If we’re committed to being anti-racist and not just an ally (yes, there is a nuanced difference) then we have to engage in a conscious effort to unpack our own racism; eliminating the barriers we unconsciously put up when we're made aware that something we've stated, shared or done is racist.
Words can be powerful. They can uplift, inspire, make us laugh, get us thinking, reveal perspectives unseen, fortify, find common ground — and so much more. Choosing how we speak to ourselves or others, coupled with action that comes from those words, arguably, is one of the most impactful things we can do.
Writing prompts can help give us content ideas or alleviate writer’s block when it strikes, but they can also be an opportunity to pause and reflect. We can use them to practice gratitude but also challenge ourselves to examine how we practice our humanity.
The purpose of [un]·learning isn't about forgetting what you know, or about being wrong, it's a conscious move towards critically examining what influences our expectations, behaviours and beliefs -- about ourselves and other people -- and seeks to challenge what may explicitly or implicitly lie behind them.
transatlantic | notes 