Tired + Inspired
Organizing for Racial Justice in January 2022
We had a great turnout at our first Chapter Meeting of 2022 and it felt SO good to spend part of MLK weekend in community with folks who are working for collective liberation!
At the start of the meeting we asked people to put a couple of words into the chat box describing how they were feeling and the responses revealed a duality that can be best summed up in the words of one respondent: “tired, inspired.”
We are TIRED! Things feel overwhelming. Voting rights are being held hostage by obstructionist senators; the lack of social safety nets in this nation continues to mercilessly impact our most vulnerable citizens; the pandemic drags on and on and ON.
And yet. We are being called to a historic moment. We can feel it. The opportunity for real, transformative change is crackling like an electric charge—even in these difficult circumstances. So we Keep. Showing. Up.
Photo by Shane Rounce
At our meeting we heard powerful personal testimony about the way internalized white supremacy can make us feel as though we are under bodily threat when we are called out (or called in) with regard to matters of race and racism, and how this self-protection can cause us to retreat into protecting our egos. We reflected on the fact that even though anti-racist work can feel risky to white people, the real physical risks are faced by our BIPOC neighbors—just for existing in their own skin.
We heard from members who are bravely unpacking the links between their own masculine socialization and white supremacy.
We talked about mutual aid, since some of us are benefiting from intergenerational wealth that was built on unjust foundations.
We reflected on SURJ San Diego's new land acknowledgment, since ALL of us are living on stolen land.
It was a time of rich connection and vulnerability; of solemnity and some laughter. If you missed it, we truly hope you’ll join us at the next one! Register now at this link.
Keep an eye on coming newsletters, as well as SURJ SD's Instagram and Facebook accounts for news about a special guest (and powerhouse local organizer!) scheduled to give remarks at our next Chapter Meeting on 2/20/22 from 4-6 pm.
As ever: thank you for showing up for racial justice with us. Take good care.