My heart hurts today, and I felt I had to write about what\u2019s going on in America. Staying silent reinforces the current systemic inequities. Silence implies that the system we have is okay. And it is not okay. So I am sharing what little I know, and links for me and others in my position to educate ourselves. I have much to learn, because I have been sheltered by privilege my whole life.<\/p>\n
A few ways in which my bubble of privilege have protected me from the current crises in America:<\/p>\n
So part of the work I am doing is to educate myself about what it\u2019s like to live outside that bubble of privilege, and what needs to change to reduce the inequity. I\u2019ve seen glimpses before (e.g. reading The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander<\/a> on the inequities of law enforcement, or Whistling Vivaldi, by Claude M. Steele<\/a> on stereotype threat), but I commit to doing more. As Taharee Jackson suggests in her Practical Guide for White Allies essay<\/a>, the first step is to \u201cStart with Yourself\u201d.<\/p>\n So here are some resources that have been shared with me:<\/p>\n I will also donate to organizations that are doing the work and need assistance (still researching here). (June 7 update – I donated to the Bail Project<\/a>, the Equal Justice Initiative<\/a>, Campaign Zero<\/a>, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund<\/a>, the ACLU<\/a>, and Mills Teacher Scholars<\/a> as a longer-term investment in equity (and because I’m on the advisory board))<\/p>\n I know I need to do more, but I wanted to share where I am starting in case it helps others, and would love to hear suggestions of other resources. I am anxious about publishing this post, as I know it’s not enough, and am reminding myself that any action, even if it’s not enough, is better than silence.<\/p>\n And I am here if you need support, or just somebody who will listen. This is how I can contribute, and how I choose to serve. Please reach out.<\/p>\n\n