Consequences of Oppression
Oppression has consequences Consequences for everyone. The oppressed and the oppressor. We all pay a terrible price for maintaining systems of inequality. When some of our children are educated and others are not we all pay a price When some of our neighbors are safe...
Culture of Silence
Culture of Silence I spent my Sunday morning drinking coffee and studying the "Five Faces of Oppression" by Iris Young. In case you are wondering it is perfect brunch reading. I am not sure that many folks understand the multitude of ways that we are oppressed by...
Liberation is Love
Liberation I spent time this weekend studying The Cycle of Liberation by Bobbie Harro. It's a beautifully written framework that basically says: "I know this social change work is overwhelming, all these really big complex issues, but here is a blueprint to...
United In Anger
Fighting For Our Lives It's been a hard week for me and lots of my clients. I work with organizers, activist, and leaders that are struggling to understand what the future holds for them and their communities. One young woman said she felt like she was entering the "...
Tone, Context And Timing
Destroying Dignity I led a training a few weeks back on micro behaviors. I started off with the official definition: Micro-behaviors are brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that...
What Hope Looks Like
Photo Credit: Unknown The last Day of Kwanzaa Principle #7 Imani (faith) tells us to believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory our struggle. Faith calls us to believe in the good we seek to...
Manifesting Justice
IMAGE: TATYANA FAZLAIZADEH/FACEBOOK The series, called Stop Telling Women To Smile started in the fall of 2012 and is ongoing by the artist. Kwanzaa Day 6 Principle #6 Kuumba (Creativity) speaks to our shared obligation to do all we can constantly heal and repair the...
Being Great
PHOTO: by Mashable Teammates Eli Harold, left, and Eric Reid, right, joined Kaepernick, center, in kneeling before a 49ers game. Day 5 Kwanzaa Principle #5 Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore...
Shared Work And Wealth
Photo: REUTERS Kwanzaa Day 4 Principle #4 Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) commits us to the principle and practice of shared work and wealth. It stresses our kinship with others and the environment and appreciation for the need for a just and equitable distribution of...