Black Lives Matter.

Well, a lot is going on.

Most importantly, black lives are in danger. STILL.

People are standing up and taking action. People are showing where they stand, what they stand for, and how they stand in it. 

There are a lot of messages being put out there. There is a lot of information.

As a start, I recommend this blog post by Iana Sundari: 

https://namasteusa.blog/2020/05/28/dear-white-people/

I like the clarity of this message as well: 

We all need to stand. One thing I am doing is starting at home. As a mother. 

The fact that I don't have to worry about my child's life being endangered every day because of the color of her skin is a privilege. But it shouldn't be a privilege. It's a RIGHT. A fundamental human RIGHT that everyone, everywhere deserves. Period. 

Black parents and parents of black children in this country do not have this right. They never have. That wrongness goes beyond comprehension and the enormity of it is overwhelming. We have to do something. Every single one of us has to do something. And we have to KEEP doing something until there is change. Nothing feels like enough and because of that, doing nothing is unacceptable.

Here is a google doc that I find helpful: 

bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES

Here is a recent CNN article that is also helpful:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/01/health/protests-racism-talk-to-children-wellness/index.html

Here is a petition you can sign:

https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd?utm_source=brand_us&utm_medium=media&use_react=false

More petitions you can sign:

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/#petitions

Here is how you can donate to families of victims: 

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/#victims

Personally, I vow to work harder to make sure my child is an actively anti-racist member of society. I admit, I've been complacent (another privilege). We live in such a secluded, non-diverse place that I CANNOT be complacent. It's my responsibility to expose her to people and cultures that she doesn't see every day. 

This is a resource to help with having conversations: 

https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/topics/bias

I'll start with books and conversations. It's been disappointing that my daughter isn't a big reader like I was, but in this case, I'm looking forward to reading books with her and to her. 

Here are the books we are starting with:

The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas 

https://www.amazon.com/Hate-U-Give-Angie-Thomas/dp/0062498533

Go Tell It on the Mountain - James Baldwin

https://www.amazon.com/Go-Tell-Mountain-Vintage-International/dp/0345806549

This Side of Home - Renée Watson

https://www.amazon.com/This-Side-Home-Ren%C3%A9e-Watson/dp/1619639300

Black Enough - edited by Ibi Zoboi

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062698737/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Final thought (for now); I grew up in New York City where my parents didn't have to work so hard to ensure that I was surrounded by diversity. I'm incredibly grateful to have grown up in the gritty NYC of the late 70's and early 80's. I feel incredibly grateful to have been educated in a school that focused on teaching equality. 

(https://www.manhattancountryschool.org/)

It's time for me to do the work now with my own kid. 

Thanks for reading all of this, I love you. Anne