Hi friends...
I'm guessing I don't need to give you much context for today's email. It's pretty obvious that we need to do something to fight the racism in our country (and world). And honestly, if you don't agree, please feel free to unsubscribe right now.
We are far overdue and well beyond being shocked and sending thoughts and prayers. We (when I say we, I mostly mean white people) need to do more. As author and activist Angela Davis said:
"In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be actively antiracist."
So I've really shifted my focus this past week and have been working to educate myself further on matters such as my own white privilege, white fragility, black history, and police brutality. I've been seeking out leaders in both political and wellness spaces who don't look like me, and keeping an eye on the white women I [used to] look up to to see their response.
I think the biggest thing I've learned so far (in case I didn't already know...) is that it's not about ME. It seems obvious, I know, but I’ve seen a lot of well-intentioned [white] people still finding a way to center themselves in this conversation. I'm not here telling you what I'm doing to earn a gold star. I'm telling you so that maybe you'll do it too, and also to let you know that I get it - it's overwhelming and nerve-wracking to speak up. It's been much easier to throw a hashtag at it, count our black friends, assume that we’re "one of the good ones" and continue on. That's not enough, and it never was.
There's lots of lists and resources floating around the inter webs these days - there's really no excuse for not doing more. But please note that this is not about a checklist or a new project, this is about some serious self-examination and willingness to get uncomfortable, to have the conversations, to continuously check yourself, and reconsider the framework we've gotten so used to living within.
It’s about a much deeper level of awareness and mindfulness around racism, and my good friend Hollis and I are creating a space for non-black people to do the work and wade through these waters together. If you want to join a group and commit to delving into this on a weekly basis, check out www.mindfulnessandantiracism.com
As I said, it's important to look to black people to tell us these stories and reframe the versions we have been told - not by sliding into their DM's asking "what should I do?!" but by stepping back and listening, especially to the folks who are so generously willing to help us educate ourselves...
Nicole Cardoza is offering a daily action email. Sign up, and please also support her work by donating via her Patreon page.
Layla Saad has sold out of all paper copies of her book, "Me and White Supremacy," but there are still kindle and audible formats available.
Andrea Ranae offers great info, inspiration, and wellness resources via her instagram and youtube channel. You can donate via PayPal (all links in her bio).
Leesa Renee Hall offers writing prompts for reflection (a great one on white privilege and white fragility) and accepts donations via Patreon.
Besides sending money directly to the women listed above (support their work, especially if you're utilizing it), here are a few places I've donated to...
George Floyd Memorial Fund
Brooklyn Community Bail Fund
Justice for Breonna Taylor
Perhaps I'll share more on this in the weeks to come, but best way to do this work with me is to join the Mindfulness + Anti-Racism group that starts tonight. Biggest piece of unsolicited advice I can give you is to work on educating yourself. I read a great comment on one of these threads this week, where the oblivion of white folks was likened to fish who have always been in the water - we've never known what it's like to be out of the water, and so we don't even see the benefits that are afforded to us by being in the water. Hoping that still makes sense out of context.
If anything in this email makes you angry or defensive, I’ll challenge you to sit with that and consider why...
Either way- love yourself, love your people, take care and take action.
xoxo,
m.
p.s. live classes are suspended for now, but I'm still adding to the online class library. Please send your donations to the causes mentioned above and not to me. Thanks :)
