this week no. 9
Normally on the weekends I try to write a fun little post, this week, where I talk about the little things I’ve been enjoying during the week. Well friends, there’s nothing fun or little about this week. Instead, I’d like to start a much deeper conversation about something bringing me the opposite of joy this week.
The suffering and pain black Americans have endured in this country for generations has been thrust into stark, unflinching definition this week. People are angry, heartbroken, devastated at the continued racial injustice, lack of transparency and accountability from police and government, the very people who are supposed to protect and serve. All people should be angry, and more than angry, ready to act. This has been festering and building since before the beginnings of our country, oppression built into the very fibers of our history. Emmett Till, the Rosewood Massacre, James Byrd Jr., Rodney King, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, just a handful among the sickeningly infinite list of black people who have been murdered, assaulted, abandoned and thrown by the wayside by our country of the “free”. It seems like the only thing that has changed is the year.
Our job as non black people is to do the work. Educate ourselves, show up to learn and doing the work continuously, not just now, but lifelong. Unlearning in order to relearn. Realizing that no matter what your life has been like, the hardships you have faced, it has been nothing compared to the risks and danger people of color take every day simply by existing, moving through their daily life in our country. Things will not change in a meaningful, deep way until the oppressors are forced to change. Until (white) people who have the privilege relinquish it, begin to tell others in their privileged bubble, I won’t let you do that, say that, be that.
Please join me in doing this most important work. To start you off, I’d like to offer a small and by no means complete list of things I have been doing and that you can do too, to begin this journey of unlearning, unpacking, showing up in discomfort. I am sure to leave out things, please do continue the conversation in the comments if you have more to add.
educate yourself. If you don’t know the real history, the background, the how and why of systemic racism, injustice, oppression, how can you even begin to fathom it and tackle it as a privileged person? What we’ve been taught by our schools, textbooks, parents, friends, society is often a watered down or completely revisionist version of the real story. Learn, listen, learn and listen some more. Listen to black peoples voices and experiences.
Rachel Cargle lecture // White Fragility book // Ibram X. Kendi’s Antiracist reading list // 1619 podcast // white women’s role in violence // stop saying “all lives matter” // Seeing White podcast // American Nightmare // what white people can do for racial justice // listening to black voices amid protests and pandemic
show up in your real life. Talk to friends, neighbors, family, anytime you see oppression and racism, you need to name it, denounce it, and intervene. As someone with privilege, it is your duty. Engage in discussion, no matter (especially) if it feels uncomfortable.
demand justice. Show up at protests, demand accountability and transparency from government officials, police officers, lawmakers. Ask businesses, schools what they are doing to create an anti-racist culture- curriculum, training, educators…
how to be an anti-racist educator // ending police brutality // call for justice for George Floyd
teach your kids. Kids are not going to be “colorblind” and this concept causes harm as kids are left to navigate alone. Very young children, even babies, notice differences in physical appearance. What to do instead is teach color consciousness, having open and candid discussions when things come up rather than shushing children when they bring up race.
why + how to talk to kids about upsetting events // talking to kids about race // a kids book about racism // Loudness in the Library series // Interview with Dr. Marietta Collins on talking to kids about police shootings // black books matter reading list // a list of resources to talk to kids about racism // @hereweread diversity in children books // A Young People’s History of the US
give money. Two important funds at the moment: Black Visions Collective and Reclaim the Block. Also, you can search GoFundMe for names of victims, including George Floyd, Ahmaud Marquez Arbery and many others.