“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”
Anaïs Nin
I’m scared as hell to step back in after a much-needed time of listening, learning, and reflection. But, oh, how I’ve missed this community. And I know that this is just the beginning of us learning, supporting, advocating, and amplifying. I realize this today more than ever—you can’t tell someone how to do it, you have to show them. My words as a privileged white woman are still and will continue to NOT be what is needed in a space that’s occupied by powerful Black and Indigenous voices.
I will offer these 3 things, however, that I’ve learned this week—said from the perspective of a white woman who knows how trauma shows up:
- The more you learn the less you know. When I want to turn away (and oh how I do sometimes—when I become aware of just how unaware I have been), to fix, to offer a solution, it’s exactly when I need to sit with it, listen, and hold space the most.
- Silence is not brave, but it is easier. Fear of getting it wrong is a powerful thing. And—I’m going to get it wrong. I have to accept that if I am ever to truly live up to my values.
- Hard conversations are hard. This is why people don’t have them. Turns out, the same rules apply across the board—connection before direction, understanding, discussing, or seeking insight, is always the way home.
On my journey this week, here are a few of my incredible teachers…
@taranajaneen — Tarana J. Burke — Servant Leader || Girl’s Advocate || Founder of the ‘me too.’ Movement || The Hell and the High Water || Bx Nationalist || a Warrior || Her/She
@rachel.cargle — Rachel Elizabeth Cargle — building an intellectual legacy through teaching, storytelling & critical discourse.
@ibramxk — Ibram X. Kendi — Prof. Dir @AntiracismCtr. @TheAtlantic. @cbstv. #NationalBookAward. #1NYT Bestselling Author.
@blessthemessy — Jess Bird🌈 (she/her) — magic making queer — forever becoming — co-parent + partner ⚢
@thegreatunlearn — The Great Unlearn — A community of everyday human beings committed to curiosity for what is possible in the world.
@theconsciouskid — The Conscious Kid — Parenting and Education through a Critical Race Lens. Diverse #OwnVoices Books. Black and Brown Owned.
@austinchanning — Austin Channing Brown — Writer. Speaker. | Racial Justice. Faith. Black Womanhood. | Author of Im Still Here: Black dignity in a world made for whiteness | Creator @tnqshow
@jessicawilson.msrd — Jessica Wilson, MS. RD.She/Her —Dietitian.Consultant.Activist.✊🏽 — Centering the experiences of those most marginalized in conversations about food and bodies.
@eji_org — Equal Justice Initiative — We work to end mass incarceration, excessive punishment and racial inequality. Led by Bryan Stevenson.
@amenabee — Amena Brown Owen — poet. author. comedic storyteller. mrs. @opdiggy. author/collaborator @patternbeauty Manifesta+Glossary. #HERwithAmena podcast. co-host @atlanta_cm.
@apron_education — Education With an Apron — 👩🏽🏫Apron Wearing Educator K-2 — 🎤 National Presenter — 🌎 #SOCIALSTUDIESK3 — 👩🏽💻 Educational Content Creator
@readlikearockstar — Naomi O’Brien — Christ Follower ✝️ — Mom and Wife ❤️
Here’s my recent watches this week
- CNN Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism. A Town Hall for Kids & Families
- 13th (Netflix)
- Dear White People (Netfilx)
- Here’s my reading list:
- White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
- How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou
And here’s my purchase that I will use again and again with our kids:
Thank you for being here, with me, on this journey.
