You are an ethical and diligent author. You are NOT sloppy. You practice what you preach. You respect consent and personal boundaries.
To me, a complete outsider, this looks like someone is trying to tear you down because YOU are successful and recognized and came up with an idea to write a book they wish they could have written. I say this because they mentioned wanting publishing advice.
While we live in a world of disinformation, the truth will prevail. You are not how they are trying to represent you. I am disappointed any shadow would be cast on you or your work.
Please know there is an army of us that trusts your work and backs you. You are respected, loved and admired.
While not the same, I have experienced similar stone throwing in non-profit work. It is frustrating, unproductive and hurtful. As they say, "No good deed goes unpunished."
Ah, beloved sister. It breaks my heart that someone would do this to you. There is so much to say… maybe a book in itself 🤓 (never piss off a writer!).
In the early 1990s, I wrote a series of book reviews for the Gustavus Myers Center at Boston University about various social justice movements and leaders. Writing those reviews clarified something I had struggled with for decades: why do some movements implode. Here’s what I realized.
There are two types of revolutionaries/change agents: Those who pursue power to benefit the people they serve; those who pursue power to access the tools of power for their own benefit. Telling them apart is often tricky and only becomes evident once they actually have some form of power, though there are telltale signs.
You, dear friend, are easy to identify as the former. How? When COVID hit you had two teen sons and an aging mother (don’t tell Susan I said that). You could have just hunkered down and taken care of your own. But you didn’t. Within days after the Great Shutdown you and Gabriel leveraged your clout and resources to start a fund for artists who we all knew would be in crisis. That fund, originally set up with a $10,000 goal, sped past expectations and eventually raised over $1,000,000, every cent of which went into the hands of suddenly unemployed artists needing help with groceries, medicine, rent and other needs. All with no questions asked. In the midst of trauma, you brought us a reminder of our shared humanity. Those who gave remembered they still had something to contribute. Those who received learned they were valued and wouldn’t be abandoned. We all learned, again, who you and Gabriel are. If there had been any questions before they were more than answered.
Like you, I’ve seen many folks go through a version of this. Have experienced it myself. It’s abuse, meant to intimidate, silence, and exert power. And it’s so much harder to take when it comes from another BIPOC person. The good news? We’re in great company… especially among the sisterhood of Black women… and we have history to reveal who we really are.
Thank you for being open about yet another struggle. For leading with your heart, again. I’m team Oluo/Teodros all day, every day.
Thank you for this. This is something I have been thinking about and talking about for years. The hosts of the podcast "Fucking Cancelled" characterize the confluence of social media, activism, and activist policing as the Vortex, and it is so pervasive and so hard to escape, even if we don't participate in online spaces where it's happening. But I have watched it time and again, these massive campaigns waged against Black folks, brown folks, women, trans folks, queer folks, Intersex folks, that call to silence and deplatform them, that is coming from progressive people. Every time, when I seek to find the original transgression, the response to the transgression can only be described as disproportionate.
You captured it so beautifully with this: "I’m angry that we have to carry so much trauma, and that trauma can be so easily weaponized. I’m angry that we have to fight these systems and find a way to heal from harm that keeps happening and unlearn carceral thinking and build new healthier ways of dealing with conflict ALL AT ONCE."
I am heartbroken and angry and full of grief at how wrecked our nervous systems are and that we rarely have or give space to rest and collaborate and heal and listen and consider.
So, thank you.
And 'Be a Revolution' is an incredible book, just like your previous books. You are one of my greatest teachers. Even if we aren't in personal community, I consider you part of my wider community and value what you put out into the world.
I don’t have any solutions or easy words. There aren’t any. I am saddened that you are going through this and I DEEPLY appreciate you taking more of your energy and time to reflect on it and write about it. I agree with all you say and have said. Your experiences, thoughts and words matter, thank you for being here and sharing this ♥️
You could have chosen to protect your peace, as the saying goes, by not writing books, by not making yourself vulnerable.
Your conscience, your heart; your mind and your soul called you in the direction that you have followed.
I almost forgot to mention: your courage.
I wish that this was not happening to you.
I left so many political groups due to interpersonal bullshit. One issue that was very prevalent: someone with "an invisible disability" -- not sure what the proper term is these days, but...someone who clearly has issues that manifest as crying victim & getting people to collude with them to dogpile on a person who is completely confused by how it happened.
Yes, there IS much work to do.
I'm so sorry.
💔
I hope that this deescalates soon.
Sending love and good vibes for the safety of you and your family.
I want to echo the frustration felt by others in reading about your experience and the appreciation for yet another area of unseen labor you've taken on in this work and the emotional toll that adds to. I just read a facebook memory post of yours from March 21, 2020 where you wrote so beautifully about staying home and protecting each other "because we are connected, because we love each other and because we are responsible to each other." You also wrote "We have the opportunity to not only survive this but to come through it transformed - with new ideas of what it means to be in community with each other. But we can only do that if we trust each other." I've been thinking so much about the hopefulness and possibility in what you wrote and feel like "how the f did we get here?" is true in so many ways four years later.
I am so heartbroken by this post and so sorry you’re dealing with this. It sounds like you were extremely clear and transparent; I don’t see how you — or anyone — could have possibly anticipated whatever this person’s agenda or jealousy might be.
Just here to say that we support you. It must be so hard to build a positive version of that whisper campaign, to counter the damage that is being done to you. You are so right, people are so ready to jump on the anger-bandwagon (I’m sure I’ve done it myself) without having any real information. I don’t know how we stop it, but I’m inspired to reflect on my own interactions, to think and fact-check more before grabbing my pitchfork.
WOW ....daaammmmmnnnnnnn. The pain of this world is so raw and real and deep and HUGE right now. I am so very sorry this has happened. I am sending HUGE LOVE and appreciation for YOU. xoxoxoxoxoxo
Ugh. I hate every repetition of this story, every time someone working for social justice chooses verbal violence instead of seeking understanding. I hate it because I know how close I’ve come to being that person at times of great stress and fatigue, and know how easy it is to fall into the competitive, dominance-seeking behavior patterns that pervade our society and leach into our bones and our instincts. It takes conscious, consistent effort NOT to be that person, but too many of us believe that if we are good people doing good work then we couldn’t possibly betray our ideals like that.
I’m so grateful to you for your choice to do the work anyway, to speak truth not just to power but also to our vulnerabilities, the things we must be aware of when fighting power. You have sacrificed so much to try to steer us toward better ways, and I’m sorry you’re bearing the brunt of yet another person giving in to the impulse to lash out instead of reach out.
So sorry that you are dealing with this on top of all the work and support you provide in so many places and for so many. A trust broken is so scary when you have done all you could to be open and vulnerable. Remember, in addition to your trusted circle of family and friends, there are far, far, far more people that admire, love, and appreciate you.
I so badly wish none of this was happening to you. Thank you for sharing it and your insights on why many people are fighting each other instead of the systems that put us in this traumatized and angry place. I hope you do get a chance to share your chapter on conflict resolution broadly. We all so clearly need it!! I would love to read it. I am sending you peace and love. Actually, sending us ALL peace and love. May we all turn towards each other and lift each other up instead of lashing out. May your candid reflection on your experience inspire others to choose turning towards others to work together instead of hurting each other. ❤️
You are an ethical and diligent author. You are NOT sloppy. You practice what you preach. You respect consent and personal boundaries.
To me, a complete outsider, this looks like someone is trying to tear you down because YOU are successful and recognized and came up with an idea to write a book they wish they could have written. I say this because they mentioned wanting publishing advice.
While we live in a world of disinformation, the truth will prevail. You are not how they are trying to represent you. I am disappointed any shadow would be cast on you or your work.
Please know there is an army of us that trusts your work and backs you. You are respected, loved and admired.
While not the same, I have experienced similar stone throwing in non-profit work. It is frustrating, unproductive and hurtful. As they say, "No good deed goes unpunished."
Do you need anything this community can supply right now?
Trust is a tricky subject.
People have mental illnesses, alter their consciousness without advising that they are speaking under the influence, etc.
My heart is with you but if we can do more I want to be a part of that.
Ah, beloved sister. It breaks my heart that someone would do this to you. There is so much to say… maybe a book in itself 🤓 (never piss off a writer!).
In the early 1990s, I wrote a series of book reviews for the Gustavus Myers Center at Boston University about various social justice movements and leaders. Writing those reviews clarified something I had struggled with for decades: why do some movements implode. Here’s what I realized.
There are two types of revolutionaries/change agents: Those who pursue power to benefit the people they serve; those who pursue power to access the tools of power for their own benefit. Telling them apart is often tricky and only becomes evident once they actually have some form of power, though there are telltale signs.
You, dear friend, are easy to identify as the former. How? When COVID hit you had two teen sons and an aging mother (don’t tell Susan I said that). You could have just hunkered down and taken care of your own. But you didn’t. Within days after the Great Shutdown you and Gabriel leveraged your clout and resources to start a fund for artists who we all knew would be in crisis. That fund, originally set up with a $10,000 goal, sped past expectations and eventually raised over $1,000,000, every cent of which went into the hands of suddenly unemployed artists needing help with groceries, medicine, rent and other needs. All with no questions asked. In the midst of trauma, you brought us a reminder of our shared humanity. Those who gave remembered they still had something to contribute. Those who received learned they were valued and wouldn’t be abandoned. We all learned, again, who you and Gabriel are. If there had been any questions before they were more than answered.
Like you, I’ve seen many folks go through a version of this. Have experienced it myself. It’s abuse, meant to intimidate, silence, and exert power. And it’s so much harder to take when it comes from another BIPOC person. The good news? We’re in great company… especially among the sisterhood of Black women… and we have history to reveal who we really are.
Thank you for being open about yet another struggle. For leading with your heart, again. I’m team Oluo/Teodros all day, every day.
Thank you for this. This is something I have been thinking about and talking about for years. The hosts of the podcast "Fucking Cancelled" characterize the confluence of social media, activism, and activist policing as the Vortex, and it is so pervasive and so hard to escape, even if we don't participate in online spaces where it's happening. But I have watched it time and again, these massive campaigns waged against Black folks, brown folks, women, trans folks, queer folks, Intersex folks, that call to silence and deplatform them, that is coming from progressive people. Every time, when I seek to find the original transgression, the response to the transgression can only be described as disproportionate.
You captured it so beautifully with this: "I’m angry that we have to carry so much trauma, and that trauma can be so easily weaponized. I’m angry that we have to fight these systems and find a way to heal from harm that keeps happening and unlearn carceral thinking and build new healthier ways of dealing with conflict ALL AT ONCE."
I am heartbroken and angry and full of grief at how wrecked our nervous systems are and that we rarely have or give space to rest and collaborate and heal and listen and consider.
So, thank you.
And 'Be a Revolution' is an incredible book, just like your previous books. You are one of my greatest teachers. Even if we aren't in personal community, I consider you part of my wider community and value what you put out into the world.
I don’t have any solutions or easy words. There aren’t any. I am saddened that you are going through this and I DEEPLY appreciate you taking more of your energy and time to reflect on it and write about it. I agree with all you say and have said. Your experiences, thoughts and words matter, thank you for being here and sharing this ♥️
I can't "like" this.
How exhausting, how devastating for you.
You could have chosen to protect your peace, as the saying goes, by not writing books, by not making yourself vulnerable.
Your conscience, your heart; your mind and your soul called you in the direction that you have followed.
I almost forgot to mention: your courage.
I wish that this was not happening to you.
I left so many political groups due to interpersonal bullshit. One issue that was very prevalent: someone with "an invisible disability" -- not sure what the proper term is these days, but...someone who clearly has issues that manifest as crying victim & getting people to collude with them to dogpile on a person who is completely confused by how it happened.
Yes, there IS much work to do.
I'm so sorry.
💔
I hope that this deescalates soon.
Sending love and good vibes for the safety of you and your family.
💙🙏
I want to echo the frustration felt by others in reading about your experience and the appreciation for yet another area of unseen labor you've taken on in this work and the emotional toll that adds to. I just read a facebook memory post of yours from March 21, 2020 where you wrote so beautifully about staying home and protecting each other "because we are connected, because we love each other and because we are responsible to each other." You also wrote "We have the opportunity to not only survive this but to come through it transformed - with new ideas of what it means to be in community with each other. But we can only do that if we trust each other." I've been thinking so much about the hopefulness and possibility in what you wrote and feel like "how the f did we get here?" is true in so many ways four years later.
I am so heartbroken by this post and so sorry you’re dealing with this. It sounds like you were extremely clear and transparent; I don’t see how you — or anyone — could have possibly anticipated whatever this person’s agenda or jealousy might be.
Thank you for your work, energy and staying true to your integrity. Keep taking care of yourself.
Echoing what others have asked : what can we give you that would be helpful at this time. You have my unwavering support.
As always thank you for all that you sacrifice by continuing this important work.
Just here to say that we support you. It must be so hard to build a positive version of that whisper campaign, to counter the damage that is being done to you. You are so right, people are so ready to jump on the anger-bandwagon (I’m sure I’ve done it myself) without having any real information. I don’t know how we stop it, but I’m inspired to reflect on my own interactions, to think and fact-check more before grabbing my pitchfork.
WOW ....daaammmmmnnnnnnn. The pain of this world is so raw and real and deep and HUGE right now. I am so very sorry this has happened. I am sending HUGE LOVE and appreciation for YOU. xoxoxoxoxoxo
Ugh. I hate every repetition of this story, every time someone working for social justice chooses verbal violence instead of seeking understanding. I hate it because I know how close I’ve come to being that person at times of great stress and fatigue, and know how easy it is to fall into the competitive, dominance-seeking behavior patterns that pervade our society and leach into our bones and our instincts. It takes conscious, consistent effort NOT to be that person, but too many of us believe that if we are good people doing good work then we couldn’t possibly betray our ideals like that.
I’m so grateful to you for your choice to do the work anyway, to speak truth not just to power but also to our vulnerabilities, the things we must be aware of when fighting power. You have sacrificed so much to try to steer us toward better ways, and I’m sorry you’re bearing the brunt of yet another person giving in to the impulse to lash out instead of reach out.
I don't have anything to add that Ruth Ann Harnisch and Kristine Ann Brandes Teal haven't already said. My heart is with you.
So sorry that you are dealing with this on top of all the work and support you provide in so many places and for so many. A trust broken is so scary when you have done all you could to be open and vulnerable. Remember, in addition to your trusted circle of family and friends, there are far, far, far more people that admire, love, and appreciate you.
I so badly wish none of this was happening to you. Thank you for sharing it and your insights on why many people are fighting each other instead of the systems that put us in this traumatized and angry place. I hope you do get a chance to share your chapter on conflict resolution broadly. We all so clearly need it!! I would love to read it. I am sending you peace and love. Actually, sending us ALL peace and love. May we all turn towards each other and lift each other up instead of lashing out. May your candid reflection on your experience inspire others to choose turning towards others to work together instead of hurting each other. ❤️