Stacey Aviva Flint
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Never Again, Northern Star

Being Jewish and a descendent of African American Slaves, I have chosen to put the stars of both my people side by side as I remember Yom HaShoah. One of the most healing aspect of Judaism to me is remembering pain and then transforming that into a commitment to heal myself, help heal others, and stand up for injustice so that our world can be better.

No one ever taught me to mourn for my ancestors lost in the Atlantic waters during the slave trade, or the countless killed just because they would not submit to degradation because of their skin color, those lynched, or killed for learning to read or refusing the Christian religion. Our symbol of hope was the Northern Star, sewed on quilts to direct escaping slaves to go north and follow the stars in the sky to freedom.

I am linked in heart and spirit to every Jew who has ever been killed because they refused to conform or just for being Jewish in ancestry regardless of observance. Our symbol is the Magen David. Once we were forced to wear it as a symbol of shame, now it is a symbol of resistance and boldness, Am Israel Chai.

Jews have always blended their heritage with the unique lands and peoples where we have interacted, and today I proudly do the same.

I am healing as I mourn my people from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, and the fields of Virgina/KY/Mississippi, to the soils of the lands of the Inquisition to the concentration camps.

I am brown Northern Star, born on the Ohio River aka the Jordan River.

I am the Star of David, a Jewess through and through.

I am all of my people, and will never forget…

About the Author
Stacey Aviva Flint is a longtime nonprofit and Jewish professional. Stacey has a BA in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati, a Masters of Urban Planning and Public Policy for UIC (CHICAGO), and Certificates in Jewish Leadership and Jewish Education from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. Stacey began her career as the Policy Director for Chicago’s Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA), advocating for housing reform, criminal justice, and Jewish/African-American dialogue. Stacey went on to specialize in Economic Development as Senior Director of Real Estate Development for Affordable Housing, Mixed-Use Spaces, Brownfield Redevelopment, and New Market Tax Credit financing. Stacey is passionate about Jewish African American relationship building with current membership Jews of Color initiatives, Alliance4Israel, a board of JFS Colorado, and a member of the Rose Foundation's committee on Jewish Life. In her spare time, she nurtures a college student and a teenager while speaking and writing nationally on Antisemitism and Jews of Color. Most recently, Stacey served as an Executive Director for a synagogue in Colorado and is currently the Director of Education and Community Engagement on the JEDI (Jewish Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) team for Jewish Federations of North America.
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