Being an Antiracist

I'm not looking for kudos.
I'm not looking to be seen as a "savior."
I simply know I'm not doing enough, so I'll do what I can.
I'm sharing what I'm reading so that other White people may do the same.

I'm near the end of the book How to Be an Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi.

I heard Kim Crayton's podcast, and she's sharing thoughts on each chapter here.

After hearing this particular podcast about a strategy to becoming an antiracist...

I saw an Allstate commercial. I sent them this email:

I love many of your Mayhem advertisements. The most recent I saw has Tina Fey driving Mayhem (Saint Bernard). I'm writing to ask you that when you have commercials making one person look dumb (in this case - the other driver), could you at least make them of the same race? Please send my request to whomever is in charge of advertising to make the races (and genders, as well) be the same if you're making one person look worse than the other - much like the Mayhem tailgater commercial. I love the Mayhem commercials - yet not when they perpetuate the idea that people of light skin are in any way superior to others. Thank you!

I have sooooo much more to do!!!

What educators can do:

• Read and share texts written by authors of color.
• Share diverse texts in class, and share stories of those whose progress has been hindered due to white supremacy/polices. (I've saved a very few here. Feel free to add more resources in the comments.)
• Find out what your LOCAL politicians really stand for, then stand up against them in the smaller elections.
• Never group people together - saying all of any race or sexual orientation or political party do or say certain things is totally wrong. Every person has a story not like any other person.

I'm seeing white all over...

It's National Left-Handers Day, you know...

And this is what I see:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one got to me - I changed it in my mind to "when they assume everyone is white..." I can't imagine what our BIPOC population thinks when all they see is white, white, white.

Ah! Then there was Barack Obama and his mic drop!

THIS one. This one works for me now that I'm seeing so - very - much - whiteness in my life.

Banjo Challenge 60-Day Update

I've missed a few days... yesterday due to the exhausting drive home with the camper trailer and then sleeping, another day earlier this week when I just didn't get it in, and three days when we were in Boston.

What I'm learning:

• Practicing helps. I may not see the results NOW; they'll come in time. Repeating parts I'm really slow with (for five minutes or so!) helps a LOT.
• I've been practicing a pull-off, so you'll hear that in the latest update to Cripple Creek.
• When it's a new song, I suck at it for a long time.
• I CAN get better (compare "Old Time Religion" to last time).
• I get bored with the "old" songs I started with. I'd rather practice new pieces (even though I stink at them).
• There's no good way to hold this thing, and I don't need the strap when I sit. (I need to wear pants so that there aren't two big ridges in my thighs after 30 minutes.
• Thirty minutes goes faster when you've got more songs to practice.
• I need to trim the fingernails on my left hand at least every week.

Bear with me... I'm only on Day 60!

Banjo Challenge 30-Day Update

I've practiced every day I physically could for 30 minutes for 30 days in a row. Today is Day 30, and just as I was feeling in a slump about it being difficult, I can now see how far I've progressed!

What's been tough:

• Not seeing immediate gains.
• Not progressing quickly through the books.
• Needing to practice certain parts over and over (and over...) again.
• Needing to listen to the examples provided on my laptop.
• Learning new techniques such as the "slide" and "hammer on."
• Needing to trim my fingernails so I can put my fingers square on the strings.
• My left arm aches sometimes.

What's kept me going:

• It is a challenge.
• I can see glimpses of progress.
• I like hearing what it's supposed to sound like, and I try to make mine as clear.
• When it sounds good, I smile.
• My fingers have gotten used to the work.
• My left arm has gotten stronger.

Here are my updates...
I've stuck more with the Earl Scruggs book than the one I had been using prior to this challenge, so I haven't really practiced "Go Tell Aunt Rhody," "Tom Dooley" or "Good Night Ladies" like I should have been doing. Instead, I've been learning more "how tos" from Earl Scruggs, which lead me to practicing "Boil Them Cabbage Down" more, and two new ones - "Old Time Religion" and parts of "Cripple Creek." I've not opened the "Morgaine's Hornpipe" page from the (difficult solo) book, because I thought I'd wait on that gem until I got many more basics down. That one's my dream song, so I'm going to use that as a reward to myself when I feel better about my skills.

With that in mind, here are my videos from today's progress (my favorite is the last one)...

Banjo Challenge

So... I got a banjo for my 30th birthday. Sixteen years later, and I don't know much.

Guess what my new "genius hour" project is?!?!

This is my spot to document my learning, so here goes... I haven't picked up my banjo in over two years. I do remember some bits and pieces of these songs by memory.

I'm going to spend 30 minutes a day starting June 12th (my first day of summer). My hands hurt. I needed to file down my nails on my left hand. I'm glad I'm picking the banjo back up again.

DAY 1














These are the books (and some come with CDs) I'm using:

   

Privileged - Points to Pursue

I recently read a blog post called "Privileged" by Kyle Korver of the Utah Jazz.

Towards the end, he says that he does NOT have the answers, but he may guidance towards starting to change the dynamics of privilege. Here is the section on which my focus needs to be:

Please read Kyle's words, and let them soak in a bit more. I really like the next tidbit about guilt and responsibility, as well. That bit should help more of us who have white fragility.

White Male Educators

I have nothing against white male educators in general.

I am simply noticing a trend as I look for "recognizable authorities in the industry." I'm supposed to find leaders, speakers, or experts in education. I'm supposed to find a title that people will instantly recognize. I will be asking a few of them for endorsements for my next book about word choice in schools. (In fact, if you look here, you'll see the awesome white educators that endorsed Shift This.)

The first names that came to me were ALL white men.

Don't get me wrong - I have many of these on my "first" list on Twitter, meaning I don't want to miss their tweets (Paul B., Scott H., Kelly G....).

I'm simply - once again - noticing the whiteness that surrounds me.

Looking through my Twitter follows, I see white men as being the ones with the largest voices online. They're they ones that have blogs, podcasts, YouTube channels, get involved in chats, share their ideas, books, other resources and thoughts voraciously.

Where is my diversity in who I follow online? I have very few connections with humans that look different from me. How can I learn more when I'm always paying attention to white voices (male and female)?

So now I'm reaching out to you.

Who do YOU recommend I follow to hear different voices from our field? Please do not simply respond in a tweet - please share those educators you respect (that are not white) in the comments below so other white educators can also learn from them. Thank you in advance!