Something > Nothing
What Roxane Gay and I Have In Common
Hey friends,
One of my favorite writers in the whole wide world is Roxane Gay. If I had a dinner party of my dreams she would certainly make the cut to gather around my table.
She had me at her book Bad Feminist - I’ve been toying with doing something creative with the fact that sometimes I’m a Bad Social Justice Activist because I still on occasion buy my books not from the local independent bookstore but from *gasp* Target and I haven’t sworn off Amazon Prime (yet).
But just because we (yes I’m adding you to this mix) are not doing every little thing in the most justice minded way doesn’t mean that the work we are doing is somehow invalid. Because the times we show up matter, and the more we show up to resist or recenter or reimagine, the more we will keep showing up. And the alternative is this…
I would rather us all do something about the injustices of the world, even if it’s not everything, or everything every time, or everything every time perfectly. I want us to push back even if it sounds like a whisper or a question asked. “Silence gives consent.” There is too much at stake. Join me and Roxane and every other bad activist in doing the not easy, the not comfortable thing - even if its just every once in awhile. But aim for something. Avoid nothing.
Let’s go. And do tell - how are you doing something? If you need some ideas I’ve got you covered below!
If you want to do something about…
Supporting the LGBTIA+ community: Last week I shared about my involvement with the organization Together Rising and this week they are launching a fundraiser for an incredible nonprofit called OUTMemphis to provide gender-affirming care services to 15 kids who as of July 1, will not be able to receive care in the state of Tennessee. These are very much kids in need of people not being quiet. You can head here to learn more and to GIVE!
Advancing Black maternal rights and healthcare: Check out the work of Black Mamas Matter and Chicago Southside Birthing Center!
The increase in book bans and attack on our public libraries: Support Unite Against Book Bans, EveryLibrary, and the National Coalition Against Censorship.
There are so many more issues/ways to engage - what would you add?! Lets make a huge list!!!
A FEW MORE THINGS FOR YOU THIS WEEK…
How I learned to push back (has something to do with my mom)
One of the quotes I hear the most from white people who have read my book is “doing nothing is no longer an option” - lucky for you the girlfriend I quoted saying that wrote her own book called… Doing Nothing is No Longer an Option. If this topic resonates with you, check it out.
I would watch Michelle Buteau in anything and this looks so good!
Stay wild and holy and free (and doing something),
Austin
PS If you haven’t ordered I’m Still Here (Young Readers Version) - get your copy today!!
BOOKSHOP | AMAZON | AUDIBLE | TARGET | BARNES & NOBLE
So many times - and I know this will continue - I have had these epiphanies that tell me I don't have to be perfect to do good. And that I will never be perfect. There are so many people I admire and learn from in this world and because many of them I only see through forms of media, it seems like they are perfect in their activism, their change work. It's hard to remember that they are imperfect and inconsistent, just like me. So every time they share the ways they don't always get it right, or they get exhausted, or they have to limit their efforts to just one lane . . . it encourages me so much. When I look at them as if they are perfect, and I am at the same time so acquainted with my own failings, it makes me feel as though what good I can do is worth very little. Over time I have learned of the ways our culture teaches this all-or-nothing mindset and how unrealistic it is (for everyone!) and how it is actually used to keep people in despair and to discourage them from taking action. I have definitely not worked this all the way out of my self and still struggle with shame over not being the savior of the world so it is reminders like yours that help me stop focusing so much on myself and more on the people who don't have time for me to waste, more on the problems at hand and what I CAN do to affect change.
What am I DOING? I consider it my obligation to be carry my values with me into all spaces I inhabit, so I continue to work on being true to that even when it's hard (because people don't like it!). I made a career shift a few years ago and am still working on finding effective ways to bring my knowledge and values into an environment which resists these things. I'm spending more time becoming informed about and participating in local politics and trying to spend my dollars in ways that don't make everything worse. And I'm trying (always) to check myself and not get defensive when I hurt someone or make the wrong choice, and to make choices that are about real change/support/care and not about performance: being The Best White.
Thank you for this important reminder, Austin. I appreciate you so much!
This is how I feel about continuing to wear a mask in this ongoing pandemic!!!