Reverse It

I haven’t written in quite a while and it’s not for lack of ideas. Like many of you, I’ve felt overwhelmed with the events in our country and haven’t given myself the time and space I need to properly process everything.

My first ‘Now We’re Talking’ adult book club began in the beginning of August with Ibram Kendi’s, “How to be an Antiracist.” I was gifted this book by Ibram Kendi himself before facilitating conversations during the YWCA-Minneapolis annual event, “It’s Time to Talk,” where Kendi was the keynote speaker. He told us a story about why he feels so drawn to his work and then gave all the volunteer facilitators a copy of his, at that time, new book. If only he had signed all the copies for us! :)

I read the book at the start of 2020 and it was a new foundational book for me. It’s by no means a quick read and requires in-depth thinking and regular re-reading of passages. I’m glad that one of the book club members suggested starting with this book as it gives me a chance to get back into it sooner than later and do some additional writing and reflecting. As I assign the reflection prompts to the book club participants, I am completing them myself.

In one of our last reflection assignments, I pointed to Chapter 5, page 70, where Kendi shared about a speech that Bill Clinton gave. On the same day as the Million Man March on Washington in 1995, President Clinton stated, “Blacks must understand and acknowledge the roots of White fear in America.” I know I paused the first time I read this, but it’s the second time through that really make me stop. Clinton here is solely focusing on the white experience. He went on to refer to too many black faces on the news. What is missing here? He is not acknowledging the how and the why that was happening. What about the historical references, continued oppression of people of color, lack of generational wealth in the black community, and so on? Why call out this demand without first examining one's own role? And so I wonder. What if President Clinton had reversed it? What if he had instead stated, “Whites must understand and acknowledge the roots of Black fear in America.” What then? What would he be asking the majority of U.S. residents to consider and acknowledge? And how might that have changed the conversation? If only.

What books are you reading? How do they impact you personally and professionally?

Here's a link to the books that have influenced my work with Now You're Talking and shares what I'm reading now.