If we believed that Black Lives Matter,
   but didn’t protest when we were able to — lo dayenu.  
      It would not have been enough.

If we yelled ‘Black Lives Matter!’ in the streets until our voices went hoarse,
   but couldn’t hear Black people when they spoke — lo dayenu.

If we learned to listen for the still, small voices,
   but got defensive when those voices grew angry — lo dayenu.  

If we overcame our defensiveness and fear, 
   but couldn’t find empathy for those who are hurting — lo dayenu. 

If we radically empathized with all who are oppressed,
   but never reflected on our role in that oppression— lo dayenu. 

If we understood our position in white supremacy,
   but didn’t work to oppose it — lo dayenu. 

If we tried to dismantle white supremacy,
   but only fought social prejudice, not state violence  — lo dayenu.

If we started to fight the carceral state by demanding reform
   but couldn’t believe in the possibility of abolition — lo dayenu.

If we came to see that abolition is possible
   but couldn’t imagine what it might look like — lo dayenu.

If we started envisioning a world without prisons,
   but didn’t challenge our own carceral thinking — lo dayenu.

If we unlearned our carceral thought patterns,
   but didn’t learn about transformative justice — lo dayenu.

If we opened our minds to a justice that heals instead of punishes,
   but didn’t take accountability for our own actions — lo dayenu.

If we held ourselves accountable,
   but didn’t practice self-compassion — lo dayenu.

If we showed compassion to ourselves and all others,
   but didn’t love each other with all of our hearts, 
      and all of our spirits,
         and all of our selves — lo dayenu.
            It would not have been enough. 
 


haggadah Section: -- Cup #2 & Dayenu
Source: Min Ha-Meitzar: An Abolitionist Haggadah from the Narrow Place by Noraa Kaplan