Day 26: Portal of Appreciation

Dear White Family,


Thanks again for opening this email and engaging in this work.  We are five days away from our goal of 30 days of anti-racist actions and we’re so glad you’re still with us. 


Today we're taking a page out of Hardin Minor’s Book.  Hardin suggested the “Portal of Appreciation”. 

“Instead of beginning with GUILT (which has to come at some point) one begins with something (a song is easiest) that you found significant that comes from Black culture….like "My Girl” by the Temptations, that was the song that you most remember falling in love to.

 

Use this as the Portal of Appreciation and step through….coordinate the timeline of the creation of that song with the actual history that Black folks were going through at that same moment/time and then due diligence and get ready for the realizations.

Same with your favorite ’soul food’ dish, Black influenced fashion,; literature, music, sport, sports hero or dance style (and the list goes on).

Find what you loved about Black people/ culture/experience and then place it in context of the bigger picture.” - Hardin Minor 

 

Day 26

How to participate: 

  • Identify something that originates from Black culture that you LOVE

  • Research that thing, find out when, why, how and by whom it was created.

  • Discover the historical context in which it happened or started.

  • Recognize this history when you engage with the selected thing.  Celebrate the influence of Black Americans on American culture from a place of knowledge and respect. 

 

Camerin is researching Jazz dance, and Beth has selected her favorite gospel song “Stand” to research.  We can’t wait to hear what you found out.  

 

Another way we’re building our awareness of the inequality of Black people in America today is that we are going to start capitalizing “Black”  when referring to Black Culture, the Black Community or Black People.  It makes sense and is respectful that when referring to a cultural group that we capitalize their name.  

 

Some helpful resources: 

Why hundreds of American newsrooms have started capitalizing the b in Black The Washington Post  

Recognizing Systemic Racism in Dance

Want to do something different?  Check out the blog for ideas: https://day1ripples.blogspot.com/ 

 

Today’s Follow Up will be in tomorrow’s email.  

 

Peace,
Camerin and Beth

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