Living in America, my heart is heavy. Words are inadequate.
The majority of this community is white women. Many white women are waking up to the fact that we need to do and be more.
As a white woman of privilege, I’ve done too little. Been too complacent and ignorant. Racism is a virus that has infected all of us and we each need to take responsibility to heal ourselves and our world.
While I’m usually a teacher, right now, it’s my job to be a student. A student of racial injustice and a student of the inner racist within me.
Here are two books I’m reading to educate myself:
pThere are many people of color who have been doing this work for a long time and I’d like to use this platform to elevate your voices.
Listen. Learn. Amplify Black voices.
Google names like: Angela Davis, Mary Church Terrell, Florynce Kennedy, Fannie Lou Hammer.
Trevor Noah: George Floyd and the Dominos of Racial Injustice
Crash Course in Anti-Racism from @austinchanning on Instagram shared:
The Case for Reparations by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Take Action: Sign petitions and donate.
@rachel.cargle has a formula on Instagram for Revolution = Knowledge + Empathy + Action.
@mireillecharper shared 10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship on Instagram (Instagram link)
The list above barely scratches the surface. If you have other resources, please share them in the comments BELOW.
To all the people of color in this community, I see you. I love you. I’m grateful you’re here. I’m holding you and your families and communities in love and light. It’s not your job or obligation to educate us on racism, it’s up to each of us. If you have a specific idea or request for support, please let us know.
We have work to do, all of us, together.
Here’s my new Commitment Statement:
(learn how to make your own HERE)
I commit to compassionately acknowledging and transforming my own inner racism and white privilege, and joyfully being an anti-racist ally.
May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering. May all beings live with comfort and ease. May all beings be at peace. May all beings be held in loving kindness.
May you be extra kind and loving to yourself today as you move through the world.
With love,
Vanessa
Photo Credit: Aarón Blanco Tejedor
Thanks for this letter
Its really terrible whats happened in USA
I Hope you and Your Family are in a good Health.
Thank you Vanessa, as a woman of color this means so much to me and I appreciate your allyship 🙂
Thank you so much Nicole.
Vanessa,
Thank you so much for those loving heart felt words. They synominus to thoughts I have been pondering to intreating others to stand with and not against. In Philadelphia there is looting in response to the current situation. Residents in South Philadelphia stood together to protect the Target department store in their area and were successful. It touched my heart ❤ to see them prevail, however the thought came to me, “what if that same population stood with us to demonstrate that not only material things are of essence, but Black lives as well. That could be the beginning of a whole new Revolution.
Thank you for caring.
My Love of your heart spread and abound.
I’m so encouraged to see this. THANK YOU for speaking up.
https://nypost.com/2020/06/02/warner-bros-makes-just-mercy-free-to-rent-for-systemic-racism-education/?utm_source=NYPTwitter&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwAR2F87Hz-Qjv2M7pK1IudKI05kHSiVSBvgM-xcr7Xcpzoy3rP4Qrl0L6ygI
Thanks for sharing this link Jenny! That’s good to know we can all rent Just Mercy for free. I read the book and highly recommend it!!