I’m having trouble with small talk right now. The question “What are your plans for the summer?”, normally an entirely valid question intended to spark conversation between friends, is lost to me because the only questions I want to speak about are:
“How can I best use my privilege to stand with Black and Indigenous folks, people of colour, and the LGBTQ2S+ community?”
“How do I stay silent and let their voices be heard, and at the same time speak up against racism and prejudice?”
“What learning do I have to do?”
“What harm have I caused in the past, and how I can do better now?”
“How can I help dismantle the systems of oppression through my actions?
“How can I teach my kids about kindness?”
I’m also launching my book this month. I know, deep in my heart, that it is an amazing tool to spark honest conversations about kindness, prejudice, fear and love. And I also know there are so many books out there written by Black and Indigenous folks that need to be seen.
I don’t know what to do. I know I’m going to do or say some wrong things. And I may be scrutinized for it. But I am going to keep writing. I promise I will write from my heart. And I will do my best to be as inclusive and humble with my language as I know to be in that moment. If I make a mistake, I will correct it.
I will learn about the history of systemic oppression, and how to properly take action from books, posts and webinars by activists, movies, and podcasts. I will not tire of this journey, only to give up and return to my privileged emotional comfort. And I will listen, pause, and reflect before speaking.
Because I feel cannot rest until Black and Indigenous individuals, people of colour, LGBTQ2S+ folks, and people of all body sizes and abilities are all living with equal opportunity.