I started this Black History Month with a plan to posting something every day about Black History, and boost Black people doing the same. After all, I went through what I once called an “awakening” as an adult, but since “woke” is now a word that means “anything Republicans don’t like,” I guess I’d say my eyes were opened, instead. If I can help other wypipo open their eyes, that’s good, right? And most of us could use a reminder of things we already know, which is why we have annual events like birthdays and Black History Month.
Boosting is easy. Mastodon depends on people boosting posts, and I follow a lot of Black people already, and I’ve started following more this month. My list of follows has a lot of nerdy people, since I’m heavily into #nerdery myself, but also writers and teachers and just people living their lives.
I’m not sure how well the “Black History for wypipo” approach is going, to be honest. Every day I post things I think are interesting or educational, and shortly before or after that, I witness a masterclass in How to Do It from @mekkaokereke, who was previously on my list as a nerd, but it turns out is so, so much more.
I don’t want to center this on myself, which is why I’m avoiding talking much about my own history of learning Black History. I took an embarrassingly long time to learn what I should have learned in elementary school, and I think many other wypipo could say the same. I’ve read a lot of books, and I have some very patient and well-educated Black friends who haven’t pointed and laughed like they had every right to do, but have instead patiently recommended more books and pointed out areas of my staggering ignorance. In our modern age, it’s amazing what you can learn for free online, and there are books on almost everything that can be delivered right to your door!
So maybe I’ll recommend some books I’ve enjoyed, but I’m just a wypipo who has read some books. I hope others might chime in with books they recommend, and then I won’t have to talk too much about many times I’ve bought Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow, because I keep loaning it out and not getting it back!
@pwinn @mekkaokereke
Hard agree on Mekka Okereke offering us a master class.
My own approach has been to post quotes to Facebook, where I have many longtime friends, many white. My idea at first was that my friends would hold ME accountable to follow through with the project, but after the first episode of white fragility to one of my posts, I recognized that I am also educating others, using the power of friendship to (hopefully) push for change.
So much to learn…