It didn’t feel right today to write about toothpaste reviews and heists or whatever, sorry for upending the democratic process this week. Perhaps next week we can get back to that more whimsical brand of absurdity- feel free to vote on topics here in the meantime.
Three quick notes from me to other white folks, or to anyone who wants them:
Black lives matter.
When white people say “all lives matter” or “what about looting” or “what about black on black violence” what they are doing is derailing a conversation about recognizing that black lives matter. These people are uncomfortable having a conversation about race, or about the sacrifices we will have to make to form a sustainable society. It’s a defense mechanism to change the topic, but it’s also racist and averse to meaningful change.
It is not your responsibility to try to debate these side points - it is your responsibility to insist that focus return to ceasing police murder of black people. Rerail the conversation when you can. There is a reason that we call a droning sound that contributes nothing “white noise”.You might feel fatigued from reading about racial in/justice, you might say you need a break or a distraction (which perhaps I was expected to provide in this letter), but do you really? In addition to a responsibility to keep others from changing the topic, I think we have a responsibility to keep ourselves from changing the topic. We cannot make progress if we only read and think and plan in response to the most recent murder.
Look, self care is vital. But evaluate the diversion you need vs the diversion that’s comfortable. Accountability is important. This is all vague, but I think sitting in the vague discomfort of your own racism and the racism of your country is really really important and urgent work.
That’s where I’m going to leave it for now- others have written/spoken much more and much better than I have. Reading lists and watchlists abound, one experience that stuck with me was a book club that read The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin (1963) alongside Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahisi Coates (2015).