TO WRITE OR NOT

This past week, I've asked myself questions:

Is this the right time to be writing a blog about art and nature?
Should I instead be expressing my opinion about the depth and causes of the multiple crises we are in?
What side of history do I want to be on?
What can one person do? How can I best listen?

To answer the first question, I have been encouraged by many readers who have told me how much these posts mean to them, giving them a quiet moment of peace. I treasure that.

To the second question, I will leave editorials to writers like Rebecca Solnit and fellow blogger, Chandra Lynn. Please read Chandra Lynn's post that starts with Dear Friend: Racism, Outrage, Resistance and Faith. She speaks to the heart of living while black in America:  https://iamchandralynn.com

Not writing about racism, politics or solutions doesn't mean that I can put my blinders back on and think that we are making the changes we need to make towards racial justice. Sure, we have made progress from the Civil Rights era, but that progress has been glacial owing to people like me with my white silence.

As a young woman, I took the easy way and became an advocate for woman's rights to ensure that women and girls received equal education and opportunities. The harder way would have been to include anyone at a disadvantage and advocate for equal rights for everyone. I also know my limitations, so I look for small ways to make change. I encourage friends to support what works for them, I write letters and postcards to my representatives, and I encourage people to register to vote. I now can stand up to people when I think they are wrong.

I feel that if each of us who wants to see a better America takes one step each day, each week, each month, we can stand up for what we believe in. We can sit down and listen. We can stand up for others. We can silence the bullies around us.

And we can vote as if our lives depended on it.

2020 Women's March

We can also accept that we don't know enough. I searched this week for good articles and books on racial justice, community policing and the effects of small actions. Here's what I found:


Racial Justice:
https://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/racism-101.html?emci=d1852de1-59a4-ea11-9b05-00155d03b5dd&emdi=9cf6722b-9aa5-ea11-9b05-00155d0394bb&ceid=926063

Little Things can make a difference:
https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/mental-health/2018/09/10/5-ways-small-actions-have-huge-power/?

Community Policing:
https://civilrights.org/wp-content/uploads/Policing_Full_Report.pdf?emci=d1852de1-59a4-ea11-9b05-00155d03b5dd&emdi=9cf6722b-9aa5-ea11-9b05-00155d0394bb&ceid=926063

Read these books:
White Fragility by Dr. Robin diAngelo
Dear Church by Lenny Duncan
and click on my Book Lists link to find more

Here is a list of organizations that I found that I feel could support. I hope you will take the time to either support these groups or find a local group that is working for the heart of America.

Organizations:
Racial Justice:
Color of Change:  http://act.colorofchange.org/signup/signup/?sp_ref=646022956.176.191540.o.1.2&referring_akid=.10188450.tQx4Fv&source=c2c
Minnesota Freedom Fund:  https://minnesotafreedomfund.org
Northside Achievement Zone (Minneapolis):  https://northsideachievement.org
NAACP:  https://www.naacp.org

California Farmworkers:
Ayudando Latinos a Sonar - Half Moon Bay: https://www.alashmb.org
Farmworker Justice:  https://www.farmworkerjustice.org

Native Americans:
Native American Rights Fund:  https://www.narf.org/best-charities/
First Nations:  https://www.firstnations.org/our-programs/strengthening-tribal-community-institutions/

Homelessness:
Streetbooks:  A mobile book shop serving people who love outside in Portland. Look at their website. You will have to smile.
http://streetbooks.org

And because arts are important and are always first on the list to be defunded,
write your representatives to continue to support the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA):
https://www.arts.gov
Americans for the Arts:  https://www.americansforthearts.org/about-americans-for-the-arts
Kala Art Institute, Oakland, CA:  http://www.kala.org/in-solidarity/

MCS©2015

And remember
George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Michael Lorenzo Dean, Eric Reason, Christopher McCorvey, Christopher Whitfield, Atatiana Jefferson, Dominique Clayton, Pamela Turner, Botham Jean, Antwon Rose II, Stephon Clark, Ronell Foster, Aaron Bailey, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Freddie Gray, Philando Castile, Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Ahmaud Arbery, and more.