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Today is May 29th and nearly everyone on my social media feed is incensed about the events that took place in Minnesota recently, and with good cause. In response, I have seen a tsunami of articles and resources for anti-racism come through my social media feed. This is heartening and overwhelming.
In my own way I have been working to deconstruct my own racism for years. I don't take credit for it however, I credit my mother-in-law for her patient education and my husband for his continued patient support. Without them, I don't know how "enlightened" I would really be in this regard.
So to those of you who are delving into this work for the first time and who are doing it of your own volition and in response to your own conscience, I applaud you.
I wrote a blog post a couple of days ago about where I am with respect to responding to this specific incident and now I want to talk more broadly about the work of undoing our own internalized racism.
One of the dreams in my secret heart is to create space for people like me to have discussions about racism. And when I say "like me" what I mean is white women. In my case, I have a vested interest in deconstructing racism because my family is not white.
This may seem like the perfect time for me to put out in the the world this desire. Is it?
Everyone is caught up in the outrage of this heinous act. Some people are just awakening to the truth of what a racist society really means and what the impacts are. Don't get me wrong, this is really important and I truly, sincerely hope that this is the beginning of the journey for other people.
But how ready are people really? Are they ready to move through shame and guilt, through heartbreak and anger and rage and back again?
I hope so. With all my heart I hope so.
I can only speak to the work of undoing racism from my own experience and as I have said, my opinion is based on my viewpoint as a bystander. I have not experienced racism personally, but I definitely have a vested interest in deconstructing it. There are many MANY voices out there doing incredible work in this arena that deserve to be heard.
I encourage you to add them to your social media feeds if you have not already, and please share any that you follow with me. Having a constant reminder of their lives and their work I hope will inch the needle forward. Efforts can't be made just when there is a crisis, it must be consistent and continual.
Here's my list - some that I've followed for a bit and some that I'm just adding. I follow mostly Indigenous pages because those are nearest to my heart personally and as a Canadian. Please share yours.
Instagram:
@laylfsaad
@mspackyetti
@rachel.cargle
@cheekbonebeauty
Facebook:
@Yaba Blay
@Linda Black Elk
@Lyla June
@Black Feminist Collective
@Indigenation
@Reclaim Your Power
@Relentless Indigenous Women
@Ally Henny
@Decolonize Myself - A First Nations Perspective
@CBC Indigenous
I'm in this for the long haul. If you want to be in this for the long haul, hit me up. Maybe we can work together.