Took my dog in to treat an ear infection and she ended up getting surgery and a biopsy.
$1,000+ later... I'll be at the crib doing post-op care for a few days.
I think it's important to keep in mind that many of the people we see out doing the work in this revolution of sorts (protesting, fund raising, housing, organizing) are not "full time activists" and we are out here IN ADDITION to our already busy, difficult and stressful lives.
Not complaining cuz I love my life (couldn't always say that) but I have 4 kids (1 in college), a marriage, an ill dog, parents moving back, a bro being harassed by Vancouver PD, a full time job, and I'm dealing with MULTIPLE income streams being cut off due to COVID.
Don't even wanna get into mental and physical health.
I'm blessed with a strong support system and I'm resilient af, but I worry about so many folks who aren't.
5 years ago, I would have had to choose between my dog and my rent.
Been thinking about that a lot.
But nonetheless, here I am sorting through terabytes of information, recording hostile police, providing security, donating, showing up, listening, doing interviews, speaking to groups, battling with politicians, navigating death threats and slander and jealousy and schemes.
On top of all that, I - a highly fallible and far from perfect MALE - am dealing with a newfound level of visibility and attention. Things I did not want, but understood I needed to accept.
I didn't even want to take up space, let alone be any sort of visible leader.
I'm nearly 40 years old and as my mentor Byrd says, "We're all institutionalized. You don't have to go to jail to get institutionalized."
My voice speaks to what I need. I recognize this. I'd rather amplify voices with greater needs and wider imaginations tho... and guide them.
All this to say, take care of yourselves & those around you. Be kind to all. Don't judge.
You never know what people are dealing with so when you see people operating out of (what you perceive as their) character understand they may have more going on than you could ever know.
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Well dressed white lady at the BLM Ribs stand was talking to folks about the raid on the homeless camps earlier, so I got in and asked a few questions, specifically why she felt she had the authority to remove the encampment.
She repeated multiple times that "it's about peace", and claimed that the houseless were doing drugs and leaving needles around. She also claimed that they had thrown molotovs the prior night, a point which was contested by people in the crowd.
I asked if the rib spot was a charity. She said it's not, but says they feed the houseless (?).
Someone suggested that the issue between the camps was personal; she said that it might be, but repeated that it's about peace.
One thing I love doing at work is making people admit that they don't know how to do something, and then forcing them (thru awkward silence and faux aloofness) to ask for help...
... only to tell them that I don't know either and to ask someone else.
And I'm the only Black male at my job so you know which "men" I'm talking about.
For maximum effect, first I like to cut the request of "I need somebody to do X" down with "You don't know how to do X?"
This catches the coworker off-guard and creates unnecessary defensiveness.
Once the coworker is properly perked, verify that they have all the tools required to do the work themself, then force them to self identify their lack of training as the issue.
I call this "stewing" because this is where you really get the flavor. Best if others are watching.
Somebody rambling on the mic under a cloudy moon. Not many people here. There's almost as many press and motorcade as protesters.
They blowing bubbles.
There's a speaker at PPA talking about how the revolution is being white washed by both so-called leaders who condemn violent action, and those who blame radical action on a white fringe element.
I don't be in these streets looking for friends, I'm out here scanning for accomplices. I'm measuring the like-minded and those with adjacent goals for capability and commitment to principles.
I'm out here by moral obligation.
And along the way, we make friends, we share in love, we bond, we fight, we agree, we laugh, we dance, we clique, we compete...
That's all part of the process. But when we talk about centering... What's the big picture?
We don't HAVE to be buddies for Black Lives to Matter.