Song of the day:
Video of the day:
National Poetry Month
Let Me Begin Again - Major Jackson
Let me begin again as a quiet thought
in the shape of a shell slowly examined
by a brown child on a beach at dawn
straining to see their future. Let me begin
this time knowing the drumming in my dreams
is me inheriting the earth, is morning
lighting up the rivers. Let me burn
my vanities: old music in the pines, sifters
of scotch, a day moon like a signature
of night. This time, let me circle
the island of my fears only once then
live like a raging waterfall and grow
a magnificent mustache. Let me not ever be
the birdcage or the serrated blade or
the empty season. Dear Glacier, Dear Sea
of Stars, Dear Leopards disintegrating
at the outer limits of our greed; soon we will
encounter you only in motivational tweets.
Reader, I should have married you sooner.
This time, let me not sleep like the prophet who
believes he’s seen infinity. Let me run
at break-neck speeds toward sceneries
of doubt. I have no more dress rehearsals
to attend. Look closer: I am licking my lips.
Yesterday I had the opportunity of attending a fantastic workshop called Defining Race: Swimming in the Waters of Whiteness. It was led by an exceptional Black woman named Dr. Rachelle Rogers-Ard. She explained things in the most direct and clear-cut way I’ve ever seen. I got a LOT out of the workshop and won’t get into all of it here but here are a few thoughts:
Defining terms is critical so everyone is on the same page and people have a shared understanding; sometimes the most frequently used words when talking about race can cause confusion, frustration and hostility.
There is both overt and covert white supremacy. And while I inherently knew this, she showed a graphic similar to this one that put it all out there. There’s another example here.
People of color are not the minority in our world, they are most definitely the majority. There is beginning to be a shift in some countries to use the term PGM (People of the Global Majority) instead of POC (People of Color) or BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color). The United States is not widely using this term to date but we could, and should, be moving in that direction.
I learned about racelighting: When Black people and other PGM question their own thoughts and actions due to racialized mistreatment and messaging that make them second guess their lived experience with racism.
And finally, in case you weren’t already aware: There’s no such thing as being not racist; you’re either racist or actively anti-racist.
Have a great Tuesday!