[Lace Watkins]

https://laceonrace.com/2021/10/19/mid-october-invitation-to-engagement/

 

 

Mid-October Invitation to Engagement

Discussion

[Emily Holzknecht]

I am thinking about how there are a number of facets of how our society is organized that seem like alternatives to the corporate sector, but were created in the same racist, capitalist, colonial soup that the corporate sector evolved in. This means that they are no so alternative after all and the hoops they have for people to jump through end in a place where society repeats itself. It is no wonder that those working in these systems cannot grasp actually alternative ways of operating. I was just visiting a local school program that thinks and works in an alternative way and the director was talking about all the struggles she has faced with trying to fit into regulations and permits when there aren’t really any hoops designed for what that school is doing. Since the nonprofit status is set up to gate keep, I am not surprised that its officials would not understand Lace on Race intending to not gate keep. It goes against the purpose for which the nonprofit status exists. My existence and my financial choices do not have to be founded in gatekeeping however. I have financially engaged in October and I continue to find ways to have my money flow into Black communities rather than into white run corporate pockets.

[Rhonda Freeman]

Just this past week, I have begun to have the sense that I am immersed in the religion of capitalism – and capitalism is what birthed slavery in the first place. I want to question each purchase I make. Do I believe in it or am I being convinced to believe in it?

[Rebecca McClinton]

“Muddy knees and compost streaked faces, planting and nurturing.” What affirming feedback of LoR mission from the agent handling LoR nonprofit details. that’s pretty awesome. Doing new things in new, sustainable, meaningful ways. Being reflexive. Not asking questions that are really just for my benefit, not the benefit of the individual/organization I say I’m financially engaging with. These are things I’ve learned to do by engaging here. Giving up looking for white justifications and explanations. ‘The future of anti racism work is in the field.’ It’s all too easy to focus on climbing mountains and reaching lofty mountain tops of accomplishment and their false dopamine hits. The real work is hands dug into the dirt and into the dish suds. I have financially engaged for October.

[Rhonda Freeman]

I am glad you brought this up, Rebecca. I found out that HelloFresh is trying to unionize and is getting pushback. It is only because I my work here that I not only cancelled my order but I reached out to support the union organizers and wrote a letter to HelloFresh as to why I cancelled my order. Not wanting a cookie, and not saying I am super muddy, but glad I picked a weed today.

[Rebecca McClinton]

I always appreciate people sharing the weeds they are picking as it helps me look for those same kind of weeds needing picked around me.

[Vicki van den Eikhof]

One thing I’m good at is jumping through hoops. I never really stopped to think about before, but my expertise in this is in part a product of white supremacy. I was taught about these hoops from an early age. They were important and necessary and I could learn to navigate them. My parents and mentors could show me how and encourage me in doing so. Only in the last 5-7 years has it occurred to me that these hoops are mountains that reach to the heavens for others. You mean, not everyone can wade through page after page of tax instructions to figure out how to navigate the system? I have the time, the energy, the resources to do so, due to a certain kind of privilege which I never would have recognized as such without walking here. My financial engagement for October will be completed tomorrow.

[Rhonda Freeman]

Vicki, this ‘jumping through hoops’ came up this week in an argument at work about vaccine mandates. I had to face that my white woman background has taught me to ‘just accept’ and when the bureacracy says jump, I say ‘how high’ because I have the resources to do so. I sometimes think about giving a lump sum to LoR or setting up an automatic payment plan, and thn I realize it is the WW easy way out. This way, I think about it. I look to the North (and West) star every time.

[Laura Berwick]

My financial engagement is important for a good few reasons. First, my financial engagement keeps this space running. Keeping this space running means keeping alive and vibrant the good I know it is doing now and can do in the years to come. Doing that good equates to lessening and mitigating the harm caused to Black and brown people by white people and white supremacy. Mitigating that harm means working on myself to be less harmful and supporting the ways our collective work can go out into the world to mitigate harm to people I am not in direct contact with.

Second, my financial engagement is my investment of my power through money in order to set aside my power and my privilege as a white person. To invest in something that is not me and my future, but the present and future wellbeing of people who have not had the privilege and power to invest over the course of centuries, while my family was doing so.

Third, my money is my “skin in the game”. I don’t have a skin tone that causes me danger, so it would be easy for me to “out of sight, out of mind” the ills I need to be part of solving. But my money is something I concern myself with regularly. Putting my money where my mouth is, not in lieu of doing the work, but as part of doing the work, keeps ME invested in committing to this work.

[Rhonda Freeman]

Laura, I am appreciating that financial engagement is a good way to have skin in the game when my skin tone allows me to opt out. I appreciate the reminder. I have engaged for October.

[Shara Cody]

The LoRCRE sets out a great example of living out praxis and also subverting the system to use it’s status as a not-for-profit to extend support to organizations and individuals that the system passes over and therefore oppresses. I’m honored every month to engage financially with LoR and therefore the community partners, Mental and Emotional Health fund, and Lace. I’ve financially engaged for October and have a second engagement I’ll be sending this week.

[Author]

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