Refresh. It’s 2018.

My rose tinted glasses are tinted with reality considering the political, environmental and lifestyle chaos of 2016 into 2017. Imani is a challenge. But, for the sake of love, we have to believe that good change is going to come. It’s difficult to believe, since people’s true feelings have showed within the last two to three years. We didn’t like what we saw or heard. But, the hatred — that we knew was always there — is now in the open. And, that’s a good start.

In the spirit of Imani — the principle of faith — perhaps 2018 will be the year to refresh. With renew energy, we have to continue talking about people’s exposed, unapologetic hatred. But, I still have a naive faith, that one day (Can we start this year?), White Americans will not fall for divisive politics, because history always ends with the same result: Only the super rich and powerful who take advantage of professional, working and poor people always wins.

My first spoonful of sugar for 2018 is a scoop of Basil Lemon Sorbet. It’s a refreshing bite after eating heavy meals and talking about politics. It has a tart, sweet and tangy taste. It’s sweetened with light corn syrup (don’t confuse it with the high fructose version), since lemon juice doesn’t have much texture or body, when compared to other fruits, to it into into a creamy sorbet. The basil was added after reading writer Michael Twitty’s account of West African households planting basil at the entrance of homes to keep away bad spirits.

At the start of 2017, I paused. Going into 2018, I’m roaring into action, but I’m feeling a certain tiredness, because this battle has been fought many times in American history. I do believe this battle is for liberal White Americans to start calling out their racist family members and having a long, difficult conversation about their privilege status, that doesn’t yield much in financial benefits. Maybe, for the quality of life for everyone, they start to shed their whiteness, which was always a social construct to divide people.

I’m thinking too far into a hopeful future. But, that is my faith. Maybe one day or year, Americans will no longer fall for divisive politics. One day, we will pause and look around to see everyone as allies with the same dreams.