Words have power. They can unite people around common goals or divide them with false promises. While we agree that actions speak loudly, words have a societal and cultural influence that cannot be underestimated.
We wanted to embody a word describing our commitment to collective liberation. Was there a term that encompassed all for which we stood and worked? We searched, scoured, and asked around. We didn’t find one, so we made up our own.
Without further ado, here is what we landed on:
Voqalist (n): Someone who speaks up and takes action to challenge systemic injustices and fosters collective liberation.
Also known as a troublemaker, agitator, instigator, rabble-rouser, and disruptor; a dreamer, believer, doer, visionary, and lover. A world-changing, system-breaking baddie if you want to be real about it.
Why does it matter? Why are we sharing? First and foremost, we wanted to call in all those who align with the definition and see themselves as Voqalists. This is your community. We also wanted to encourage others to take similar steps.
- Follow your own rules. We didn’t pick something when it didn’t feel 100% just because others told us there were only specific words from which we could choose. Those rules and words were made up at one point, so why not do the same? We can enact that power, too.
- Flip the script. We believe many of the definition’s supporting words have gotten a bad reputation because the people against whom they’re flung are those who don’t follow the status quo. We’re conditioned to avoid trouble. We sometimes see visionaries in an ominous light, calling them fanciful and impractical. But what if these words brought up images and feelings of imagination, courage, and action? In our world, they do.
When someone wants to stop a force, they use words and archaic rules to dampen the swelling change that the disruptors and dreamers inspire. These people, we call Obstructionists.
Obstructionist (n): Someone who, in words and deeds, acts to promote and preserve an unjust and inequitable system.
Also known as a separatist, traditionalist, thwarter, stonewaller, insurrectionist, nitpicker, faultfinder, or whiner.
They want the power to stay where it is, where they can access and use it at will rather than share or expand who can control societal structures. They see the world as a competition, where resources are collectible and cultures are expendable, as long as they’re on top.
As John Lewis recited, you sometimes must get into “Good Trouble.” And sometimes, you need to embrace the most ludicrous possibility. We wouldn’t have a space station without imagination. Obstructionists realize this, so they’ll leverage everything they can, words included, to win.
Yes, the world is on fire. No, we didn’t start it as Billy Joel famously intones. But, we do have to fight it. If we let those in charge keep deciding what is right, what is okay, and what will be done, they’ll always be in the lead. This is why we support and align with the Voqalists, those who will fight until their last breath to take power from Obstructionists and give it to the people.
We stand with the Voqalists out there busting their asses to make sure everyone’s voice is heard. We are alongside them, campaigning for equal rights for all, with no exceptions. In this modern day, it shouldn’t be that there are people out there worrying about healthcare, food, housing, dignified working conditions, and other fundamental human rights.
We align with the ones who will not be silenced, will not let the status quo continue, and won’t stop until the world is a better, more equitable place—the ones who shake sh*t up because what’s wrong doesn’t sit right with their spirit.
Friends, wherever you are as you read this, we want you to know that we won’t stop until we help to break down the walls the Obstructionists skillfully construct around liberation. We will keep moving forward until we destroy every barrier and can live as we were meant to: freely.
If this has stirred something in you, welcome to the community, fellow Voqalist. We are passionate about partnering with you and building something better together.
Voqalist. Badass. Disruptor. Worldchanger.
