Musings
Christopher Wallace aka Biggie Smalls the only Christopher that I and the culture acknowledges (fuck Christopher Columbus) is considered one of the greatest rappers to have ever touched the mic. One of my favorite Biggie records is the song “The Ten Crack Commandments” and yes, this song is about crack cocaine. I always thought the “Ten Crack Commandments” was clever because in it B.I.G. doles out advice to dope dealers like he is the hood, Moses.
In the song, Biggie talks about the importance of boundaries and having a code of ethics when it comes to being a street pharmacist.
My favorite commandment that I have applied to life is #4
Never get high on your own supply
As someone who both teaches and studies social justice it is imperative that I stay grounded and not get high off my own supply! A life rooted in social justice must be a life that is filled with humility, self-reflection, clear values, and sustained engagement with accountability taking.
In this white supremacist world everyone who can dodge accountability does so and that is not a practice that those of us who are working towards social justice and/or decolonization should mirror. We must learn the art of giving proper apologies, accountability taking, and when appropriate submitting to restorative justice circles or transformative justice processes. It does not matter how many books we read, what we do for a living, who we are partnered with, where we volunteer, and who we donate our money to we are all works in progress in constant flux. Every time I give a proper apology, take accountability, make amends, and change my behavior I divest just a little bit more from white supremacy.
Here are just a few ways that I build accountability into my life AND avoid getting high off my own supply:
Critical self-reflection-because I have a social justice practice of reading and engaging frequently with social justice ideas and texts I know what kind of questions to ask myself. I am keenly aware of my areas of growth
·Integrous friendships-Being friends with people who have values and ethics and who are NOT afraid to challenge me friends who never call you in are setting you up to be called out!
·Letting go of the concept of good-I do not aspire to be a good person because I do not believe in the binary of good or bad. I rate my effectiveness in situations. I ask myself, “how effective was I in honoring my values in a context or situation?” And based on my answer I adjust accordingly
Rejecting martyrdom- I remind myself often that I am not always the victim in a situation that I too can be a victimizer. Engaging with abolition ideas and texts have helped me to stay grounded in this truth
Are you practicing accountability?
Viewings
I am currently reading for pleasure the following books Pleasure Activism by adrienne maree brown. This book is all about social justice folks reclaiming joy and pleasure as part of our resistance and liberation. The second book is Care Work Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samasinha. If you are serious about deepening your understanding of disability justice you should engage with this book
Listening
The podcast episode I cannot seem to let go is "You Don't Make Free People" by the Nod [LINK].
I have listened to this episode multiple times. It has struck a deep chord in me, I am not even going to try and set the episode up for you. All I am going to say is that if you work in non-profit especially with youth you should listen. The Nod is a supremely Black podcast made for and by Black folks. If you are not Black keep this in mind when you engage with the episode.
I have a conflicting relationship with the podcast "With Friends Like These" but in this episode, Ana Marie Cox interviews Dr. Ibram Kendi in the second half of the show and he has fundamentally shifted how I am thinking about my anti-racism work and I have not even read his book yet! [LINK]
Dr. Rev Barber is a possibilityrole model for me and I enjoyed hearing him talk to Chris Hayes about to build a multi-racial coalition [LINK].
Announcements
I am currently taking on private clients so if you are in need of a social justice doula contact me so we can talk.BOOK ME!
I am thinking about creating a digital book club and I am interested to know if any of you would like to join me. If you would, let me know!
