This comes, as things often do for me
by way
of a book
this will also come with a story or two
and if you\u2019ve paid any attention at all to things I do here,
with a few rambling thoughts
and a wander<\/p>\n\n\n\n
in my garden by the small pond
there sits
three little Asian figures and a tiny house
these came from my Grandmother (by way of my Dad)
they were from her garden, or possibly sat
among the cactus on shelves of an old cupboard
that as kids
we often dared one another to touch
the toads by our pond often knock these fellows down
and one day while I was setting them straight
I stop to look at them for a minute
thinking about the odd things one possess,
I said to my husband,
\u201cdo you suppose Asians have little \u2018white people\u2019 figures in their gardens?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the days following the death of George Floyd I happen to have had, in my house My daughter is a prolific crafter so here it was, this little spark, caught fire they very much ARE and a chance All each day asks,
amid renewed swells of awareness,
of suppression and profiling
of
Black Lives Matter
as companies and corporations jumped on issuing
statements, commitments to \u2018equalizing\u2019 commerce
a challenge was issued to readers to buy a book written by a\u00a0
BIPOC writer
newsletters from publishers that I receive sent out special
issues, highlighting books from these writers
which was great, but\u2026\u00a0\u00a0 it made me wonder why
if this was a good book, worthy of promotion
why wasn\u2019t it being sent out in the regular newsletters
anyway??
(chalked up again to \u2013 you don\u2019t notice what doesn\u2019t
affect you)
so, \u00a0the challenge was out to put some much needed
colour
on the bestseller\u2019s list
easily something I could get behind, so I chose three
books I was interested in
and I have just finished this one
which I will highly, highly recommend
you read
How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi<\/strong>
I read this one slow, open and thoroughly
I read and re-read profound thoughts that hit my brain
and anchored themselves
in my chest
I said out loud, sentences that felt powerful and meaningful
that came with the very need
of them
to become part of me
I registered and sat with words and thoughts that
begged my full and
complete
attention
I learned, I listened, I greatly
respected
all of this is not to say that this is some kind of text book
or case study
it\u2019s not at all, it is thoroughly readable,
part memoir, part historical, very well written and insightful
Ibram X. Kendi is not at all afraid to hold the mirror to his own
reflection
and asks each of us
to do the
same
I found it quite powerful, and resonating
I very much look forward to continuing this conversation
and think how very essential this
kind of learning
is
to all of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a golliwog
it came from my Gran,
Golliwogs if you are not familiar are a sort of
rag doll character – created by Florence Kate Upton, that appeared in children’s books in the late 19th century and on various other merchandise
very dark black skin, large round white eyes
red clown like lips and big fuzzy hair, clothed in traditional minstrel attire
although in childhood, we knew them as impish, and friendly
in some later uses they became sinister and menacing
I also have one of the books, picked up as a cherished
nostalgic childhood memory
I have of course been aware since dispersing the contents
of my Gran\u2019s life
that this dark skinned rag doll is very much a racist symbol
for some reason I was unsure just what to do with it
I didn\u2019t want to give it away, or simply throw it in the
trash
as I didn\u2019t wish it to be in someone else\u2019s possession
as something cute to collect
so it sat, face down (somehow making me feel as if I was not
participating in a stereotype)
on a pile of books
one day while listening, while learning, while looking deeply
at the world around me
at myself,\u00a0
the most obvious light bulb suddenly lit
I could…
just take it apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
constantly making miniature houses
and rooms,\u00a0 among many other things
that are quite amazing and intricate in their design
exquisitely and remarkably kitted out
she is always in search of materials
for making
things<\/p>\n\n\n\n
in discussing racist symbolism with my kids
and the ridiculous nature of how things
came to seem
ok
to \u2018the rest of us\u2019 \u00a0– \u201cit\u2019s a cute doll, it\u2019s a symbol, it\u2019s a name
it\u2019s a statue… it\u2019s a joke, it’s a
word
People nowadays are so sensitive,
What\u2019s the harm?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
these young people, young adults actually
they know better
they are open
to information, to learning, to
listening<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the future
and so, I offered this bit of stuffing and material
to my daughter
and her scissors
for a new generation\u2019s
dismantling<\/p>\n\n\n\n
to make
something\u2026\u00a0\u00a0 better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
is for us
to
begin \u2665 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"