One Brush

Like amber and ivory, we blended into warmth,

Yet warmth was not what other people saw.

The painter’s hand trembled to mix two shades as one,

blinded by idea that mistook love for law.

Returning home to the one who knew my truth,

They seized us both for colors branded as untrue.

The judge declared there was no place for us,

for two colors joined beneath one brush was called unjust.

So, he took our love and chained it away,

and said, “Flee Virginia, or get locked away.”

Instead separating our colors into two different palettes

We made choice to lead from the front.

nine years of legal battles to make change

one visit to the Supreme Court to finally break the chains.

After showing the state that love has no shade,

We left a light in history where once only fear had stayed.

Purpose

Leadership and love are strongly connection, especially when it comes to fostering unity and growth within a marriage. It takes two leaders in marriage to create meaningful change together. At work and society there will always be systems that are flawed, unjust, or need change in the work environment or maybe in the laws, and as leaders, it is our responsibility to challenge those systems, raise awareness, and make a positive impact so they benefit not just ourselves but others as well.

The case of Loving vs. Virginia, in which a couple was unable to live happily as a married couple due to the color of their skin under Virginia law in the 1950s, was a devotion to leading together. Instead of fleeing to avoid imprisonment, they chose to confront the system and lead the effort to bring about impactful change to end segregation among married couples in Virginia. Relationships and marriages thrive when both partners act as leaders, working together for a common purpose. As leaders, we need to be willing to intervene and make a change if a process is unjust or does not benefit the employees and the people.

Michael James Balsa

Loving vs Virginia

Segregation during the 1950s

LEAD

November 4th, 2025