As we continue to live with limited socialization, there has never been a better time to take up written correspondence as a way to keep in touch. Letter writing offers us so many things at once: a more thoughtful and tactile form of communication, a form of gift-giving that shows someone time was spent in thinking of them, a physical memory one can keep for years, and even an art form. Taking the time to sit down and write to a loved one can be meditative as well as a thoughtful gesture, and that moment of peace can be a blessing for all of us right now.
Here are a few tools that can help make letter writing more of a part of your everyday life.
This pen case comes with everything you need to start taking pleasure in writing. This coordinated kit contains high quality pencils, pens, sticky notes, and an eraser.
Staying organized with your supplies allows you clarity and calm as you write. This large capacity pen pouch will give you easy access to everything you need when it’s time to start a correspondence.
My family has a long tradition of being led by the older matriarchs. I grew up surrounded by fierce and stern Black women who taught me that, regardless of my gender, I could be strong, brave, a leader. Lessons from these women were passed down as legacy, reinforcing the notion for me that gender is not a death sentence. I knew from their teaching that I was just as capable as the men in my life and that I only needed to seek their help if I wanted to.
Perhaps this is what sparked the cognitive dissonance in my young mind. Knowing that I was made to be a strong woman felt empowering but, as I got older, it also felt constraining. I realized shortly after puberty that womanhood was not for me. I did not have the language to explain my feelings to those around me, but the changes in my body reaffirmed feelings of discontent and isolation I felt as a child, caught between gender roles, drawn to masculinity along with femininity. It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I began (thanks to Tumblr) to learn that there were many people who felt the same way that I did. These people described themselves as “non-binary” and elected to use gender neutral language to describe themselves to those around them.
In college, in an attempt to better understand myself, I majored in Gender Studies. My classes taught me that the concept of living between genders or outside of them entirely was not new. From the two-spirited indigenous people of the Americas to the hijras of India, people have been pushing the boundaries of what it means to be male or female for centuries. Those who did not adhere to gender norms or prescriptions were often revered before the influence of colonization.
People often think about transgendered individuals when they hear the term non-binary. While there is familiarity between them, there is a difference between the two terms. Think of transgender identity as an umbrella. Under that umbrella are people whose gender identity differs from the gender assigned to them at birth. For example, a person might have been assigned female at birth but identity as male. In the case of non-binary folks, their gender identity might align with both male and female or neither. It can also change over the course of time. Some non-binary people see their gender as more fluid, electing to present femininely one day, masculinely another day, or ditch the gender binary completely for androgyny.
The journey to discovering non-binary identity looks different for everyone. On the first day of my fourth year at USC, I found myself scrolling through Twitter rather than listening to my professor’s lecture. I stumbled across the poet Danez Smith’s profile and quickly became intrigued; their website bio was devoid of “he” or “she,” simply referring to Smith as “they.” Like myself, Smith is both Black and queer, and although I had heard of people using gender neutral pronouns before, seeing someone who resembled parts of myself using them turned my life upside down in a moment. Two hours later, in my Introduction to LGBTQ Theory class, my professor asked each student to introduce themselves with their name, major, and pronouns. My turn to answer quickly approached, and for the first time I would say “my pronouns are they/them/theirs.”
“Gender euphoria” is the phrase used to describe the fuzzy feeling of elation many transgender and non-binary individuals get when they are able to experience life, even just for a moment, in a way that aligns with how they view themselves. Adopting gender neutral pronouns has not only transformed how I interact with others, but it’s also opened the door for me to feel gender euphoria on a daily basis. I still remember the first time a new acquaintance asked my pronouns. “I just didn’t want to assume,” she said. I hesitated, because only my close friends and classmates were using my pronouns frequently. After a pause, I tried to say them with as much confidence as possible. The person smiled and thanked me for telling them. For the rest of the meeting, she integrated my pronouns into conversations with those around us. I had never felt that level of affirmation in my adult life. To be seen truly, without complication or disgust, while having the right to exist in a space as my best self became a gift that made owning my identity even more worth it.
Gender neutral pronouns can seem difficult to understand, but we use them on a daily basis. We often say “them” when we are talking about someone whose gender we don’t know. From “well, how are they doing?” to “yes, I heard about them on the radio last week,” we have been using gender neutral pronouns all of our lives. Using gender neutral pronouns is crucial because you can’t determine someone’s gender by looking at them. Someone might present in a more feminine manner and identity as a man, or a person who’s masculine of center in the gender spectrum could identify as a woman or non-binary individual. A good rule of thumb is to never assume that you know a person’s pronouns when you meet them. If you’re unsure, simply asking “what are your preferred pronouns?” is an easy way to make sure the person you’re speaking with feels comfortable and affirmed. It can also be helpful for all people, not just transgender or non-binary people, to practice using pronouns when meeting someone for the first time. Normalizing the practice of sharing your pronouns, even if you’re cisgender (meaning you identify with the gender you were assigned at birth), can make it easier for transgender and non-binary people to exist without the risk of being misgendered. You can begin by simply saying your name and adding “my preferred pronouns are…”
It is the hope of many, not just non-binary individuals, to break the gender binary. This might seem radical, but it gives everyone the opportunity to forgo gender expectations, roles, and prescriptions. Queer theory supposes that a world beyond the binary gives more freedom to everyone. The freedom to imagine. The freedom to explore. The freedom to escape. Acknowledging non-binary individuals is only the first step to a future that’s freer, safer, and more open for us all.
Take a deep breath, everyone: we’re about to discuss meditation.
What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘meditation?’ Over the years, I’ve watched with great interest how the word alone can evoke an intense response within a person.
That response tends to lean one of three ways:
For the meditator, it may give rise to a feeling of calm by simply connecting to the sense-memory of what meditation has offered them in the past.
For the non-meditator, it can awaken strong feelings of anxiety and intimidation because they imagine the standard of meditation to be far higher than they could ever meet (‘so why even bother trying?’).
Finally, for the meditation-curious, the word entices and confuses at the same time.
Should you find yourself relating to one of the latter statements, allow me to allay your fears. As a long-time practitioner and teacher of meditation, I can tell you this in no uncertain terms:
There are no rules and you cannot do it wrong.
Read that last sentence again.
An exciting thought, isn’t it? There is infinite freedom to be found in the practice of meditation, and it begins in how you choose to do it.
Let’s take it a step further. Before you read on, I’d like you to stop, close your eyes and take three slow and intentional, deep, continuous breaths.
Well done. You’ve just practiced meditation.
Had you ever imagined that it could be that simple? It surely is. So, what does it mean to meditate? Merriam-Webster offers us this explanation:
Definition of meditate:
1: to engage in contemplation or reflection 2: to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.
I tell my students — particularly those who are determined to make meditation more difficult for themselves than it needs to be — that the act of meditating is simply to intentionally take pause and to consciously connect.
That is it.
I can assure you that you are capable and that the gifts meditation has to offer are well within your reach. My entire catalogue of spiritual teaching is built on one simple belief. This belief runs so deeply within my veins and is so tightly woven into the fabric of my being, that I can’t help but say it every chance I get, to whomever will listen. That belief is this:
As a Spiritual Being having a human experience, you are your own greatest healer.
If you don’t believe me, I encourage you to give it a try. First, decide. Then sit down, close your eyes and begin to listen. Focus on the breath.
Let go. Allow. Be.
Listen to the thoughts. Listen for guidance. If the thoughts are filled with “I can’t” and “this won’t work,” then that is your guidance. THAT is where you begin. The healer within has spoken.
The traditional images we see imply that meditation is only achieved by sitting cross-legged, hands held at the knees, fingers in Gyan Mudra, mind devoid of any thought. And I have no doubt that for many a mindful master, this is the path.
It is important to know, however, that it is not the only way. We are unique beings, and there is never one right answer for everybody.
The practice of meditation can be found in anything that affords you energetic space and quiet.
Being your own greatest healer means that however you choose to meditate is the right way to meditate because s/he knows exactly what you need.
We can get there by coming to a place of stillness. (Just sit. Be still. BE.)
We can get there by connecting to the waves of breath that move in and out of our bodies. We can get there by closing our eyes and setting the intention to ‘get there’ then allowing ourselves to relax into the rising and falling of our chests as we breathe.
We can get there by gazing at a focal point, letting the peripheral vision soften. We can get there by diving inward, listening for the natural rhythms within. There is truly a multitude of ways to achieve a meditative state. To expand the field further, depending on what resonates with you, we can get there by walking, running, counting from 1 to 100, cooking, vacuuming or sweeping, observing, singing, dancing, creating, chanting, praying. I could go on and on.
My mother needlepoints and nobody is going to tell me that she is not in a meditative state when she does; it is near impossible to get her attention mid-session.
If you pause right now and look at your life, it’s likely you’ll find that your inner healer had you practicing a meditation in some form or another, at some point along the way. The beautiful thing about it is that anything goes really. As long as it offers you respite and calm, you can call it meditation. The traditional imagery of meditation is certainly not how my daily practice looks. Yes, I sit cross-legged. No, I don’t use mudras every time (though I love them and find them to be powerful), nor do I rest my hands on my knees (they prefer to rest, open-palm, in my lap). As for a mind devoid of any thought? Hmm, my mind, well, even after all these years…she can be busy. Thankfully, through consistency, I have learned to tame her. When the thoughts rush in, I can redirect them, quiet them or banish them altogether.
Until the next wave floods in.
This is being a human, meditating. It is imperfect — and we do it anyway. It’s rinse and repeat — and we continue anyway. It’s unique — we allow our individual energetic needs to be met. It’s hard work and it can press upon our tender spots when it challenges our patience — and we do it anyway.
Like breath, it rises and falls. Coming back to it again and again is the work and the medicine and the gift. They don’t call it a “practice” for nothing.
The benefits of meditation are many. The first is that it gives you permission to connect to yourself, to listen to yourself and, very importantly, to learn to trust yourself.
May you allow yourself the room to play with the practice; to experiment and explore. It is available to you anytime, anywhere, under any circumstance. And it is likely you are already doing it to an extent. May it serve your highest good, for this serves the highest good of all. May you connect to yourself in gratitude and grace. And may you always breathe deep.
For more information about Cyia and her work, visit cyiabatten.com.
There are so many different elements that make up successful self care. Some of these involve making healthy choices, exercising proper boundaries and making sure to get proper rest, but sometimes self care can be as simple as giving ourselves a chance to feel special and cared for. Giving ourselves a soothing bath or a facial treatment may not always be the answer but it can be a great way to send ourselves a message that we deserve to be nurtured and loved.
Here are a few products to help make your next self care spa day a bit more special, even if it’s just an hour to yourself in the bath.
Many bath bombs on the market contain harsh chemicals and dyes that can cause damage to sensitive areas and cause infection. Naked Reverie bath bombs are fair trade, sustainably sourced, and will provide you with soothing relaxation without risk of harm or infection.
In addition to being composed of rose quartz, a crystal associated with self love, this cool stone roller can reduce facial inflammation, soothe tired skin and reduce facial tension.
This detoxifying clay gives you the ability to bring a rejuvenating mud bath into your own home, drawing out toxins and leaving your body clean and refreshed.
This gorgeous guide not only provides inspiration for an avid bath-lover but can help us see the ways baths can be used as a form of meditation and spiritual healing.
It can be easy to neglect our feet during our self-care routines, even though we depend on them for so much. This special mask can nourish and soften dry and calloused feet while also restoring and detoxifying them.
This oversized bath sheet is the perfect way to continue the self love after a long bath or even a quick shower, emphasizing softness and care as it dries.
There are days when all of us need an escape. When life feels like you can’t bear it as it is one minute longer. When you feel like you’ve hit a wall and can’t move forward in any recognizable way. When you’ve fallen so far behind that you just want a do-over, but know it’s not possible. Lately, more of us have been feeling this way as our way of life continues to be shaped by this crisis. We just want to run far away from this pandemic, to a world where no one has heard of COVID-19, where the freedoms we once enjoyed are ours for the taking again.
Unfortunately, there is nowhere we can run from COVID-19 and that inescapability is part of what makes this chapter in our history feel so challenging emotionally and mentally. It feels like there is no escape.
But we do have a way to escape a heavy moment at any time. And this would qualify, to me at least, as a heavy moment.
As humans, we have the most incredible superpower within our grasp at all times. We have the power of shifting our mindset. We have this thing called a brain and it allows us to receive what the world is throwing at us in any way we choose. Sure, some of you may be shaking your head at the thought of positive thinking when you can’t pay your rent and don’t know if you will have a job to go back to at the end of all of this. I don’t blame you; these problems are real and valid and as much as I would like to fix them for you, I’m unable to. What I can do is suggest that we are able to shift the way we are experiencing this challenging time. The way we think about a moment shapes the way we experience it. I know this is true as someone who has lived through various forms of trauma. As a result of my traumatic experiences, my mind has tended to overreact at certain moments in my life, similarly to the way people who have PTSD are triggered but at a much smaller scale. This tendency towards overreaction in the past has drained my energy and maybe even caused some of my illnesses.
As I have gone through my own healing journey, I have learned to allow my mind and body to react to things in a more appropriate way, lowering my “fight or flight” response (Dr. John Amaral‘s work on the subject has been a great resource for me, and he has been helping me on my healing journey). I have learned to calm my mind so that I can choose how I react and respond to the situations that arise in front of me or around me. And when I can choose how I respond to what’s happening, I am able to be at peace even in troubling times. Right now that is a good thing. It provides me with a mental and emotional escape when a physical escape is impossible.
Here are a few ways I help myself to escape the overwhelm that surrounds me:
Meditation
Every day after lunch, I carve out a 25-minute period to listen to my favorite mediation app. Currently, I use Synctuition which has incredible guided meditations with brilliant production value that take you away like a Calgon Bath (“Take me away”… only those my age will get the reference). I put on my headphones, drink a glass of lemon water and lay down, sometimes on my front porch, sometimes in my bed, sometimes on the sofa, and sometimes right on the cool bathroom floor after a mid-day shower. I just close my eyes, take one deep breath and allow someone else to steer the ship for a while, flowing and following their words into a peaceful world where I don’t have to stay at home to keep myself and others safe. This has become an important part of my new normal. Sometimes I fall asleep. Sometimes I am fully engaged, enmeshed in this other world that my mind has created. Sometimes, I have to stop after 10 minutes. But even then, I feel like I had a break from the current reality and I come away refreshed.
Journaling
Some days I decide to get my journal and find a quiet corner (which is my whole home since I am sheltering at home on my own). I set a timer for 10 minutes and I just start writing about a world that is not real. Lately, I’ve been writing about this character who is similar to me but has superpowers. This creative outlet allows my mind to escape this world that often feels like an endless cycle of eating, doing dishes, taking out the trash, and doing laundry over and over again. Usually, I feel reenergized after doing this. The world I write about is sometimes bright and beautiful but it can also be dark and dreary and magical. No matter what form it takes on a given day, spending a little time in this world allows me to come back to reality with a different energy.
Listening To Music
I love music and it’s always been one of my go-to’s for escape. Music has a way of taking us away, transporting us to another time and place. It’s the tempo, the texture of the sounds, and the story it tells us. Sometimes, we can get caught up in a nostalgic moment when a certain song comes on. When I need a moment away, I start a playlist that I know will make me happy or really sad, and I just go there. I play it and I allow those emotions to flood my soul. This is a good form of escape as well because it helps us to release any pent up emotions. When we are done and take off the earbuds, we are ready to face what we have to in real life again.
Giving Your Mind Permission To Drift
My final suggestion for an escape is something I do all the time. I like to let my mind wander. I do it a lot. I just sit at my kitchen table or on my sofa, or out in my backyard (usually with an animal by my side), and I just look at the sky, the trees and any passing wildlife, like a bird or a squirrel. I just let my mind go. I don’t try to think about anything. I just watch, and observe the leaves and they subtly shift with the wind. I notice the different colors of blue and grey in the sky. I ponder what it feels like to fly like those birds do. I really feel the warmth of the sun on my face. I try to absorb the moment through my senses and let my mind take it in without needing me to figure anything out. I give my mind a break from all its thinking. I let it just be with me instead of having to keep me safe or figure out what’s next or make a list of things I still need to do. We just sit outside or in the kitchen and stay present in the moment. I listen to the sounds around me, feel the wind as it slightly picks up against my face, I try to hear the birds from the next yard over… and usually I find myself smiling, feeling grateful for all that is.
These are some of the ways I escape without leaving my home. They don’t cost anything to do, and they will allow you to leave your worries behind for a few moments a day – a gift that is something I treasure in these COVID times.
Stay safe everyone, and stay in your compassionate heart…
Mindfulness is a powerful tool for moving through life with awareness and perspective, but it can be hard sometimes to know exactly what it means to practice mindfulness. At times it can feel like an abstract buzzword, hard to connect to or put into motion. The truth is that mindfulness can help us more meaningfully experience the present and develop a more solid understanding of our own thoughts, and this process can be easier to begin with some guidance and direction. Here are seven books and journals that can help us understand and interact with mindfulness in different ways, helping us to cultivate our ability to stay thoughtful about our present.
A more amorphous, left-brained journal, Practice You‘s watercolor style and gentle, open-ended prompts may help draw some new reflections if you’ve felt blocked or stalled.
A down-to-earth, casual conversation about mindfulness from someone who’s gone through Buddhist monk training more than once, helping you find a new on-ramp for meditation through humor and approachability.
An easy, approachable guide to increasing mindfulness (and its natural products like gratitude and joy) a little each day by paying more attention to our everyday motions.
A deeper read, Wherever You Go, There You Are walks readers through the process of “waking up” to ourselves in order to live more fully in the present moment.
This journal emphasizes non-judgmental observation, encouraging us to put aside our conceptions about how we should be thinking, feeling or acting and allowing us to simply pay quiet attention to the truth underneath.
Full of exercises to establish mindfulness as a practice, this book has something different to offer you each time you return to it. Each meditation is easy to understand and states the amount of time it takes, making it easy to find the meditation that suits you best in the moment.
There are few ways to inject life into a home that are as effective or satisfying as adding live plants. Keeping houseplants in the home isn’t just a good hobby or a way to devote attention towards tending to a living being, although those are both great benefits. Houseplants exude all the forces of life, growth and nature that we glean from the outdoors, brightening our day and refreshing our surroundings. It does the body so much good to be surrounded by green life even while indoors.
In addition to the natural benefits that come from adding more life to your home, many plants also have special abilities to lend to us and our indoor spaces. Here are five houseplants that will not only provide you with a refreshed and peaceful space but will cleanse your air, provide you with sweet aromas or bring you positive energy as well. The living world has so many gifts to offer us, if we take the time to invite them into our lives.
Sansevieria
Also known as a snake plant, the popularity of the sansevieria has exploded over the past few years. Snake plants are hardy and resilient, thriving on low water and even dim light. They are also great oxygen providers, and many sources recommend keeping a snake plant in the room where you sleep to give you access to better air quality.
Pothos
Pothos plants are easy to care for and radiate light with their bright green leaves. They’re also great at filling space; a pothos plant hung from the ceiling can fill a corner with its leafy vines, creating just as much lush green as an expensive tall plant at a cheaper price.
Rosemary
Every home should have access to fresh-grown herbs, and rosemary plants are an easy place to start. Rosemary is hardy and will fill your porch or kitchen with a beautiful fragrance without needing much maintenance. The biggest risks with rosemary plants are overwatering and crowded roots; experts recommend keeping rosemary in a planter that’s as deep as the plant is tall so the roots have room to grow, and keeping it in a pot that has drainage.
Money Tree
Aside from the soothing patterns these plants are often woven into, money trees have a great symbolic value. They’re seen as an icon of prosperity, good luck and fortune and are believed to bring good things. In feng shui, money trees are known for creating positive energy wherever they’re placed. They’re also easy to care for, not having many light or water requirements.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera plants have been kept around for their medicinal benefits for thousands of years; they were first used by Ancient Chinese and Egyptians to treat burns. Having a living aloe plant in your home can bring the same benefits we’ve relied on for thousands of years to your home. Aside from its beautiful coloring and hardy nature, aloe leaves can be used to soothe skin, particularly after a burn.
We are at an unprecedented crossroads in America. After months of seeing our way of life, health, and economy altered by the COVID-19 outbreak, the eyes of the nation now turn to the fight for racial equality, justice and peace. There’s a lot to be thankful for in this time: our ability to organize with each other, see the need for help and fill it no matter where we live, the hope that this could be the potential start of lasting change for good in this country.
But living through such a high-stakes, heartbreaking time for social justice in this country can have its costs. Without intentionality and attentiveness, it can be easy to become burnt out by all the information we’re receiving and all of the work that is before us. Whether you’re out marching or looking for ways to help out from home, it’s important to equip yourself against fatigue, exhaustion and apathy. Here are a few ways to take care of yourself and ensure you can continue helping out wherever you’re needed the most.
Give Your Attention Where It’s Helpful
Staying aware of what’s going on is important, but remaining glued to devices every waking minute won’t help us be more effective and it can drown us in information and emotion. Remember to give yourself some time away from social media to reflect on what you’ve seen and experienced and how you want to respond to it.
Remember That Levity is Okay
If you need a moment to disengage, to watch something silly, read a book or take a nap, it’s not a failure. Our bodies and our minds need rest from time to time and there’s no shame in taking that time to ensure you don’t collapse entirely. Retaining a base level of energy is important for the long term.
Focus on the Good That’s in Front of You
When we look at all that’s wrong in the world, we might feel too overwhelmed to know where to start. Social media is a blessing and a curse: visibility is a huge strength for social justice, but it can become hard to decide where to put our attention. It always becomes easier when you have a concrete list, plan, or place you want to start. Whether it’s making a list of places to donate this week, deciding to sign a certain number of petitions today, or finding a place you want to volunteer your time, giving yourself a plan of action is always useful. If you’re looking for ways to help in the fight for racial justice, we have a few places to start here.
Overall, activism isn’t a one-time event. Not everything will be accomplished today. What’s important is having the planning, dedication, and grace for yourself and others to weather the storm and lend your help in the days, weeks and years to come.
I’ve been in love with dance for most of my life; it’s a language of the body, one that speaks to us on a deeper level. It’s physical, emotional, intuitive and there’s no art form quite like it. Learning about dance isn’t just about practicing the technical movements, it’s about studying the culture of different styles, the pioneers who took the art form and made it their own. Reading about dance always makes me feel closer to one of my favorite things in the world; here are a few books I’d recommend to anyone who wants to learn a bit more about dance.
Let’s Dance is a great reference guide for anyone who wants to learn more about Latin and Ballroom dancing. With an abundance of information about all forms of Latin and Ballroom, this book makes a great foundational resource for anyone with a passion for dance.
This was the first book I ever had as a young dancer. It’s both beautiful and inspiring, following a ten year old ballerina through her routine as she plays Clara in The Nutcracker.
Fosse is my favorite choreographer of all time; he was such a brilliant artist. After I saw All That Jazz I was fascinated and had to learn everything I could about him. This book is a great resource for understanding what made Bob Fosse’s work so remarkable.
Meredith Monk is one of my favorite artists of all time, a true visionary. I was first introduced to her while I was studying World Arts and Culture at UCLA. She’s a fascinating artist, and her relationship with dance is so deep and compelling. I came to understand my own love of dance through understanding Meredith Monk’s work; she’s an amazing creator and if you’re interested in dance it’s worth it to learn more about her.
When I went back to school at 30 years old after stepping away from education for my dance career, Time and the Dancing Image was one of the first texts I has to study. This book is a great retrospective of dance, walking readers through the movement of dance trends over time and chronicling all the modern choreographers. It’s a great book to have on your shelf whether you’re a dance educator, historian, or simply someone who loves dance and wants to know more about its history and evolution.
This Monday, June 1st marked the 15th anniversary of Dancing With The Stars. We’re so thankful to have been a part of the lives of all those who love Dancing With The Stars, our DWTS family, for so long. We are planning on returning this fall, but we have to see how things go. There is a lot to be considered and we need to be sure we can do it safely. All I know is that I am looking forward to an innovative and exciting Season 29 of Dancing with the Stars to experience with all of you. We all need a little DWTS magic right about now!
What are some of your favorite books about dance? Tell me in the comments below or tag @carrieannconversations on Instagram!
Our country’s pain right now is impossible to ignore. On top of historic unemployment and an unprecedented pandemic, we are now witnessing a nationwide demonstration against systemic racial discrimination, oppression and brutality. When we are confronted with this amount of mass trauma, pain, distress, and injustice, it can be disorienting and paralyzing. It can be hard to know what to do or how to help, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed and succumb to apathy. If you’re looking for clear ways you can help, or want to learn more about what protesters are struggling for, here are some resources.
Get Informed
One of the greatest actions an ally can take is making the effort to learn about the ways that racial inequality shapes this country and impacts its citizens. There are so many incredible resources out there by many sources. I encourage everyone to do their own research; taking the time to learn and invest in your own perspective can yield amazing results.
If you don’t know where to begin, here are a few places you could start:
Vogue, Elle, Buzzfeedand theNew York Times all have lists of book recommendations if you’re trying to learn more about the way racism has shaped and continues to impact the experiences of people of color in America.
Campaign Zeroworks to develop and support policies that reduce police brutalities and police-involved fatalities. Their website clearly lays out the ten policies they are backing to improve racial justice in the US and lets you track the status of each policy in your city and state.
The New York Times’ 1619 Project is an exhaustively researched look into the origins of slavery in America and the way it has shaped American history ever since.
Charles Preston has compiled a Black History Month Library with free pdfs of important works by black authors, study guides, cultural guides and more.
Donate
One of the easiest and most effective forms of action is simply putting some of your money in the hands of an organization prepared to do good with it.
Following your heart is always the best way to find a cause to invest in; I always recommend putting a lot of research into the causes you support so that they feel personal to you.
This Victim Donation Page created by a member of the movement has links to the GoFundMe pages for the families of victims like George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.
You can donate to supportBlack Lives Matter in the fight to end state-sanctioned violence against people of color.
Take the time to find a cause that needs you, and if you’re able to give even a little, you’ll know that you’re directly providing relief to someone in need.
Sign Petitions
This an unstable economic time for so many people. If you’re unable to donate financially to causes right now, there are still ways to lend a hand.
Here is an easy list of petitions you can sign to take a stand against racial oppression and injustice.
Black Lives Matter also has a petitions page; right now they are advocating for a more urgent federal response to the threat of COVID-19 as well as tracking of the disproportionate ways COVID has impacted communities of color.
Contact Representatives
Nationwide protests this weekend erupted after Minnesotan representatives initially refused to arrest former officer Derek Chauvin for kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, who was not resisting arrest, until he died. You can contact the District Attorney and the Minneapolis Mayor to demand that the officers involved face justice.
Minneapolis Mayor’s Office, Jacob Frey: 612.673.2100 Minneapolis District Attorney, Mike Freeman: 612.348.5550
If you’re unsure of what to say, this free service will draft an email for you that you can send to Minneapolis representatives.
Being faced with an injustice as monumental and heartbreaking as racial inequality can feel debilitating. It’s easy to feel that there’s nothing one person can do to solve an issue so large and ingrained; we can feel drowned in the amount of grief and powerlessness that the world holds for us on some days.
The fight begins when we resist the voice that tells us there’s no point in trying. You can take a small step right now and start to be a part of the solution. You can join the thousands of people who are already working to make sure our children grow up with a safer, fairer future and together our work can change the world.
Every journey begins with one small step; are you ready to begin?
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