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#WednesdayWisdom
"Realize you really are not living at your full potential from a state of grinding. Let that fuel you to make resting a priority. You must shift." — Tricia Hersey, The Nap Ministry
Morning Musings
I don't know about you, but I definitely did not retain much from lessons about conflict in the Middle East during my world history class (come to think of it, I'm not sure if we covered it at all). And in our current cancel culture, I've often kept quiet for fear of saying The Wrong Thing and being lambasted on social media or worse by people I know and care about IRL.
But that stops here.
As news started to spread about the attacks in Palestine, I knew I wanted to do things differently this time around. This time I wanted to learn, seek out resources and become an educated global affairs.
It's easy to speak on topics that are near and dear to us. This is why I'll never shut up about #BlackLivesMatter, Black feminism, reproductive justice and more. It's harder, in my experience, to speak eloquently about issues I know are important (abolition and #FreePalestine, for example), but lack the history and context to entirely wrap my head around it.
And that's okay. As Khury Petersen-Smith, the Michael Ratner Middle East Fellow at Institute for Policy Studies, shared during Monday's Black Freedom Lectures hosted by the incomparable Eve L. Ewing, "this idea of ‘you don’t know enough’ is intended to silence people.” For the most part, U.S. media reports about what is happening in Palestine are intended to feel overwhelming/too complex/like a faraway problem.
At the same time, ignorance is not an excuse. As Petersen-Smith also said, "we know enough to know this is wrong."
I get it. There's a lot going on right now. We're still in the midst of a global pandemic (despite what recent CDC guidance may have you believe) and there is SO MUCH to care about. It's overwhelming. It's exhausting. It's ALL the things at the same damn time.
And (though it took me some time to fully understand it), none of us are free until all of us are free.
There is no shame in learning, in not having all of the answers. At my previous org, I often felt ashamed because I wasn't as "woke" as some of my colleagues and didn't know all the fancy lingo, acronyms and big words/phrases. So I educated myself. I asked questions. I sought out resources (much like with Black Freedom Lectures).
And I will continue to learn because that is our responsibility as global citizens. The world is much bigger than the U.S., friends. As Maya Angelou said in her poem, "Human Family," "We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike."
We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.
Recommended Reading:
Resources mentioned during Black Freedom Lectures
A special thank-you to my IG friends Eve, Ruchi, Rimsha and Arij for sharing these resources. Remember that sharing is caring and caring requires action.
Love,
L'Oreal
Upcoming Events
May 19 (TONIGHT): Secure the Bag: Salary Negotiation 101. If you missed the last presentation, tune in for this free event sponsored by YWCA of Palm Beach County.
May 19 (TONIGHT): Beyond Self Care. Catch night two of YR Media's inaugural mental health summit featuring Gen Z activists and content creators.
June 9 at 5pm CT: LT in the City Book Club featuring Set Boundaries, Find Peace. Registration link to come!
Links I Love
1. We Were American Girls: What Addy Taught Me About Black Hair, Freedom and Myself (Salon)
2. What Issa Rae Wants: She’s Saying Goodbye to Insecure, Rebooting Project Greenlight, and More (Vanity Fair)
3. How 'Cheugy' is Your Style? Here are Five Ways to Find Out (The Telegraph)
Editor's note: I am *very* cheugy and make no apologies about it.
My Latest Obsession
At this point, I should probably own stock in The Wrap Life (and I have my friend Stephanie to blame for my addiction), but look at how cute this satin scrunchie is!! Gotta catch 'em all.
Now Hiring
Senior Manager, Marketing for Teen Vogue and Them
Marketing Assistant for Catapult
Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition for Girls Who Code
Director of Equity & Organizational Culture at Planned Parenthood
Social Media Editor for The Daily Beast
Director of Development & Communications for 826CHI
Email Operations Manager at TIME
Thank You!
Much love and many thanks to Flavia and Drew for buying last week's coffee! And don't forget about the featured extras, perfect virtual gift for the grad in your life.
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