deep, nourishing breaths and inhale the delicious, clean, sweet air. As you breathe in, you may hear laughing children running around as they play with pure delight because they are well-nourished, cared for, and safe. You may listen to birds and animal kin around. On this land, you may catch wafts of delicious greens cooking with spices, onions, and garlic. As you breathe out, you may feel the pulse of the land and all that it connects as you close your eyes and ground your feet in the rich soil. 

Baba Fred Carter, a member of the NBFJA leadership team often says, “the health of the soil is directly connected to the health of the people.” You close your eyes and feel the soil and thus the people. We are strong, healthy, and nourished. You can feel the earth’s heartbeat synching with our collective heartbeats. Those heartbeats transfer to drum beats, and you can hear and feel the powerful energy pulling from the earth—from your root chakra to your sacral to your solar plexus to your heart to your throat to your third eye and to your and our collective crown chakras. That energy grounds and fortifies you, and you open your eyes feeling refreshed and joyful and with a strong sense of purpose: A renewed energy to fight for what we know is rightfully ours. A renewed sense to fight for space and self-determination and a reclamation of our authentic selves. You open your eyes to a light so bright that no other distractions matter. We are grounded and rooted in gratitude and love for ourselves, each other, the earth, and future generations. There is no separation. Breathe into this understanding. 

We are a magical people. Every breath fuels every word, and every word fuels our collective prayers, which fuel our victories. Rooted in ancient and future wisdom, we lift our collective voice, our collective prayers, and our powerful collective fists as we breathe and flow into this revolutionary journey together.