Schools are putting politics before kids. And this has become all too common in Florida education. School programs, superintendents, and teachers are being targeted by extremist conservatives in a coordinated effort to inject fear and politics into our public schools.
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I still believe that there are more reasonable people who uphold the values of freedom, civility, peace and regard for fellow humans, than there are those who support hate, violence and fascism. I know that you will vote, and I am asking that you do your part to make sure others do too.
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The very reasons why efforts toward DEI are necessary are best understood through the dark beginnings of racial capitalism rooted in settler colonialism and genocide. Policies, laws, and societal norms have shaped who works, where they work, what they do, and for how much. With so little autonomy for workers, can business be apolitical?
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If The Supreme Court strikes down Roe v. Wade, it opens the door to challenge any right that is not specifically named in the Constitution (written over 200 years ago!) such as rights to contraception, private sexual activity, and marriage equality. The consequences of overturning the ruling will not only have damaging but dire, far-reaching consequences for freedom, justice, and equity. This ruling would exacerbate racism, classism, sexism, and criminalization of already marginalized and oppressed groups and sets our quest for justice back hundreds of years.
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As we reflect this week on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., and celebrate a historic Presidential Inauguration, all on the heels of a polarizing four years, today, I choose hope. As we relish in these moments of joy, unity and peace, we must also recognize and prepare ourselves for the coming days and months. Here are a few tips for how to keep a sane mind and protect your peace…
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Little did I know that as a poll worker these 15 hours of checking in voters, answering questions, assisting with ballot machines and provisional voting, and passing out the (in)famous “I voted stickers,” would bring so much underlying meaning to the numbers we see on the screens, the results that come up on the polls. There is so much more that goes into the vote — good, bad, ugly, and weird. Here are some of my main takeaways…
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We’ve all heard it. For some of us it may prompt curiosity; others feel a familiar sense of dread, or even trauma set in when they hear it. I’m talking about the infamous, “Okay, but let’s play ‘devil’s advocate’ for a moment….” Here’s the thing: we desperately need people to play devil’s advocate. “Provocateur.” By all means, step into this role; think outside the box; push the boundaries! Just please, hear me out when I say, you’re likely doing it wrong.
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Lately, I have been experiencing a strong sense of indifference and uncertainty related to our work — diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. Black people are dying, white nationalism and supremacy are embodied within the highest offices of government and, in more subtle ways, within most organizations. This is deeply troubling, yet unsurprising. I’ve been grappling with a few hard truths as we experience this segment in history — hard truths that have implications for DEIJ work more broadly.
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One of the promises of the Hippocratic Oath is “First Do no Harm.” By that measure, Dr. Birx should lose her medical license because she absolutely caused harm when she did nothing to challenge and swiftly correct Donald Trump’s “musing” that Lysol and other disinfectants could be ingested to cure the novel coronavirus. This is no time to shirk your duties. We need strong leadership who will do the right thing.
Read MoreAs we enter yet another political season where we continue to witness alarming polarization and seemingly no unifying themes, it is disheartening to see the United States disintegrate further into “us and them” rhetoric. Liberal Democrats are accused of being too focused on “identity politics” while neglecting themes that would appeal to everyone, in particular, working-class whites. So, what is identity politics anyway?
Read MoreI just used the search terms “helping migrants court case” because I wanted to share some thoughts on the case of Scott Warren, the 36 year old geography teacher who was facing up to 20 years in prison for helping migrants crossing into Arizona. The story came right up. And like our search terms, historical moments are being etched into our collective memories for future generations to read. Unless we change our relationship to migrants, they will read that we criminalized help.
Read MoreSeveral years ago, after the election of Trump made political polarization explicit and unavoidable, I remember several think-pieces surfaced on the “Dos,” “Don’ts,” and best practices around blocking or deleting your friends from your social media. The suggestions ranged from blocking to protect yourself in the spirit of self-care, to resisting blocking in the spirit of dialogue and change.
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