Growing up in Louisiana, the divisions were palpable—racial, economic, and social fault lines crisscrossed our communities like scars etched into the landscape. As an 18-year-old black male, navigating this fractured reality has been both a challenge and a lesson in resilience. In telling my story, there have been bridges built across, and roots planted in, a Divisive land. There has been a legacy of struggle from the moment I could understand the world around me; I was taught about the struggles of my ancestors. Their stories, whispered like secrets in the dark, painted a picture of perseverance in the face of adversity. They marched, they protested, and they fought for a better tomorrow, so that I could stand tall today. 
 
A Call to Action to anyone who feels lost in a Divisive world, I offer these words: stand tall, speak your truth, and never lose sight of the power you hold within. For it is through our collective action that we will bridge the divide and create a brighter tomorrow for generations to come.