Thank You Kerry Washington
Hey Friends,
Last weekend in America was Mother’s Day. My social feed was filled with pictures and posts of friends as moms, or with their moms/grandmothers. A few stood out, but most were expressing a similar sentiment.
And then I came upon this post from actress and producer Kerry Washington. I teared up right away, maybe because Kerry was home sick on Mother’s Day, but mainly because I realized very quickly this was a post about all the imaginative ways we mother and encourage each other - whether we are actual mothers or not. We are still raising ideas and nurturing visions and imagining a better way for the next generation. We are breaking old family curses and crafting new legacies and passing down our cultures and honoring well-worn traditions.
I don’t think we talk about imagination enough. About dreams or schemes enough. About the role of creativity and art and mothering in the movement. But I am committed to talking about it more. To calling it out when I see it in others. And to drawing nearer when I see it in myself.
You too?
A FEW OTHER THINGS FOR YOU THIS WEEK…
This Trailer was everywhere for a reason! It looks amazing!!!!
Today is the one year anniversary of the Uvalde massacre. Earlier this month was the one year anniversary of the Buffalo massacre. I’m no longer interested in “common sense” gun control. I want TIGHT gun control. I want RIGID rules. I want it to be HARD. If this is what it takes to keep our kids safe, so be it. I’m so fed up.
A really easy thing to ask your reps to co-sponsor the Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act (H.R.1699 / S.951)., which will establish a permanent office to implement a long-term, data-based national strategy to end gun violence in the U.S. They’ll advance policy, expand state and local outreach, and maximize existing programs.
Find your rep here.
A WORD…
“I am an expression of the divine, just like a peach is, just like a fish is. I have a right to be this way...I can't apologize for that, nor can I change it, nor do I want to... We will never have to be other than who we are in order to be successful...We realize that we are as ourselves unlimited and our experiences valid. It is for the rest of the world to recognize this, if they choose.”
― Alice Walker, The Color Purple
Stay wild and holy and free,
Austin
PS If you haven’t ordered I’m Still Here (Young Readers Version) - get your copy today!!
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