wildest dreams every day. and it's a responsibility to be that. but it is the least we can give them. the least we can give back to our ancestors is to put forward kindness and love. and stand for justice for our people and all people. systems of oppression have existed in this country since our people were brought here. they exist in healthcare and they exist in banking and food insecurity and corporate

america. and criminal justice. we need a reckoning in the systems of oppression, right? (applause) we also need a reckoning within ourselves. yes, we do. so monumental reckoning stands to do all of that and to support us in our efforts, to become whole. to cast aside our bigotry, our hate, our divisiveness and join. join together as human beings.

our people were not seen as human beings. today we're going to see them in monumental reckoning. i hope that they stand as a reminder of your personal stories and the stories of everyone here. i hope you see yourself in monumental reckoning. i hope to see people in monumental reckoning and i hope you see other people in monumental reckoning. this journey began with the -- from the mayor of the city. mayor london breed. when we brought this to her, she said yes. phil ginsburg, your yes has been

extraordinary. it's a federal holiday and his people were here, apprentices in the program that teaches them horticulture and they have been helping us for four days. (applause) ralph remington, our new director of cultural affairs for the san francisco art division. your yes is the beginning of a reckoning within our system. i'm so grateful you said yes. thank you. (applause) it's pretty exciting today and i have some other work to do. i put a bowl here.

i've got all this hair, i can't really see. monumental reckoning is bigger than all of us. and i'm not speaking of the ancestors here. i'm talking about a reckoning in this country. it's time. the time is now. the place that it begins for us is here. (applause) i'm a different person than i was before i got a call from a man named ben davis who asked me if i would be interested in talking about doing art here in this space. i never thought that -- i won't

say that we didn't really get here. i knew once we got on the path we would get here. but i want to thank you for your vision, your creative vision which has provided so much beauty and awe and joy for the people of san francisco from the bay bridge lights to the pink triangle to grace cathedral being lit up, to the beautiful conservetory of flowers. thank you. thank you for letting me do what i do and giving me the space of your grace to do my work. i'm grateful. i'm grateful. i'm full of love. i'm so full and i'm so grateful you are all here to bring in the

ancestors. thank you. thank you so much. (applause) >> we love you dana! >> i love you miss blue. we're a tiny team, tiny but mighty. (reading names) thank you. thank you. i mentioned january 31st. we started a conversation february 1st. the ancestors were built -- i forgot three people. i have to stop right now.

i need to acknowledge alex nolen and john woolworth. rachel arambola. are you here? yes? i heard it. they agreed to do it in seven

weeks. it then went to an incredible neighbor named alonso. is he here? and his business partner ryan. they painted the ancestors. and then the 12 women that i introduced you to, including rachel, we finished the ancestors. seven weeks time. (applause) we are going to go see the ancestors. are you ready?

i'm going to ring this beautiful instrument four times. every ring of this gong, this beautiful bowl represents 100 years of slavery. and after i ring that, we're going to ask the elders if we can proceed. we have elders waiting down at monumental reckoning. and i'm seeing their support. the elders have given their approval for us to proceed. we will sing as we march down, lift every voice and sing. and if you don't know, look it up on your phone. there we go. we have -- we have it on paper.

i hope you received it. there it is. i'm guessing you all know the song though. it's the black national anthem. and it is a song of liberty and justice and it is an uplifting song of inclusion. and it's much different than the song written by the man with the song of war and killing. a song that asks the enslaved be put to their graves. we intend to bring a new anthem. lift every voice and sing for america. shall we? all right. we will then be led in the

procession and pray on the ancestors with my pastor from heart and soul center of life and the choir from heart and soul center of life and choir of grace cathedral is in the house. if you can't sing, stand by them. that one didn't count.

(singing)

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