Thank you, Austin!! I've been struggling with whether to attend the marches in my area because the police and very problematic sheriff have been invited to attend and march. I really WANT to make space for law enforcement who want to stand up and say "we are listening and reforming" (at the minimum), but their participation seems to water down the message to "let's all just come together and be unified". So your message was really helpful in pinpointing my discomfort with the whole thing. Thank you so much for your patient guidance.
This article was very helpful. So then what is the right response to Kate's issue. Is it better not the attend the March or is there a way to attend and being attention to unity in pursuit of racial justice? Signs don't seem like enough butboycotting the March seems like a missed opportunity. I would appreciate any suggestions.
I don’t have a “right response” to Kate’s predicament. I think Kate should ask lots of questions of organizers leading the march, of police attending, of the motives for the march and what it hopes to accomplish. But I can’t speak for every context; all I can do is encourage you to dig for answers and make the best stand for antiracism that you can.
I feel very emotional reading this. You remind me I need to listen to my gut and be wary of the grey areas. Thank you so much for putting it so clearly.
Really enjoyed this writing. The theme on what kind of ‘unity’ we have witnessed historically (from white people as well as it continues in our current police racial corruption evils) and how it provides a roadmap to understand what kind of ‘unity’ ones life is currently committed to is very thought provoking. Your perspectives can certainly impact positive course correction towards the necessary mission of racial justice. Thank you for your fierce courage and commitment. I appreciate all the work that you do and I am glad to be a part of your reading and thinking audience.
The two questions you’ve asked “Who does this policy help? Who does this policy harm?” are hugely helpful in thinking about existing policies. Thank you for them.
Thank you, Austin!! I've been struggling with whether to attend the marches in my area because the police and very problematic sheriff have been invited to attend and march. I really WANT to make space for law enforcement who want to stand up and say "we are listening and reforming" (at the minimum), but their participation seems to water down the message to "let's all just come together and be unified". So your message was really helpful in pinpointing my discomfort with the whole thing. Thank you so much for your patient guidance.
This article was very helpful. So then what is the right response to Kate's issue. Is it better not the attend the March or is there a way to attend and being attention to unity in pursuit of racial justice? Signs don't seem like enough butboycotting the March seems like a missed opportunity. I would appreciate any suggestions.
I don’t have a “right response” to Kate’s predicament. I think Kate should ask lots of questions of organizers leading the march, of police attending, of the motives for the march and what it hopes to accomplish. But I can’t speak for every context; all I can do is encourage you to dig for answers and make the best stand for antiracism that you can.
Thank you, Austin. I keep telling myself that the work is hard, but the work is good.
I feel very emotional reading this. You remind me I need to listen to my gut and be wary of the grey areas. Thank you so much for putting it so clearly.
Punch in the face, got it!
Really enjoyed this writing. The theme on what kind of ‘unity’ we have witnessed historically (from white people as well as it continues in our current police racial corruption evils) and how it provides a roadmap to understand what kind of ‘unity’ ones life is currently committed to is very thought provoking. Your perspectives can certainly impact positive course correction towards the necessary mission of racial justice. Thank you for your fierce courage and commitment. I appreciate all the work that you do and I am glad to be a part of your reading and thinking audience.
Thank you. I needed this. It’s good conviction and I’m grateful for it.
This is powerful. Thank you!
Thank you for articulating this so clearly and so powerfully. I’m sharing with my co-workers.
The two questions you’ve asked “Who does this policy help? Who does this policy harm?” are hugely helpful in thinking about existing policies. Thank you for them.
Thank you, Austin.