I will make mistakes. And, I’m trying.
I’ve been trying to find my way to help fight injustice toward black, indigenous, people of color. I’m trying to figure out how to understand my white privilege without sounding or feeling like I’m taking advantage or furthering any oppression. I’m trying. And I’m going to make mistakes. And I will keep trying and probably keep making mistakes. My hope is that I get better at using my voice by actually using my voice. It makes me feel guilt and shame to think that I’ve not used my voice to speak out against racism in the past.
I’m still figuring out what all this means for me right now. But I wanted to say something today. More importantly, it’s time to shine the light on words and people that have said or will say things that matter. I wanted to share some resources that I’m looking at to help me get a grip on all of this.
This quote from a speech Martin Luther King Jr. gave in 1967 resonated with me when I read it yesterday:
"...I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and humanity. And so in a real sense our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again. Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention.”
Some people to follow:
@lightwatkins @shaunking @prestonsmiles @showingupforracialjustice @BLMPDX @rachel.cargle @mireillecharper @ibramxk (I’m sure there are more, please send me your list so I can follow as well.)
Some articles/books that I’ve read or plan to read:
FOR OUR WHITE FRIENDS DESIRING TO BE ALLIES on SOJOURNERS by Courtney Ariel
a kids book about racism
16 BRIDGE-BUILDING TIPS FOR WHITE PEOPLE by Be the Bridge
How to Be a Better White Person in 2020
Anti-racism resources
HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST by Ibram X. Kendi
In this process of using my voice, trying to help, I’m looking for more ways to learn so I can be a better advocate for the oppressed. Please send me resources that have resonated with you to hello@peachcheesecakeranch.com.
