Reconciliation

FOR NEILL COMPANIES’ JULY 4, 2020 MESSAGING

“I love you. Do you love me.” -Cubs The Poet

As today drew closer we felt more and more tension. How do we reconcile our thankfulness for our country while recognizing that America doesn’t extend freedom to all? Can American pride and the call for undoing racism coexist?

When we heard our friend @cubsthepoet was hosting an art exhibit on July 4th about love we asked if we could learn more. “Say It: I Love Black People” is a project about loving someone without reason, without bias, and without a transaction. A challenge to engage in intimacy without familiarity.

Why does that kind of love feel so radical right now? Love is at the heart of our organization, the driving force behind our relationships, artistry, care for the world we live in, yet this call for vulnerability feels hard—particularly today. “I invite you to try. I invite you to realize how easy love is,” writes Cubs.

This 4th of July we’re challenging ourselves and others to love all people in the midst of chaos and unrest. And if you’re able, we invite you to join Cubs at @HotelPeterandPaul at noon until the last person leaves for “Say It: I Love Black People.”