Hi Everyone!!!
I know itās been a while since I sent one of these emails, my sincere apologyā¦life has been a lot recently so I took a break from my email list. But I appreciate you all so much!!
Today is a really big day for me because I officially hit 1000 followers on Medium! I know it may not seem like a lot but when I first joined Medium about 8 months ago, I would look at all the accounts with 1k in aweā¦now Iām one of those accounts. A super exciting way to start the month of August. So thank you all for your continued support and love.
The past couple of months for me have been a bit hectic but I feel like Iām finally starting to get my groove back. I think everyone is struggling a little bit during quarantine in some way or another.
My partner and I spent May and June engrossed in social justice activism following the murder of George Floyd. We have spent a lot of time organizing outside of Detroit, raising money for relief, and educating through our various platforms (me on Medium and him on Tiktok). Still working hard for justice and reform but July reminded us that we also need to place importance on our mental health. Only so long you can sustain 18 hour days of activism before crashing!
August is now officially grind time before I start my Masterās degree in Environmental Justice. Getting ready to be back in school and planning on writing a ton this month on Medium. So make sure to check out my page.
But without further ado, here are some of my top stories in recent months (all Friend Links so you can view without a Medium Subscription!)!
BLACK LIVES MATTER
America Has A Human Rights Problemā¦Not A Civil Rights One
But progress isnāt supposed to be comfortable. It isnāt supposed to be easy either. So I urge Americans to take an earnest look at our society, defiantly point out our falsehoods, and push towards a more equal world.
What An Interracial Household Looks Like After George Floydās Murder
I have no idea what it is like to be in my partnerās shoes.Ā It would be naive and privileged of me to assume that my sadness or anger can even begin to compareĀ to Marcās.Ā And I ultimately realizeĀ I can do little to comfort Marc other than to listen, offer support, and make sure I am continuously educating myself to be the best ally I can be.
An Extended List of Anti-Racist Resources
Antiracism is more than just retweeting Black Lives Matterā¦to be antiracist you must consistently confront your privilege and work towards racial equality.
Dear White Peopleā¦Enough Is Enough
This is the time for action. This is the time for change. If youāre not part of that changeā¦you are part of the problem.
The Unseen Heartbreak Behind These Protests
All these protests are coming from a place of heartbreak, anger, sadness, and fatigue. All 50 states (and the international community) are protesting because people are hurting. And this isnāt something newā¦this is 400+ years in the making. Please try to understand, nothing about these protests, expect the police brutality, is senseless.Ā This is heartbreak. This is years of trauma. Generations of trauma.
5 Tips For White People Talking To Friends And Family About Racism
As many white Americans are starting to confront and open their eyes to the racial injustices of this country, there are bound to be a lot of questions. Difficult conversations need to be had among white people. It is our job to educate ourselves about systematic racism and privilege, and then it is our duty to educate other white people.
3 Reasons Celebrities Have A Duty To Speak Up Right Now
Ā No matter how big or small the influence is, the fact remains that celebrity culture is often a byproduct of Black culture.
What Being in an Interracial Relationship Taught Me About Privilege
It became very evident early on in our relationship that our mindsets were completely different. How we interacted with the world, how the world viewed us, and how we thought about the world varied immensely.
Why White People Need To Watch Black TV Shows
Racist indoctrination in America (as well as the globe) teaches us that Black anything (creativity, sexuality, anger, love, etc) is inferior to white anything. While watching TV about Black experiences by Black writers and starring Black actors, I came face to face with my implicit biases.
When It Comes To Racism, We Need To Be Braver With Our Relationships
It is our duty as white people to first try and educate but ultimately we need to hold people accountable for their actions/ideas if education fails. When we continue to date and stay friends with people who refuse to change, then we fail at holding them accountable. We fail to actively work towards an anti-racist world.
Diversifying Your TV Binging Is Part of Your Anti-Racist Journey
We are a product of what we watch, what we listen to, where we live, and many other factors. If we only watch TV shows about white people, then we are automatically āotherā Black experiences. We can even subconsciously deem those TV shows and non-white experiences as inferior.
Other Stories
The Unspoken Downsides of Birth Control
How To Build and Sustain Online Friendships
Dear Family and Friends, Please Let Me Take Accountability
The Long-Lasting Effects of Parentification
We Need To Validate Friend Break Ups
No Momā¦Donāt Have Another Kid
That is all for this week! Bit longer than usual but lots of articles to share. Am going to have this email be bi-weekly now and actually keep to that schedule. So see you guys in 2 weeks.
Thanks forĀ following me on Medium, and please consider giving me aĀ follow over on Twitter, too!
You can now also buy me a coffeeĀ if you feel like my work deserves more love!
Much love,
Faith