Posts

Q10. Vision

Image
Question #10. Who is one person--whether a public leader or friend--whose vision has inspired you? Why? ·     I am inspired by a lot of people. Currently, I am inspired by all the people of color who work around the clock to bring forth change. I'm inspired by Bakari Sellers - who is a great CNN correspondent, author, father, and overall great black man. I think he challenges the idea of the status quo by showing how far we've come as a people and how far we have still to go. I'm also inspired by all the local organizers and protesters who channel their passion into creating movements that people can follow. ·    Believe it or not, I don’t have a specific person. I thought of  Angela Davis  and her longtime championing of prison abolition, but as far as someone who is galvanizing the movement right now, no one in particular. I think the originators of the BLM movement, who shall remain namelss, the Black queer women who have stayed outside the public eye,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Q9. Taking Action

Image
Question #9. What is your place in all this? Do you feel you can or should have a voice? How, concretely, can you contribute or are you contributing now? ·    My place in all of this... I would say is influential. I have conversations and make people think. I think I make people feel confident after talking to them. I feel like I can contribute more but at what cost? Will I become a martyr from my contributions? I don’t want to take it that far but if it is a part of my calling than I guess I will have to contribute more. I just want my black people in alignment with themselves as individuals and as a whole community and I think that’s where my contributions and focus should be right now. ·   My place is on the front line. Whether it's marching with protest, or sending emails and making calls to let DA's across the country know we expect justice. I have a voice, and I should have a voice. I contribute in different forms. I support people who have good messages and campaig...
Post a Comment
Read more

Q8. Conversations, Good and Bad

Image
Question #8. What conversation topics (or venues) have you found to be most productive and least productive? If there is an interaction you have had that stands out as having gone particularly well or poorly, what happened and why? · Every conversation I have had about racism since about 2015 has been productive because whoever I talk to I am satisfied that they heard me and I have hope that one conversation will help them change their mind/perspective on things. But one topic in particular that comes to mind is how white people view black people in media outlets. We are viewed as threats. We are rarely viewed as beautiful people. For example, one conversation that happened this year was with a white woman over Instagram. It was a black little girl photo, she was beautiful. I commented that she was a Nubian Princess. The woman tried to I guess check me and tell me not to use an outdated term to describe the little girl’s beauty. She later apologized after 50 to 100 comments shortly ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Q7. Mixed Feelings

Image
Question #7. Is there any argument or idea you have heard that has left you with mixed feelings or a lack of clarity as to where you stand? If so, could you share the topic and some thoughts on what contributes to this ambivalence or uncertainty? ·   I think what is puzzling to me right now are black police officers. Why aren’t they talking about what is going on right now? Why aren’t they being transparent with the community right now about their own killing us and their own being killed. I have a lack of clarity and understanding on where their minds are with all of this. Are they being bullied in the police stations by Police Chiefs not to speak about this? If so, who is keeping them safe from harm? ·    I’ve only heard about arguments like the utility of protests at this point because police officers have been profiting from this protest and that it feels like many large corporations are using the BLM movement as a marketing ploy to save face. I feel torn because tho...
Post a Comment
Read more

Q6. Allyship

Image
Question #6.  What does it mean to you to be an ally? What are the barriers to people feeling included as allies--white, black, gay, heterosexual, cis, trans, rich, poor, or otherwise?
Post a Comment
Read more

Q5. Attitudes Toward Systemic Racism

Image
 Feelings & change-- Question #5. How have recent events affected your attitude towards systemic racism, as exhibited through police brutality, and your sense of identity in this setting? Describe any emotions that you feel as you reflect on them.
Post a Comment
Read more

Q4. Feelings in the Moment

Image
How the present compares to the past-- Question #4. Does this moment in time feel unique to you? What does or does not set recent events apart from others?
Post a Comment
Read more