Day 30: The Beginning

Dear White Family, Friends and Neighbors,


We can’t be more grateful for your joining us on this journey.   We’ve created a habit of being consciously anti-racist each day.   Have you been thinking about what you want to do to stay buoyant and committed, always learning and discovering what it means to be an authentic ally.   How do you plan to continue the journey?   Please share so we can keep the momentum going.  We’re committing to sending out weekly emails for the next two months (at least)- opt in or out by taking our quick survey. 


This journey can sometimes feel depressing, it’s hard to believe that things are as bad as they are. But being hopeful is what will fuel our ongoing commitment. Today we discovered this hopeful interaction between Cornel West and Anderson Cooper. Listening is a great way to end our 30 day practice.   It’s hard not to absolutely love Cornel West. In one of these clips he moved Anderson Cooper to tears.  Cornel West with Anderson Cooper on CNN.


This Saturday is July 4th.   We’re thinking about how the experience of this day for Black Americans must be different from ours.  How might we celebrate this day more authentically this year and beyond.  Maybe we’ll enjoy this holiday better because we also celebrated Juneteenth in June.  Maybe we’ll understand the impact of this holiday on our Black and Brown brothers and sisters and allow that to change how we see it, experience it, and talk about it.    


So our work continues.   We acknowledge that sometimes we will get it wrong,  and sometimes we will get thanks and criticism for the same action, we commit to learning and growing from those moments.  It is easy to become so self conscious about doing the wrong thing that we become immobile.   We recognize that there is risk to our self esteem, our reputation and our friendships in “doing the work”.  But when compared to the fear our black sisters and brothers face everyday, this discomfort and risk seem like a luxury or dare we say; a privilege.  These feelings are real and hard, we acknowledge that, but we won’t let discomfort stop us from doing what needs to be done.  We hope you will join us in these acknowledgments and commitments.


Attached: 

  • A pic of the “This is what LOVE looks like” mask: you can order one when you fill out the survey.  

  • A flyer for mural project at the Levine Museum by a group of local artists and Davidson College students.  They still need about $1000 (Venmo @Makayla-Binter!) to pay the artists- more info below. 

  • A flyer for a Be The Change Benefit Concert in which Camerin will be performing her solo about her journey to allyship. 


We can’t wait to see you tonight on ZOOM.  We’ll reflect and encourage one another for the path ahead. 


Peace,
Camerin and Beth!



Keep it Going Resources: 



Upcoming Virtual Events: 

Reading/ Watch/Listen List: 

Yesterday's Actions and Reflections from the group: 


  • I listened to the the pilot episode of “A Brave Space with Dr. Meeks,” a podcast produced by the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing. The Center is an amazing resource for the Episcopal Church:  it sponsors pilgrimages, book/film groups, and youth curriculum and workshops on dismantling racism....with the ultimate goal of supporting people do their inner work (healing) and outer work (justice).  I’m so grateful for the Center as I’ve just had the insight that it will be an essential touchstone for me as I begin this work (plus I plan to begin supporting it financially as well).  This podcast episode was broadcast on August 20, 2019, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the start of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, when 20 Angolans were sold in what is now Jamestown.  23 minutes.  http://abravespace.buzzsprout.com/539101

  • I listened to Krista Tippett’s powerful conversation with Jason Reynolds (National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature of the Library of Congress and author of a new companion to Ibram X. Kendi’s history of racism, "Stamped From the Beginning", for young readers).  In this discussion he talks of how he talks to and why he writes for young Black children.  He says his role "will always be to figure out how to create fortitude in the minds and bodies and spirits of young people."  This is his description of imagination in context of Black history: “Imagination is so powerful that it could set forth 400 to 500 years of something wrong, which means that it very well could set forth 400
     to 500 years of something right.  That’s sort of the beauty of humanity.” June 25, 2020 episode.
     https://onbeing.org/programs/jason-reynolds-fortifying-imagination/ 

  • I donated to the Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing and shared the link on my public Facebook page.  I also will attend the third (and final) session on “Reimagining Policing in America,” sponsored by the Center, on Thursday, July 2, at 6:30 EST.

  • I am eager to hear from Mr. Kendi tonight. I’m actually visiting my parents and plan to have everyone tune into the discussion.

  • Reimagining what Fourth of July Celebrations can look like in my neighborhood.  

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