Austin, where have you been all my life? You basically told my life story in I’m Still Here. Your words today have been a balm to my soul and I’m grateful for your vulnerability. It can be so painful walking through the world as an invisible person. I love the reminder to celebrate what is so good and powerful about being a black woman! Remembering and celebrating is vital to our survival.
The quote from bell hooks is perfect, Austin. She saw you!
That video of the two little girls haunted me last night. The invisibility of the black girl was heart-breaking. I also felt that the extreme visibility of the white girl was terrifying. I have a two-year-old granddaughter who is blonde and blue-eyed — unlike the rest of her family — and white strangers constantly come up to her and say things like, "You're so cute! I just want to eat you up!" or "You're beautiful! I just want to take you home!" All of this passes for "normal" in a white-dominated society but terrifies my granddaughter. She's a COVID baby who is just now getting used to being around people she doesn't know. She thinks these people mean exactly what they say — being cute and beautiful puts you at risk of being eaten or taken from your family.
Her experience, and the video of the two little girls, has helped me realize that there's at least two aspects of this (in)visibility problem. Black girls need to be seen, period. And White girls need to be — what? Unseen? Seen less? Seen in ways that don't glorify their appearances? Seen in ways that don't commodify their bodies? Seen in ways that don't reinforce a perception of vulnerability? (I'm still thinking this aspect through …)
I guess I hope that all girls can be seen in ways that affirm who they really are and that make them feel confident, safe, and loved. Thanks for shining a light on this issue, Austin. It's giving me a lot to think about. (You're so good at that!)
I love your work, and I very much want to be part of the solution. As a privileged white woman, I feel I have been part of the problem for far too long. A brush with insanity (misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020) has opened my eyes to the reality of the corruption and oppression in society in general and in our mental healthcare system in particular. As a psychiatric RN (out of work due to standing up for what's right), I am in a unique position to expose the hidden abuses in the system. I'd love to connect to find out what more I can do to give voice to the voiceless. I want to support safe people and safe spaces. This is my attempt to educate... https://medium.com/@tarasierralee_57910/creating-safe-spaces-a-guide-for-human-beings-especially-self-identified-empaths-or-philosophers-5acea82cfa
My home was filled with love and acceptance which I can’t say was what school was. What we lacked we made up for (and having a horse stud meant we got baby horses in spring!). Who else had none brothers and sisters and traveled in one car before seatbelts were enforced 🤩
Love the bell hooks quote. Great inspiration for antiracism work.
Austin, where have you been all my life? You basically told my life story in I’m Still Here. Your words today have been a balm to my soul and I’m grateful for your vulnerability. It can be so painful walking through the world as an invisible person. I love the reminder to celebrate what is so good and powerful about being a black woman! Remembering and celebrating is vital to our survival.
The quote from bell hooks is perfect, Austin. She saw you!
That video of the two little girls haunted me last night. The invisibility of the black girl was heart-breaking. I also felt that the extreme visibility of the white girl was terrifying. I have a two-year-old granddaughter who is blonde and blue-eyed — unlike the rest of her family — and white strangers constantly come up to her and say things like, "You're so cute! I just want to eat you up!" or "You're beautiful! I just want to take you home!" All of this passes for "normal" in a white-dominated society but terrifies my granddaughter. She's a COVID baby who is just now getting used to being around people she doesn't know. She thinks these people mean exactly what they say — being cute and beautiful puts you at risk of being eaten or taken from your family.
Her experience, and the video of the two little girls, has helped me realize that there's at least two aspects of this (in)visibility problem. Black girls need to be seen, period. And White girls need to be — what? Unseen? Seen less? Seen in ways that don't glorify their appearances? Seen in ways that don't commodify their bodies? Seen in ways that don't reinforce a perception of vulnerability? (I'm still thinking this aspect through …)
I guess I hope that all girls can be seen in ways that affirm who they really are and that make them feel confident, safe, and loved. Thanks for shining a light on this issue, Austin. It's giving me a lot to think about. (You're so good at that!)
I love your work, and I very much want to be part of the solution. As a privileged white woman, I feel I have been part of the problem for far too long. A brush with insanity (misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020) has opened my eyes to the reality of the corruption and oppression in society in general and in our mental healthcare system in particular. As a psychiatric RN (out of work due to standing up for what's right), I am in a unique position to expose the hidden abuses in the system. I'd love to connect to find out what more I can do to give voice to the voiceless. I want to support safe people and safe spaces. This is my attempt to educate... https://medium.com/@tarasierralee_57910/creating-safe-spaces-a-guide-for-human-beings-especially-self-identified-empaths-or-philosophers-5acea82cfa
That video was heart-wrenching, I hope it goes viral as proof of what people constantly deny.
My home was filled with love and acceptance which I can’t say was what school was. What we lacked we made up for (and having a horse stud meant we got baby horses in spring!). Who else had none brothers and sisters and traveled in one car before seatbelts were enforced 🤩