This space has been silent for a while. Something happened when the place in which I live elected a misogynistic, racist to be president. If you are reading this please don’t tell me that had nothing to do with why you voted for him. Because to vote for him you had to decide to look away and that those issues were not important to you. I am not saying you hold those values I am saying they weren’t deal breakers for you and that is terribly disappointing.
I was also wildly ignorant. Believing the media the played before my eyes assuring me this man would not become president. I looked away and listened to their well rehearsed denial that quoted sources that were flawed. I hid underneath the line “well I can’t vote anyways so this mess isn’t mine to deal with.” My privilege created a bubble that wrapped me up safely to believe that the world around had left racism, sexism, ableism and heteronormativity behind. I turned a blind eye to the pain, the struggle the fight that my peers of color deal with each and every day just trying to be in this world. I was ignorant. So very ignorant.
I woke up that night when the unthinkable played out on my television screen. I woke up to realize how uneducated I was. And that is where I have been ever since, educating myself. I am far from a full understanding or education. I only just figured out who my senators and representatives are. I’ve only scraped the surface of knowing what institutionalized racism is and all the ways it benefits me. My white privileged backpack is still full of things that need to be unpacked. But I am not waiting to be perfect at this before getting my boots on the ground and showing up for those much more vulnerable than myself. I am not sitting on my couch yelling at the TV about what is wrong any longer. I am instead going to local counsel meetings, I am talking to my neighbors I am LISTENING more than speaking to those who do not wear my same privilege. I have left behind mainstream media to seek out alternative news sources. I am rallying with those in my community to further educate myself in how best to use the resources that I have unjustly earned. I committed to becoming as comfortable as I possible with DISCOMFORT. I have had 44 years to be comfortable, I will not let another pass with my head buried so deeply in this skin that was born upon my body.
We have children to protect. They are already far better than those gathering up to lead the United States right now. They were born free of any of these isms. I see it. In front of me everyday. The ease with which my children use new pronouns and ask as easily “what pronouns do you use,” as they do “what is your name?” I see it when they watch a television program or movie that I enjoyed as a child and say “whoa that’s pretty racist.” I see it in their willingness to learn, to questions to grow in their understanding. And I see it in how fiercely they stand behind their own knowing of how each child, each person has a right to the same privilege as every other person. And I remind myself that they are watching right now. They are watching our every move. It is not enough any longer for them to know that what is happening is wrong. They are eyes peeled on me looking to see what happens when a bully moves into the white house. When policies are tossed around that threaten to strip rights from their friends. They are with their eyes, ears and hearts watching to not only witness but to know what to do in the face of great injustice.
It is with that knowledge that I stand up. I add my voice louder than every to the call for justice for all. I educated myself in how to be the best white ally to my community of color that I can be. I become their truth seeking, activist, will not rest until ALL HUMAN beings receive the full respect and dignity that is our birth right, mama.
I wish I could throw down right here my golden plan but if you read a little above you will see I am still scrambling up hill to get all the information. I can sprinkle to the ground here a few resources that have gotten my feet moving toward a better future for all the children. I can beg of you to join me in this fight, in the ways that you can, to fix this mess so that we may be proud of the world we hand over to our children.
Resources (please send me one that you are standing behind so that this list can grow!)
Planned Parenthood – they need our help with the new administration planning to defund them and promising to limit women’s access to abortion and birth control, consider a monthly donation. You can also become a Defender which gets you direct action information on how to protect this resource.
Stand Up For Racial Justice – there are many local chapters that you can connect with for both direct action and education.
15 Books for Fighting for Justice in the Trump Era
We are his problem now – be a part of the direct action that will get in the way of the Trump agenda.
ACLU – they need our support. Stay informed. Consider a monthly donation
The Trevor Project – Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
Learn how to have dialogue with those of differing opinions here. This is where we start to move the conversation forward.
37 days of activism – this is a course I recommend for all. It’s affordable and filled with true actions and education. It’s where I started.
This is only a beginning list. I am committed to coming back to it over and over again as my own education strengthens. Please send me your resources so we can build a more just tomorrow for all the humans.
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