The Unimaginable
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In loving memory of Rosalind Denise Mitchell, MD
Emergency Room Physician during the COVID-19, My Aunt Denise
Unprecedented — the word of this era
We try to place this dark time within some type of palatable barrier
So we give it a word
To give a focus to the blur
So we can try to keep moving
And being
Numbing that unsettling feeling
Because the darkness creeps out and it has now touched us all
Global statistics strike hard at home — when one of your own falls
We got the text
And it was like there was no breath left in this house
The unimaginable
A Certifiably Cool Aunt
Who lived such an adventure filled life and who ultimately sought
To serve others and this earth
To empower her communities to recognize their own worth
And to live fully
Unapologetically
With dignity
She was warrior for health equity
Bold and unforgettable described both her mind and personality
This was my Aunt Denise
Beaming with Beautiful Brilliance of both left and right brains
Unafraid of what others would say
She inspired me to live my truth
No matter how perceptively uncouth
And to seek joy and passion in this journey of life
Energetic and poetic
Her tenacity and vitality were palpable
And anyone who knew her knew she was capable
Of seemingly everything
An advocate
A healer
An artist
An entrepreneur
She mended and blended dark situations with her light
Specifically
in response to the injustices and plight
Of underrepresented minorities in America
Data shows
And history knows
That black women are disproportionately
impacted by society
and its failures
and inequities
especially
in this country
Yet you showed up
On the front lines no less
Because of how you were wired and how you inspired, you always gave it your best
To serve another marginalized group — American indigenous communities
who are often
forgotten
down trodden
and viewed as people of history
And not as people of today
But we’re here
And through both your medical and creatives careers you made it very clear this it was a part of your mission
Your vision
to both serve and revere
Native American people both past and present
For those of yall who don’t know me
Im one of Roz’s mixed race nieces
That has over time collected the pieces
of her story by watching her walk the walk
I hold the name Bright Smiling Sage of the Nanticoke Nation
Im working on the COVID Vaccine Taskforce at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Among other things
And was raised with a similar fire in me
That was known to burn in Aunt Denise
To pursue in all that I do — justice, equality, and some type of peace
Especially for people who look like me
So based on this we can confidently see
That this fire for sustainable progress is deeply interwoven in our family tree
And that for us who occupy these identities especially
We see you
We appreciate you
and we know that you lived your life in service of this Earth and her people
Celebrating the beauty of diversity
As a champion for health equity.
While the unimaginable is here
We channel your energy — your fight — silencing the fear
To do whats right
in the name of inclusion and sustainability
So that one day — hopefully
This planet and her people can be healed
And our untapped potential, productivity, and love as a society can be revealed
Thank you for helping me — through your story
See my purpose and role in this movement too.
We miss you
And we love you
You’ve left a massive hole in our current reality
And while so much is unknown these days — it’s a comfort to forever hold this true
That its an honor to be a part of your legacy and to have walked through life with you
To read more about my Aunt’s bright and beautiful life, please visit her Memorial website here. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Rosalind’s Memorial Fund to support the great outdoors. Click Here to Donate.
