Next steps forward
I usually use this blog to share the learnings and discoveries that my clients make along their self-realization journeys.
But the last month I’ve been quiet.
The outrage and pain of the Black Lives Matter protests in response to the unjust, gruesome murders of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, as well as countless Black lives before and after them, has been an awakening for me.
Over the last several weeks I’ve been reading, listening and learning a lot about what I didn’t know, I didn’t know.
I’ve always seen myself as a well-informed progressive who does the right thing. But the Black Lives Matter movement has been heart-wrenching and eye-opening to me. There is so much more I can do to educate myself and show up as an ally against racism and discrimination both personally and professionally.
I don’t have any or all of the answers, but all I know is that centuries of racist policies and practices will not reverse themselves without everyone doing some heavy lifting, especially white privileged women like me.
So that’s why I’m sharing this special newsletter with you today. I want you to know where my heart is right now. And why I plan to continue to learn, support and fight for the BIPOC community.
The process is going to be uncomfortable, messy and multifold, but I’m committed to doing the work.
These are some of the steps I’m taking now:
Absorbing the sickening stories of systemic racism that I’ve shied away from because I just didn’t think I could handle it. I’m watching and listening now with all of my senses on high to series like 13th, When They See Us, and I Am Not Your Negro.
Reading Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s books (in the middle of How To Be An Antiracist and it’s mind blowing. He also has a board book called Antiracist Baby and a book adapted for teens called Stamped, so everyone in the family’s covered!).
Responding to the global awareness initiatives of Black Lives Matter.
Following a wide range of Black women activists, artists, writers and educators, such as Tarana J Burke, Austin Channing Brown, Rachel Cargle, Mikki Kendall, and my new favorite essayist, Loré Yessuff.
Donating to the following organizations: Color of Change, an amazing collective that creates awareness campaigns to end injustice; Loveland Therapy Fund a non-profit that provides financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy and The Boston University Center for Anti-Racist Research.
And of course voting in the next US election to get our fascist-in-chief out of office!
Thanks so much for being here..
Much love to you,
Zeva