|
June 19, 2020
|
|
This week
I'm certain you're aware that today is Juneteenth. My inbox and social feeds have been flooded with statements about it. In an interview about Juneteenth from 2017, journalist Isabel Wilkerson described most white Americans' understanding of history as "walking into a movie theater in the middle of a movie." And indeed, here we are. We're late.
True, it's better to take our seats late than to glance at the marquee and keep strolling past the theater. But some acknowledgment of our tardiness—and some time to absorb what we missed in the first half of the film—is in order. Case in point: I'm only able to quote the Wilkerson interview today because I went searching for interviews with historians after I saw Juneteenth pop up on my Google calendar two days ago, and realized I needed more education about it.
Part of this broader moment, for me, is about acknowledging the many ways I'm a late and doing the work to catch up. What does it mean for a white person or a predominantly white organization to say "Happy Juneteenth!"? I'm not sure I have a full answer yet, but I do know it involves understanding the first half of the movie—and also exiting the theater and getting to work.
On a related note, on Call Your Girlfriend today we talk about the superficial solidarity statements being issued by everyone from magazines to big-box stores to weapons manufacturers—and what real reckoning might look like.
|
I'm reading
|
Pie chart
The Yes We're Still Wearing Masks Pie
Pie is free for all, courtesy of paying members. Thanks so much for your support!
|
I’m looking & listening
Miss Juneteenth (watch the trailer here). Recorder, a documentary about activist and archivist Marion Stokes, who recorded American television 24 hours a day for over 30 years. Candyman, an animated short, is "at the intersection of white violence and black pain, is about unwilling martyrs." Nadiya's Time to Eat. And I honestly laughed so hard at this report about " social dis-dancing" at a Dutch club.
|
GIFspiration
|
I endorse
To do: Take action in solidarity with Black trans people.
To buy: I love this letterpress-printed WTF poster—a whole mood!—by George McCalman.
And as a follow-up to last week's newsletter about doing the work where you are, I've been paying attention to the ways that some of my fellow white media-makers are reckoning with their own work—especially when it comes to editorial outlets that are not explicitly about race or social justice: This episode of Who?Weekly (a podcast about celebrity gossip), this episode of A Thing or Two (a podcast about small business, design, curation), and this post by designer Dylan Lathrop about the sports site Bleacher Report. These more specific assessments of how to de-center whiteness are, to me, much more promising than a general "we have to do better" statement.
|
|
|
The Classifieds
|
You've seen my ads here, and you've been thinking, "I should really see about therapy with this woman, maybe she could actually help." Expert video therapy, feminist sensibility. Specializing in women's empowerment, anchoring digital nomads/expats.
In the weekly podcast How to Talk to Mamí & Papí About Anything, first-gen adult children of immigrant parents share stories to help them find ways to approach taboo subjects; and experts offer actionable real-life advice. Subscribe anywhere. TalkToMamiPapi.com @TalkToMamiPapi
Lockdown doesn't mean you can't unlock your life: relationships, family, sexuality, work. Therapy with a progressive slant. (NY state only)
It's rhubarb season! Handmade jam tarts with Northcountry NY wild fruits! Visit wildfruits.co and try our strawberry rhubarb.
Want to find clarity? Bold Thursday offers tarot readings & rituals for self-discovery. Get unstuck, plan ahead or check-in with the cards.
Subscribe to Poet-in-Residence, a newsletter of poems about pop culture and the internet by Leigh Stein, the "poet laureate of The Bachelor."
|
|
Testimonials
"Her weekly round up of links (of which I usually click 75% and read like 10% of that 75%) are great critical thinking pieces, often getting me to think a level deeper than the face value. Like, basically, we can always go deeper, and in a world of snorkelers, Ann is a deep sea diver. " -Jessica. Diving into the internet rather than surfing it!
This newsletter is catching up.
Forward it to someone who's better late than never.
In less than a month, my book Big Friendship will be out in the world!
You can really help me out by pre-ordering it now.
|
|
|
|