Author’s note: This post was originally published on Facebook, where I share weekly updates about what is happening behind the scenes at Yes and Yonder. This work is so important, so I felt this needed a permanent home on the YAY site as well.
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2020, Week No. 23. Jun 1-5. This is not my typical “this week at YAY” post. I worked on some prototypes and designs for a couple of projects, and while that work was meaningful, it’s hard to focus on anything but the Black Lives Matter movement and the protests sparked by George Floyd’s murder.
Sometimes you need hindsight to see the importance of a moment, but not this. It is clear and pressing, a historic shift to seize and keep pushing forward.
There is so much work is to be done, yet the global outcry and momentum toward change are heartening. People are listening and learning, pushing through discomfort, using their voices, taking actions to dismantle racism.
I have had moments of feeling helpless or uncertain about how I as an individual and a business owner can contribute. Those emotions needed to be sorted through, but I realized it isn’t helpful to dwell there. I have set that aside and am doing what I can. Voting on Tuesday felt momentous, more vital than ever.
Here are some sources I’ve found to be inspiring or helpful as I work on educating myself to be a better ally, and maybe you will too:
Anti-racism resources for white people is a collection of articles, podcasts, books. I think So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo from this list is a great place to start if you haven’t done much reading. I wish I had read it before my first conversation with a relative I challenged about racism.
YAY client Child Advocates offers a workshop called Interrupting Racism for Children. I haven’t attended yet, but plan to when the in-person sessions resume and I’ve heard nothing but glowing reports from attendees.
Courtney Dredden Carter is a leader for my running group. She’s written a lot recently that spoke to me, including this: “I think what’s happening is that many of you are finding yourself in the cognitive dissonance of being outraged but still living life. And that’s okay. BIPOC have lived in that space our entire lives. The fact that things are terrible doesn’t mean you won’t or can’t have happy moments. You will and you should. Do the work as life goes on. Celebrate milestones, find joy and share that joy with others. No one is asking you to be miserable all the time or to only talk about how you are helping to end racism. We are asking you to actively do the work. But feel free to do other stuff too. It’s okay, I promise. ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾” Link: https://www.instagram.com/
A quote from Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, another wise woman in my running group: “A raggedy conversation is better than no conversation.”
Link: https://www.instagram.com/
And Malina Simone Jeffers via Pattern: “Get ready to get tired. Three months from now and three years from now? That’s when we will really need you. When there’s not the spotlight that is social media; when it isn’t a trend; and when other white people are simply over it and/or are over hearing about it. It will be harder to bring up then. It will be harder to advocate and speak up when you are the only voice. But that’s when we need you most.” Link: http://