Racism is perpetuated by feelings, tensions that get under our skin and look for ways to be expressed.
I promised to blog about Ferguson over two weeks ago, but at the time I needed to step back from my engagement with the issue in order to do my work and save myself from an anxiety spiral. I understand how privileged I am to be able to take those steps back, and I am in awe of those who maintain the ability to stay engaged even though their daily actions are no doubt responded to with racism, fear, and hate. For those of you who consistently maintain your determination to change the system and are denied the ability to ever step away from being unfairly treated, I am humbled by you.
Over my next few posts, I will be examining the #Ferguson protests and responses to them. My main thought is this: race and racism are not always rational experiences. Racism is perpetuated by feelings, tensions that get under our skin and look for ways to be expressed. Those who experience racism are no doubt also plagued by tensions that lie just under their skin, just under that thin membrane that causes so much fear and anger in our society. In this series I want to think about those feelings, where they come from, what they create, and how we can use them to stop racial oppression.
Over my next few posts, I will be examining the #Ferguson protests and responses to them. My main thought is this: race and racism are not always rational experiences. Racism is perpetuated by feelings, tensions that get under our skin and look for ways to be expressed. Those who experience racism are no doubt also plagued by tensions that lie just under their skin, just under that thin membrane that causes so much fear and anger in our society. In this series I want to think about those feelings, where they come from, what they create, and how we can use them to stop racial oppression.