*disclosure: This is an excerpt from a journal I kept the second week of June 2020. I spent this week starting a journey to understand and educate myself on racism in America and world wide, to understand my own racism and to start to work that I will be doing everyday for the rest of my life. This isn’t meant as a manual and I’m not an expert…. this is meant to provoke thought, educational processes, and action. this was the start of my journey, I was still learning. I’m just sharing my process. Please read Days 1-3 first.
Day Four:
Yep, I skipped writing on day 3, but I didn’t skip the work. There are going to be days for all of us when doing the work, living our lives, etc. is more important than writing, reflecting, and sharing.
Yesterday I did several writing prompts, read an essay, signed the petitions I had been rounding up, and shared more voices with the small community I have. I found more voices, artists, fashionistas, etc to follow and sent two emails to city officials in response to a press release yesterday morning.
I did a bunch of prep work and art for what will be a new weekly “Activist Action” series on my Instagram account. This was a big part of my evening and I’m really proud of it. I did the art for the background, created the story cover, and set up more than 40 pages that will become posts, with 6 or 7 different themes.
Lastly I bought a two hour anti-racism class from an incredible educator in the Black community. I’m really excited about this and grateful for the guidance and education I’ve already received from her page and resources.
Then I chilled, ordered sushi, streamed some old TV, and went to bed early. Which was good. I needed the rest for sure. I’ve done a ton of thinking, late night scrolling, and good work this week. I was exhausted. That’s good. It’s also good that I took the time to take care of myself so I can continue to do this work.
So on to today, got a late start and was still feeling a bit sluggish. I decided that over my coffee would be the perfect time to watch one of the movies I had picked out. I watched “If Beale Street Could Talk” and it was both heartbreaking and brilliant. I’m really glad that I took the time to watch it this morning.
I had an awesome conversation with a friend who started off asking me for some of the anti-racism writing prompts I had shared the other day. I got to share those with her. Then we spent another 30 minutes sending each other links to black other minority artists that we have found in the last few days that we think the other would like and talking about the stuff that has been running through our heads the last few days.
I’ve now followed more than 50 accounts, just in the last 4 days. And it feels both weird and good. I am excited about the diversity, the fresh content, new perspectives, and also to just enjoy the regular stuff from these people that I enjoy from other people, food, fashion, and interior design.
Going to share and amplify some voices this afternoon, do my two hour class, and then do some cleaning. I think that the work today feels a little less… talking with a friend, watching a movie, a podcast, and sharing some things on instagram.
It is easier. But it’s also I think an important part of this work. Everyday stuff. Supporting, watching, and engaging with media that tells the truth, talking with real people about stuff, and doing the work within yourself. Take the time… find ways to work it in every day. Make the work a part of your routine.
More soon.
Coffee & Conundrums 