Seismic Shift

Facing the Earthquake

I woke up this morning thinking about Pema Chodron.  She is a source of strength when I’m in struggle.  We (people everywhere) are in deep pain right now.  The Coronavirus pandemic brought the world to its knees, and the seismic forces of deeply rooted racism, grinding under – and above – the surface for years, have finally unleashed an energy akin to a massive earthquake – completely altering the landscape of the entire world and leaving us an opportunity to rebuild.  I am brought to my knees, with an awareness now of how blind and unintentionally complicit I was, and how much work there is to do.  I am brought to my knees, witnessing peaceful protest after peaceful protest.  I am reminded of just how little I know and am grateful to read so much intelligent writing on racism and the long tentacles of its  effects. I find myself also with a hopeful soul, in seeing how many people are also standing up to fully face the work ahead to create the deep changes required to eradicate the pandemic that is racism.  I understand now how to step into the discomfort of my own white privilege and get to work. 

Eloquent and Excruciating

There has been an incredible amount of news and information about this very moment in our history.  It is easy to feel overwhelmed with input, and harder still to synthesize and act.  I recently read an incredible interview in the Paris Review from Toni Morrison from 1993.  In it, she speaks of tracing race in literature, and making a study of it in her reading and teaching.  She speaks of invisible threads, undercurrents that hint at race but can’t be found in the light of day.  Another article by Sarah Bellamy called Performing Whiteness very eloquently and excruciatingly presented a powerful picture of how racism can reside in both our bodies and minds, further expanding my awareness of how this presents – visibly and invisibly.   Words and actions both.  I highly recommend both of these articles and have included the links below.

Act

The changes we need to make are not going to happen overnight.  This work will require a marathoner’s mindset.  We can no longer accept status quo AND must accept and acknowledge where we are in our thinking, WHILE acting and building forward.  It is easy to feel overwhelmed and that change can’t happen or is too slow.  This is no excuse.  When we begin to feel that way, it is necessary to fight.  Fight the overwhelm.  Pick one small area of the quilt to patch, and then move to the next.  This may take the form of overt action, or it may take the form of reading and shoring up resolve.  So read, and think, and act, and be willing to fight.  There are so many resources available, with so many ways in which to act.  Pick one thing and get started.  Even if you are uncertain and afraid.  Even if you are busy.  Even if you feel overwhelmed.  Start here. 

THIS THURSDAY, 6/18/20: A Masterclass on Race 6/18/20:  https://shirley-mcalpine-consulting-llc.mykajabi.com/sales-page-1

READ:  Interview:  Toni Morrison,  The Art of Fiction https://theparisreview.org/interviews/1888/the-art-of-fiction-no-134-toni-morrison

READ:  Article:  Performing Whiteness by Sarah Bellamy  https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2020/06/08/the-performance-of-white-bodies/

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

With love and light,

K