An election took place here in America and the dust is still settling. I don’t wish this particular writing to be all doom and gloom with no opportunity to move forward, but we also must pause in a painful hour. There have been many voices that have sought to speak to the pain of so many in the wake of America choosing another president that has proven to be antithetical to life, especially the lives of all of those not able-bodied, white, heterosexual, and male. I held my thoughts, and even this newsletter because of the pain of the moment. I believe that movement work, educational work, anti-racist work, all of it, needs to be able to perceive correctly the temperature of a room. To know when to speak. To know when to be silent. To listen well enough to know what needs to be said. The truth is that for all of the “racial reckoning” of 2020, and all of the “listening and learning”, paired with reading books on race…America once again failed the assignment. And even more hurtful, many “allies” failed the assignment as well.
“You fell in love with a storm. Did you really think you would get out unscathed?”
― Nikita Gill
“We do not get free by placing our faith in the lie of “fine.” We do not get free by turning our backs on each other. We do not get free by covering over or pretending heartbreak away. We do not get free by hardening, by giving up, by accepting heartbreak as the only story we can live.”
-Anna Blaedel
What do I mean by “failing the assignment?” Well. Leading up to the election there were so many hours spent in content that assured people that things would be ok and that it’s ok to center your own needs rather than surveying what is the collective good. As people squabbled over semantics, power was being amassed. Misinformation was being cast. Racism was being showcased again and again. And here we are, as an educator, a writer, and as a human these times are alarming and I don’t want to sugarcoat it. I know that the alarm of this moment isn’t the only story and I think that in moving forward, we need to take a real, long glance at “the benefit of the doubt.” What we mean by it. Who we give it to. Why we give it. And, as we have those truth sessions, I believe that part of our collective movement forward shall be rocky, slow, but generative. We must carefully sift through the outcome of all of the “listening and learning” if it doesn’t produce healthier, happier, communities, cities, states, etc.
Robert Monson
co-director
Robert (he/him) is a runner, musician, and a Black theologian committed to softness, contemplation, and liberation for all. As a recent seminary graduate (with distinction) and a current PhD student, Robert studied in-depth the intersection of Black Liberation Theology and womanist theology. Weaving together these two strands of liberation have been important work as well as other liberation based theologies. “How can we help facilitate community and provide answers to a hurting world that is reeling?” remains an important question in his work. While in school, Robert’s scholarly work was recognized and presented at various national conferences/outlets. Podcasting (two shows) and writing remain important aspects of his daily life as well as marathoning the latest Star Trek show(s).