Black Romance: So Much to Learn (and Enjoy)
I listen to a lot of audio books for free through my library on Libby. A year or so ago, I wanted something light, easy, & enjoyable, yet still part of my project of opening my world to lives I have been kept from really knowing about.
What I landed on: the genre known as Black Romance.
Targets & agents: Exploring Our Role in Oppression
In her book Beyond Inclusion, Beyond, Empowerment, I like how Leticia Nieto and her colleagues present that each of us is a combination of “agent” and “target”, all the time. These terms feel more nuanced and approachable to me than “oppressors” and “oppressed”, and I like the self-reflection the terms evoke in workshop and caucus participants.
Anti-Racist Giving Workshop
An easy and impactful anti-racist action is redistribution. The concept is simple: people who have benefitted from white affirmative action, wealth accumulation, and labor of disadvantaged peoples share their wealth with those who have been historically excluded from those benefits.
Here’s your action:
HOW ANTI-RACISM IS LEADING ME TO MY OWN LIBERATION
The trifecta of white supremacy, capitalism and patriarchy work to keep us apart: the rich from the poor, the privileged from the disenfranchised, U.S.-born from immigrants, aggressors from victims, young from old, me from my Black neighbor.
Together, these three forces form white supremacy culture, and through this culture, we disconnect from each other.
Pay a Visitation Tax
When I travel—by plane to another country, on a road trip through other states, or simply to nearby mountains for a hike, I pay attention to who the original people were who cultivated, protected and lived on the land I’m enjoying. In recognition of the extreme exploitation and loss they’ve suffered, I pay them a use fee.
Here’s your action:
Micro-Engagements: Big Impacts through Tiny Actions
The trifecta of white supremacy, capitalism and patriarchy work to keep us apart: the rich from the poor, the privileged from the disenfranchised, U.S.-born from immigrants, aggressors from victims, young from old, me from my Black neighbor.
Together, these three forces form white supremacy culture, and through this culture, we disconnect from each other.
Hammer & Hope: An exciting new online magazine
Whenever I hear about something by Derecka Purnell or Robin D.G. Kelley, I watch/read/listen to it immediately. We all have our favorites.
So I was thrilled when I learned about this new collaboration, not only with these two, but also Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò, and others I’m excited to get to know.
28 Days of Black History
ARD—Anti-Racism Daily—is a resource I’ve featured before. Each evening during Black History Month, they do the amazing service of highlighting significant moments in our history influenced by the contributions of Black people.
Here’s your action:
The Risk of Capitalizing on Racism as a White Anti-Racist Practitioner
I am part of a recent phenomenon: the burgeoning of white anti-racist "practitioners”. It's an imperfect label, but I like how it suggests the minute by minute practice of staying awake to the obfuscating racist structures of our culture.
You’re probably familiar with some of the risks associated with this new industry…
Hell of A Book: A Novel
I don’t know how I missed Jason Mott’s Hell of a Book in 2021, when it was published and won the National Book Award. I think it’s amazing.
Getting Our (White) Selves to DO
My writing this month is geared toward white folks, or anyone wrestling with internalized whiteness. Let’s say you’ve read a few books & listened to some great podcasts about how white supremacy culture works. You want to do something to make things more equitable, more humane, less unfair.
But what do you do?
How Often Do You Think About Being White?
I know, this may not seem like a concrete action with an immediate impact on systemic racism. Yet, white supremacy culture is effective because it renders ‘whiteness’ invisible. Seeing whiteness, in ourselves and in our world, is the basis for profound impact.
A Tribute to Stevie Wonder
I don't remember when I became a Stevie Wonder fan. His album Talking Book came out 50 years ago, when I was 10. His music accompanied my childhood, teen years and young adulthood. It's still part of every road trip & dance playlist I'm part of.
AORTA: My Favorite Training of 2022
My favorite training from 2022 was offered by the Anti Oppression Resource & Training Alliance (AORTA).
Make a Difference in the Lives of LGBTQIA+ Incarcerated People
A liberatory practice I work to uphold is focusing my efforts on those most impacted by oppression. Black and Pink is a prison abolitionist organization that does just this by supporting the lives of incarcerated people who identify as LGBTQIA+ or live with HIV/AIDS ARD.
Join their Pen Pal program:
An End-of-the-Year Reflection (in October)
It might seem weird to do an end-of-the-year reflection at the end of October, but I have good reason. Almost exactly a year ago, james boutin & I decided to do something together, as longtime educators, for white people, about whiteness. That was November. In January, we launched our first workshop. Coming up next week, we'll hold our last workshop of the year. What a year it's been!
White Supremacy is Not a Shark: Kyle ‘Guante’ Tran Myhre
In his poem How to Explain White Supremacy to a White Supremacist, Kyle 'Guante' Tran Myhre speaks about them (the sharks in the water; the white supremacists) and to us (the not white supremacists; we are the water). His words are carefully chosen, relatable, incisive, and his performance riveting.
Imperfect and Interesting
I appreciate whatever helps me see what I'm not seeing, throughout my life, and particularly about whiteness. The American Dream Score is a clever, accessible, short questionnaire that calculates what has helped or hindered you getting to where you are today.
Does White Anti-Racist Facilitation Reinforce Segregation?
Along these lines, recently a Black woman, a white man and a white woman each asked if my work as a white antiracist facilitator with groups of white people reinforced segregation. It's an important question. I find the answers important, too.
Clarify The Choices Before Us: Eddie Glaude, Jr.
I don't remember when I first came across Eddie Glaude, Jr. I just remember thinking: pay attention to him.