June 03, 2020

Blackout

10 minutes

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” -James Baldwin

This week, we are participating in #PodcastBlackout to amplify the seriousness of the need for action to address racism and police violence.

We, along with many, many others feel grief and outrage over the death of George Floyd, yet another black life taken at the hands of a police officer. The image of a uniformed white man with his knee on the neck of George Floyd pinned the ground is a chilling symbol of white supremacy in our country and the way that many of our brothers and sisters feel every day of their lives in big ways and small.

George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and so many others have lost their lives in the pandemic that has been going on since long before Coronavirus. The pandemic of racism, racial inequality, racial violence and white supremacy.

Placing our attention on so much pain and rage is f*ing hard yet required because so far as we can tell, the vaccine for this pandemic can be found in connection, compassion, prayer and consistent action taken to heal the chasms of willful ignorance, hatred, fear and brokenness of our world.

Here are some ideas that we have gathered if you are wondering how you can participate in healing the long standing injustices facing our world:

❤️ Connect with community. Listen.

❤️ Connect to nature. Listen.

❤️ Make sure you are registered to vote and VOTE. Local elections are important!

❤️ Connect with, listen, support, follow and donate to organizations working for justice. Here are some:

Black Lives Matter

Campaign Zero (police accountability)

The Bail Project

Poor People's Campaign

Showing Up for Racial Justice

National Bail Fund Network (to find bail funds in your area)

The Innocence Project

Fair Fight (organizing against voter suppression)

NAACP Legal Defense Fund

African American Policy Institute

For white folks specifically:

It's incumbent upon white people to humbly listen to and bear witness to the experiences of communities of color. What affects one, affects us all. It's not enough to not be racist ourselves but to actively practice anti-racism. If a social media post or a donation could fix this, it would be done already. As with all evolutionary process, it will take inner and outer work. And it will get uncomfortable. Failing and missing the mark is part of the process so don't let that stop you. In the words of Samuel Beckett "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."

❤️ LISTEN and learn from the organizations above and people of color sharing their stories. Be open to what is uncomfortable. There are plenty of stories to learn from and many different perspectives. Below are some podcasts worth checking out - there are many more:

United States of Anxiety - from WNYC

Hear to Slay with Roxanne Gay & Tressie McMillam Cottom - from Luminary Media

White Lies - NPR

What Matters - Black Lives Matter

❤️ Do the heart work of examining your own shadows and complicity in a white culture's dominance. Shadow in this context means you are not aware or conscious of something - this is not a cudgel to beat yourself up, but an exploration with compassion as to where you can heal so as to help stop the cycle. Seek guidance of a qualified counselor if needed.

❤️ Explore some of the anti-rascism resources available. Here are a couple:

How to be an Antiracist by Ibrahim X. Kendi (Start a book club perhaps?)

bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES

❤️ All of the above will guide you to your next right actions.

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