My Racist Friend

On the cusp of Indiana announcing plans to re-open parts of the state's economy, Amy and Don invite Dr. LaShawn Williams to join their conversation from her Utah home. They discuss the response to 'Karen' and the power dynamics embedded in the that slang term. They also discuss the risks of opening up states too soon and who carries the brunt of that risk.

Additional resources:

• "About Caucasity and the Difference Between a Becky, a Karen and a Susan" (Awesomely Luvvie, by Luvvie Ajayi, April 27, 2020)
  

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As state governors take the forefront in determining how long and to what extent stay-at-home orders exist, Don and Amy check in with each other about new challenges that come with hitting Pause on familiar routines. They talk about the impact illness and sickness have had on their mood and about the changes that will need to happen for our country as it shifts away from life at home. Don also talks about his family's discussions around wearing a mask in public.

Additional resources:

• Building a Thriving Compassionate Community (BTCC)
  

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

From their respective homes, Amy and Don connect through Zoom to update each other on the continued challenges of remaining at home. They explore the tensions between feeling gratitude for what privilege provides and feeling empathy toward those for whom a pandemic is risk to health and financial stability. The two friends speculate on what current behaviors they want to take with them after sheltering stops.

Additional resources:

• Life Tribute page for Erin Marie McGarvey (Allen Funeral Home)
  

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

With birds and dogs in the background, Don and Amy catch up on another week of stay-at-home life and trying to keep COVID-19 at bay. The friends talk about taking action, as well as the need to be and privilege of being vulnerable. They also share what things are giving them hope in these stressful times.

Additional resources:

• "Secret of Life - James Taylor" (YouTube)
  

The planned 2020 Relational Summit scheduled for May 14-17 has been postponed. Follow the Bloomington Center for Connection on Facebook to be alerted when a new date is scheduled. Stay safe!

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

A week into spring break, Don and Amy talk about how they are coping with the stay-at-home order from Indiana Governor Holcomb. In their discussion, they talk about how the COVID crisis is forcing us to wrestle with our humanity and our responsibility toward both the planet and each other.

Additional resources:

• Indiana News Releases from Governor Eric Holcomb
  

The planned 2020 Relational Summit scheduled for May 14-17 has been postponed. Follow the Bloomington Center for Connection on Facebook to be alerted when a new date is scheduled. Stay safe!

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

On the cusp of a stay-at-home order from the state of Indiana, Don and Amy try to stay connected through technology. During their Zoom conference, the friends talk about the uneven impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the assumptions of our previous lives, and the challenges of evolving old routines in face of the current crisis.

Additional resources:

• "Commodores - Zoom" (YouTube)
  

The planned 2020 Relational Summit scheduled for May 14-17 has been postponed. Follow the Bloomington Center for Connection on Facebook to be alerted when a new date is scheduled. Stay safe!

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

Back in simpler times—aka a week ago—the social realities of living in a pandemic were just sinking in. Amy and Don follow an initial conversation about presidential politics with discussion of how the COVID-19 outbreak was disrupting their lives, including a desire to hug.

The situation has changed rapidly since this conversation took place, and some of what is in this conversation may not reflect our current reality. Our hosts plan to continue talking through the mess over the next several weeks of extreme social distancing and quarantine, taking advantage of modern technology to continue connecting. 

Additional resources:

• "Rainbow Coalition Comes Full Circle as Jesse Jackson Endorses Bernie Sanders" (The Intercept, by Ryan Grim, 3/8/2020)
  

Prompted by an episode from another podcast, Amy shares her thoughts on disentangling her identity from Hoosier basketball. She and Don talk about the recent return of former Indiana University head basketball coach Bob Knight to Bloomington and what it was like to grow up in his shadow, unpacking some of the problematic underpinnings of his behavior.

Additional resources:

• Hidden Brain: "Passion Isn't Enough: The Rise Of 'Political Hobbyism' in the United States" (NPR podcast, 2/10/2020)
  

This episode, Don and Amy invite two guests into their conversation. Aleisha Kropf asks Dr. LaShawn Williams to help her explore what it means to discover your hometown was a Sundown Town, even when you don't visit anymore. Along the way, the group discusses the culture of silence, parenting children of color, and passing as a means of survival.

Additional resources:

• "Was your town a sundown town?" (James Loewen, UU World, 2/18/2008)

Follow the Bloomington Center for Connection on Facebook to find out more about the 2020 Relational Summit, to be held in Bloomington, Indiana on May 14-17.

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

Amy and Don explore the value and challenges of getting in the MUD—Mystery, Uncertainty, and Doubt—where vulnerability creates space for change. They look at bias in a local newspaper article on Sarah Dye, a white supremacist who remains entrenched in the Bloomington Farmers Market, and discuss the varied reaction to the recent Super Bowl halftime show.

Additional resources:

• Native Americans and Mount Rushmore

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes