Hello! Thanks for opening Disco Diaries #5.
Today I will be brief.
I’ve spent the past week or so listening and learning and finally beginning to engage in anti-racist work for the first time.
If you’ve never done anti-racist work before, you can start now. This is the first time I’ve held myself accountable for the role that I and my whiteness play in racism — where I benefit from the system, and where my convenient ignorance has let racism maintain its prevalence. It’s a shame it’s taken this long, but I’m committed to being self-critical and honest about how I’m a part of this.
And not just in this critical moment. This isn’t a marathon with a visible finish line. This is a long-term process of working to tear down a violent white supremacy that’s been present for centuries, and it’s an effort that must go on even after the news shifts its attention onto something else.
This is a link to anti-racism resources. It’s one of several going around right now. This particular version was compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein. They’ve made it easy to start a process of self-educating and unlearning white supremacist history by including podcasts you can listen to in the car or while cleaning, articles you can read in one sitting, resources for teaching kids how to be anti-racist, organizations to follow on social media, and a list of books for long-term education.
Many of the organizations working hard to tear apart racist ideologies are also accepting donations. This article lists 115 places that are worth supporting in this way.
I have also found it productive to journal and reflect on ways that I have benefited, do benefit, and will benefit from white privilege, and to have conversations with white friends and family about our part in systematic racism. Often this means challenging a friend, family member, and/or ourselves.
This is only my introduction into something huge, and I have A LOT to learn. I’m grateful for the work others are doing to provide resources and action points. Let’s keep listening and learning, and breaking down the system by understanding our role in this through conversations with others and ourselves.
And, through all of this, remember to take care of yourself so that you can continue to do good work. Eat nourishing meals, take a nap, watch something funny, and consider having a block of phone-free time in the evening.
Daily Haiku from 6.2.20
There’s no shame in rest
A healing necessity
For longevity
A song for you
Fortune cookie
Speaking and hearing is a two-way street.
Love to all!
Katya