My goal is to bring gender literacy training to our school district this year while centering Black and brown students within the LGBTQIA+ community. We are making good progress and I am hopeful!! Thanks for offering hope to us, too.
Thank your for the reminder that these systems have tried for hundreds of years to make sure we're either not here or have no agency, but here we are just the same. I try to carry on that conviction to value who we are in three ways. First, I tutor elementary school children in math, and I bring my beliefs and attitudes to that practice. Second, I do it in the ways I raise my kids to be proud of themselves, aware of what's happening in the world, and determined pushed for what's right. Third, I do it in my writing by bringing all of my aging Black self to what I write about, and what I have to say about it. And all of that is aided by having people like you reminding us that we're not alone.
I honestly don't know what I'll do for victory yet. BUT this article was something amazing. Reading it hours after the all-male Supreme Court in South Carolina banned abortion after 6 weeks is dejecting. So contacting my congress person, posting my miscarriage story for others to read are both things I can do for a victory, making my voice heard is a victory. Thanks for this inspiring article today Ijeoma.
Your words remind me of Lucille Clifton's poem "won't you celebrate with me" where she says, "come celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me and has failed."
We and our ancestors grew up in 'dire shit.' By writing, I hope to amplify their voices and my own to the next generation.
I began my day, as I do often, on writing my book. Inspired by you and others, I have a story to tell, to share that's amazing and profound. I decided to dig back in the archives and watch a talk you gave in 2018 to Google employees. I loved hearing you read the intro to your book, So You Want to Talk About Race! I loved every moment of that discussion. That book was pivotal for me in being more open (didn't know I could be!) in my discussions of race. I began following you on Twitter when you were still writing the book and am still here with you and on IG. Keep up the good work! We need you.
Thank you for all you've done and for all you do. Thank you for reflecting our history of endurance and perseverance back at us. You are amazing and you are the absolute best! xo
My goal today is to let my intuition guide me. For the last 6 years Ive let logic lead the show in my job and relationship, to the detriment of being able to be fully me and love me for who I truly am. In June, I totally burnt out. I took a medical leave of absence from work and am now doing self compassion practices daily. Ive realized that for at least 20 years, Ive been unintentionally guided by unprocessed trauma and motivated by fear and lack of self worth instead of love. No more. Today I want to be an example of self-love so that i can do more, uphold my values with action, and encourage others to derive their value from their humanity and not external systems or forces.
Getting my neurodivergent teen who hates school through high school is helped by getting their partner (who also struggles with school) through high school. I've been taking them both to and from school from our home and together they have made it through the first three weeks of school (and mostly on-time!) The introverted partner advocated for themself to change a class! I'm so proud of them, happy they have each other and happy they have me in their corner. I'm going to take this hard won, seemingly tiny victory which really feels huge. We're building something.
Trying to be a visible ally (not performative, visible). After hearing some pretty ugly stuff at work from marginalized groups, sent a detailed complaint to the ethics team. We host queer get-togethers in our home each month. Working with a tribe in SD to provide more resources (poverty sucks, food deserts suck, no jobs on the res sucks, 60 min away from any real jobs with no car, no gas $$)
*insert standing ovation here* you so beautifully sang part of my heart's song with these words. So much of the world is so very very bad and some days it's hard to see the good that peeks through. Thank you for these words.
I didn't know this even existed! Contacting all the locals today:USE COVID RELIEF FUNDS TO RETIRE MEDICAL DEBT IN YOUR COMMUNITY – WHILE YOU STILL CAN
Pittsburgh has become the latest community to use COVID relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to cancel medical debt, with more than 24,000 Pittsburghers set to benefit. Elected officials are working with RIP Medical Debt, a non-profit that buys and retires medical debt for pennies on the dollar – a collection agency on the side of good. Billions of dollars of debt has already been wiped out thanks to these programs, but unused COVID relief funds are set to be rescinded in the year’s appropriations as part of the debt ceiling deal, so local and state government are running out of time to take advantage of this opportunity. Let’s contact our local elected officials and encourage them to use remaining ARPA funds to relieve medical debt burdens in our areas while they still can, and consider a donation to RIP Medical Debt ourselves if we can.
Thanks for this inspiring post. Our work is building spaces in which people listen to one another and honor each others' perspective across race - so every person can thrive.
I joined a small team that’s working on a mutual aid campaign for a Native parent in our community who needs money for rent and medical needs so they can return to work. And we’re really close to meeting the goal to meet their immediate, urgent needs!
I’m also part of a group that started a small project during the lockdown to gather and amplify current and past stories of BIPOC farmers in our area. We’re in conversation with a local group that may partner with us to expand the project, which would take the stories from their home on our website out into the world in more tangible ways.
Thank you for this post, Ijeoma. And thank you for inviting us to encourage each other by sharing. It’s really inspiring to hear about what people are doing. ❤️
Teaching the history and current story of The Zapatista success. It's good to know successful options for governance as actual direct democracy and consensus based.
I love the phrase "plans for victory!" Yes please, to more of that for us all. Me, I'm going to continue to show up in this, and other public spaces, as a queer woman. Something I was too afraid to do for 45 years. I'm still afraid of trolls, backlash, and dear god, even worse after recent events. But if I have the courage to share, maybe others will too, and then our voices will eventually drown those that seek to erase us.
My goal is to bring gender literacy training to our school district this year while centering Black and brown students within the LGBTQIA+ community. We are making good progress and I am hopeful!! Thanks for offering hope to us, too.
Thank your for the reminder that these systems have tried for hundreds of years to make sure we're either not here or have no agency, but here we are just the same. I try to carry on that conviction to value who we are in three ways. First, I tutor elementary school children in math, and I bring my beliefs and attitudes to that practice. Second, I do it in the ways I raise my kids to be proud of themselves, aware of what's happening in the world, and determined pushed for what's right. Third, I do it in my writing by bringing all of my aging Black self to what I write about, and what I have to say about it. And all of that is aided by having people like you reminding us that we're not alone.
needed this this morning. every day every child in my classroom will be loved, treated with dignity, & challenged to grow.
I honestly don't know what I'll do for victory yet. BUT this article was something amazing. Reading it hours after the all-male Supreme Court in South Carolina banned abortion after 6 weeks is dejecting. So contacting my congress person, posting my miscarriage story for others to read are both things I can do for a victory, making my voice heard is a victory. Thanks for this inspiring article today Ijeoma.
Your words remind me of Lucille Clifton's poem "won't you celebrate with me" where she says, "come celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me and has failed."
We and our ancestors grew up in 'dire shit.' By writing, I hope to amplify their voices and my own to the next generation.
I began my day, as I do often, on writing my book. Inspired by you and others, I have a story to tell, to share that's amazing and profound. I decided to dig back in the archives and watch a talk you gave in 2018 to Google employees. I loved hearing you read the intro to your book, So You Want to Talk About Race! I loved every moment of that discussion. That book was pivotal for me in being more open (didn't know I could be!) in my discussions of race. I began following you on Twitter when you were still writing the book and am still here with you and on IG. Keep up the good work! We need you.
Thank you for all you've done and for all you do. Thank you for reflecting our history of endurance and perseverance back at us. You are amazing and you are the absolute best! xo
My goal today is to let my intuition guide me. For the last 6 years Ive let logic lead the show in my job and relationship, to the detriment of being able to be fully me and love me for who I truly am. In June, I totally burnt out. I took a medical leave of absence from work and am now doing self compassion practices daily. Ive realized that for at least 20 years, Ive been unintentionally guided by unprocessed trauma and motivated by fear and lack of self worth instead of love. No more. Today I want to be an example of self-love so that i can do more, uphold my values with action, and encourage others to derive their value from their humanity and not external systems or forces.
That was beautifully said. I'm glad you're here.
Getting my neurodivergent teen who hates school through high school is helped by getting their partner (who also struggles with school) through high school. I've been taking them both to and from school from our home and together they have made it through the first three weeks of school (and mostly on-time!) The introverted partner advocated for themself to change a class! I'm so proud of them, happy they have each other and happy they have me in their corner. I'm going to take this hard won, seemingly tiny victory which really feels huge. We're building something.
Trying to be a visible ally (not performative, visible). After hearing some pretty ugly stuff at work from marginalized groups, sent a detailed complaint to the ethics team. We host queer get-togethers in our home each month. Working with a tribe in SD to provide more resources (poverty sucks, food deserts suck, no jobs on the res sucks, 60 min away from any real jobs with no car, no gas $$)
*insert standing ovation here* you so beautifully sang part of my heart's song with these words. So much of the world is so very very bad and some days it's hard to see the good that peeks through. Thank you for these words.
I didn't know this even existed! Contacting all the locals today:USE COVID RELIEF FUNDS TO RETIRE MEDICAL DEBT IN YOUR COMMUNITY – WHILE YOU STILL CAN
Pittsburgh has become the latest community to use COVID relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to cancel medical debt, with more than 24,000 Pittsburghers set to benefit. Elected officials are working with RIP Medical Debt, a non-profit that buys and retires medical debt for pennies on the dollar – a collection agency on the side of good. Billions of dollars of debt has already been wiped out thanks to these programs, but unused COVID relief funds are set to be rescinded in the year’s appropriations as part of the debt ceiling deal, so local and state government are running out of time to take advantage of this opportunity. Let’s contact our local elected officials and encourage them to use remaining ARPA funds to relieve medical debt burdens in our areas while they still can, and consider a donation to RIP Medical Debt ourselves if we can.
Thanks for this inspiring post. Our work is building spaces in which people listen to one another and honor each others' perspective across race - so every person can thrive.
I joined a small team that’s working on a mutual aid campaign for a Native parent in our community who needs money for rent and medical needs so they can return to work. And we’re really close to meeting the goal to meet their immediate, urgent needs!
I’m also part of a group that started a small project during the lockdown to gather and amplify current and past stories of BIPOC farmers in our area. We’re in conversation with a local group that may partner with us to expand the project, which would take the stories from their home on our website out into the world in more tangible ways.
Thank you for this post, Ijeoma. And thank you for inviting us to encourage each other by sharing. It’s really inspiring to hear about what people are doing. ❤️
Teaching the history and current story of The Zapatista success. It's good to know successful options for governance as actual direct democracy and consensus based.
I love the phrase "plans for victory!" Yes please, to more of that for us all. Me, I'm going to continue to show up in this, and other public spaces, as a queer woman. Something I was too afraid to do for 45 years. I'm still afraid of trolls, backlash, and dear god, even worse after recent events. But if I have the courage to share, maybe others will too, and then our voices will eventually drown those that seek to erase us.