This has been one of the most troubling weeks in recent times (and that’s saying a lot considering we are in the midst of a global pandemic).
Quote of the week:
“White people need to do a lot of introspective work to understand the ways in which they personally contribute to, benefit from and tolerate white supremacy.” –Leslie Mac (quoted in this Refinery29 piece by Stephanie Long)
What I’m reading:
- What I Told My Daughter: Lessons from Leaders on Raising the Next Generation of Empowered Women by Nina Tassler (editor)
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
I’ve read a ton of essays and articles this week. Here are a few that really opened my eyes:
- “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh
- “75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice” by Corinne Shutack
- “The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- “How White Women Can Use Their Privilege to End Racism” by Tikia K.Hamilton
What I’m listening to:
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Audible)
- Unlocking Us: Brené Brown with Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist (Podcast)
- Trevor Noah on George Floyd, the protests, and the dominoes of racial injustice and police brutality (on YouTube)
- Grit: The power of passion and perseverance, Angela Lee Duckworth (TED Talks)
- Katherine Ryan: Telling Everybody Everything (this episode on pregnancy loss)
What I’m watching:
- 13th (Netflix documentary)
- Explained: Racial Wealth Gap (Netflix/YouTube)
- I Know This Much Is True (HBO)
- Mrs.Fletcher (HBO) (finished it, loved it)
Writing news:
- I published this essay on Medium: “How I’ll Raise My Daughter to Promote Racial Justice“
- Reminder: All the Acorns on the Forest Floor is coming on September 15! You can pre-order at all the usual places. Check out the early Goodreads reviews!
- Stay tuned: I know, I keep stringing you along like a high school boyfriend, but I’m waiting for some things to be final before making announcements. What I can say is the cover for my first nonfiction book (out in Spring 2021) is coming any day now; and my fifth novel (out in Summer 2021) just got a title (once I confirm it’s final-final, I’ll announce!)
What I’m talking about:
- The difference between equality and equity (this is a good explanation)
- How friendships are changing (or fading) as we judge each other’s responses to both COVID-19 and the racial conversation sparked by the death of George Floyd
- How COVID-19 is a big threat to women’s ability to work (and to feminism, in general) (this article sums up many of my thoughts)
- The things I’ll miss about quarantine life. I shared my thoughts on this a while back here. As things start to reopen, I’m feeling the self-imposed pressure to socialize more when, really, I’ve loved all the introvert time
What I’m grateful for:
My parents. As I’ve been participating in conversations about racial justice, I’ve started to see people’s true colors. I’ve realized that some people are truly raised to believe in white supremacy. It makes me grateful that my parents raised my sister and I to see all races as equal. Obviously, this doesn’t mean I’m absolved of anything; I have lived white privilege. I am part of the problem because I’ve been quietly non-racist for years. I haven’t done enough. But I am grateful that my parents raised me in a way that allows my mind to be open to the realities of my privilege (and what I can do to help ensure more racial equity).
Our pleasure! We did our best.