Thank you, thank you for this reminder Austin! I am a Latina grandma but look white and have experienced 'white privilege' all my life. Our 'all white' book club met to discuss our January book, The Invention of Wings. Its about slavery and womens rights. I could not have been more thrilled to lead this discussion on MLK day AND after going to an MLK event in my community where once again learned so much about continued racism. I learned to become more humble, to listen better and become involved. I shared your book and even quoted several passages and was met with thoughtful questions and discussion. It is in learning, listening, speaking up and reading books like yours that will keep me 'getting into good trouble'! Thank you for all you do - cecilia
From the US Air Force, Global Strike Command's self-serving tribute to MLK, Jr (2013): "Dr. King would be proud to see our Global Strike team - comprised of Airmen, civilians and contractors from every race, creed, background and religion - standing side-by-side ensuring the most powerful weapons in the U.S. arsenal remain the credible bedrock of our national defense." 🙄 🚩 🤦♂️
Ugh. So gross. But I think this is indicative of something else I want to write about one day… the misunderstanding of segregation as “how sad we couldn’t all play together” vs “systemic inequality that fundamentally harmed the lives of Black people”. The first focuses on integration (yay, now we can be friends… or I guess we can bomb people together). The second asks much deeper questions about humanity, society and who we are together.
I can't lie: I very much wish it was possible to skip directly to "now we can be friends" without first having to resolve all the tension, pain, and inequity. I have so many meaningful and important relationships that cross racial lines - but, when I step back, it's clear that we're not friends as much as we are solid "work" acquaintances. I am a reminder of the work that's yet to be done which, in turn, means I am a reminder of the systemic inequality. Even among people where the relationship is driven by common affinities for cuisine, music groups or sports teams, there's still a looming menace of race that informs how we connect. In the end, I understand that this is like wishing I could play the piano without practicing. I'm not suggesting we should skip the part where we work through those deeper questions. Part of my outrage, though, is that we could fall into that "let's just play together" mode if it weren't for centuries of foolishness and brutality, followed by decades of trying to gloss over it and not deal with it. It's long past time to work through this, even though I harbor no real hope that I will personally live long enough to level up to "we can be friends" in the carefree, unquestioning, trusting way it ought to have been by now.
Thank you, thank you for this reminder Austin! I am a Latina grandma but look white and have experienced 'white privilege' all my life. Our 'all white' book club met to discuss our January book, The Invention of Wings. Its about slavery and womens rights. I could not have been more thrilled to lead this discussion on MLK day AND after going to an MLK event in my community where once again learned so much about continued racism. I learned to become more humble, to listen better and become involved. I shared your book and even quoted several passages and was met with thoughtful questions and discussion. It is in learning, listening, speaking up and reading books like yours that will keep me 'getting into good trouble'! Thank you for all you do - cecilia
Thank you. I listened to several of his sermons this morning while on the exercise bike. Was challenged with how relevant his words still are.
I’m still working my way through one I’ve never heard called Great, But. I love when I find something new to me.
Amen, Sister!
I appreciate this truth so much. Thanks for sharing and challenging the status quo. Let's do better!
Thank you for your words.
From the US Air Force, Global Strike Command's self-serving tribute to MLK, Jr (2013): "Dr. King would be proud to see our Global Strike team - comprised of Airmen, civilians and contractors from every race, creed, background and religion - standing side-by-side ensuring the most powerful weapons in the U.S. arsenal remain the credible bedrock of our national defense." 🙄 🚩 🤦♂️
Ugh. So gross. But I think this is indicative of something else I want to write about one day… the misunderstanding of segregation as “how sad we couldn’t all play together” vs “systemic inequality that fundamentally harmed the lives of Black people”. The first focuses on integration (yay, now we can be friends… or I guess we can bomb people together). The second asks much deeper questions about humanity, society and who we are together.
I can't lie: I very much wish it was possible to skip directly to "now we can be friends" without first having to resolve all the tension, pain, and inequity. I have so many meaningful and important relationships that cross racial lines - but, when I step back, it's clear that we're not friends as much as we are solid "work" acquaintances. I am a reminder of the work that's yet to be done which, in turn, means I am a reminder of the systemic inequality. Even among people where the relationship is driven by common affinities for cuisine, music groups or sports teams, there's still a looming menace of race that informs how we connect. In the end, I understand that this is like wishing I could play the piano without practicing. I'm not suggesting we should skip the part where we work through those deeper questions. Part of my outrage, though, is that we could fall into that "let's just play together" mode if it weren't for centuries of foolishness and brutality, followed by decades of trying to gloss over it and not deal with it. It's long past time to work through this, even though I harbor no real hope that I will personally live long enough to level up to "we can be friends" in the carefree, unquestioning, trusting way it ought to have been by now.
I hear you. I hear you.