Me + White Supremacy
More Guns Than People
In 1998, I lived in Brisbane, Australia for 7 months while studying abroad. So many Australians I met were so curious to hear about what America was like. The number one question that I was asked was, “Does everyone in America have a gun?” I was confused by this question because I grew up very…
Read MorePolice brutality
“Police brutality is as deadly as it has ever been in the entire history of our country. Do you know why? For all intents and purposes, police brutality is legal in America. Police policy manuals may discourage it and communities across the country may absolutely despise it, but the bottom line is that our courts…
Read MoreWhite Privilege
Shaun King offers a helpful explanation of white privilege on his new podcast, The Breakdown, which is now the #1 news & politics podcast in the world and the #4 podcast overall across all categories. I’m proud to be supporting The North Star as a founding member. “Privilege is complicated to explain in part because it often functions…
Read MoreOpen Eyes of Racism
Open eyes see Racism everywhere Don’t fucking look away You know what you saw You know what you heard You witnessed the harm You were part of the harm You stood silently for too long You accepted the lies Made them your truth & tradition Time to break down and dismantle white supremacy We must…
Read MoreOwn Your Racism
My own racism rears its ugly head while I’m doing my anti-racism work. It happens all the time. I did my first ever video story today about owning my racism. I’m getting to know the racist parts of myself that haven’t been acknowledged so that I can more quickly recognize them and stay grounded in…
Read MoreJemel Roberson
It’s not an accident or a mistake that Illinois police shot security guard #JemelRoberson, who risked his life to protect others as he apprehended a drunk, violent gunman. It’s systemic racism. Black, indigenous, people of color die/get shot when white people ignore, deny or are blind to our racial bias. It takes continuous work to…
Read MoreTone Policing
If you feel the need to say “Not all white people,” you should watch this video. It’s not only aggravating to the very people you are opening your mouth to say that you are down with, it’s also counter-productive, unnecessary, and an exhibit of white privilege to believe that you have the right to demand…
Read MoreCo-Conspirator’s Lounge
Recently I had a lot of feelings about being recruited, evangelized or pressured into things in a sales-y way. I’ve been reflecting on those feelings and looking for ways that I behave in the same way as those I condemned. I see that there’s a difference between an organization that pressures/requires you to get your…
Read MoreMe & White Leaders
Thinking about leadership in terms of white leaders, I notice that I’ve more often clarified the race of a leader if they are not white and that is part of my white supremacist conditioning to assume that leaders are white unless otherwise specified. The impact that white, often male, leaders have had on my life…
Read MoreMe & White Feminism
I’ve learned that what I understood feminism to be was actually white feminism. White feminism has been fighting for equality and justice for white women first, but never coming back to fight for or recognize the needs of BIWOC. Nothing included in my education ever mentioned non-white feminism. I have read Alice Walker, bell hooks,…
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