Black Lives Matter.

That powerful statement quickly became a hashtag in 2013, and through diligent work,

it has become as Alicia Garza, one of the co-founders of Black Lives Matter says,

it has become our generation's stamp on a movement that is and has been

ongoing.

And while Black Lives Matter is a big part of Alicia's story, of course, it didn't start there.

For nearly 10 years before all this began, Alicia worked as a community organizer.

She got her start by knocking on doors in the Bay Area,

and in the same way we talk about sexuality as being in orientation,

just a part of who you are.

The same is true with Elysia and her work as an organizer.

It's just how she's oriented.

It's in her bones.

And she's put this lifetime of lessons and learnings into

her book, The Purpose of Power, which is now out in paperback. So from the Advocate magazine

in partnership with Glad, I'm Jeffrey Masters, and this is LGBTQNA with Alicia Garza.

One of the things you write is that this book is what you wanted and needed to read when you first started out.

And then you also say that, honestly, it's the words you need right now.

Why is that part also true about you needing these words and lessons now?

You know, we're in a time of monumental change.

And sometimes when you're in the middle of chaos, it's helpful to have a compass.

And I really do think that this book is like a compass.

...