Welcome back to Tough Mind, Tender Heart. Welcome to those who have remained with us and to those who are just joining in on this newsletter and wanting to grow antiracist principles/ethics. Hopefully, you’ve been able to start the new calendar year with space to breathe and recalibrate.
When you survey this country, your city, and your workplace, what are some of the systems or individuals that are holding people back from freedom? Maybe you noticed that misogynistic remark that your boss made to a coworker. Or, you’ve noticed that “that side of town” tends to have lower resources and many of the people seem to share the same economic and racial statuses. I’ve been thinking about what liberation is and what oppressors make it out to be. Liberation, under certain lenses, stops at people feeling uncomfortable. It also is siloed off from other movements of activism resulting in everyone fighting for themselves/special interests. But, what if we fought specifically to dismantle injustice, but kept other identities in mind?
“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” Lilla Watson
The truth is that there are many systems of interlocking oppression that keep so many of us in bondage. Where does racism stop and ableism begin? Where does homophobia start and white supremacy end? We can fight for each of these things to be overturned while realizing that our liberation is tied with one another. Shared humanity binds us as we realize that fighting for freedom in one corner will impact the whole. As I fight for my community and our liberation, I am not disconnected from the pain of others. I want to work in such a way that everyone can taste the sweet air of refuge and flourishing. I bring all of this to the foreground for today’s newsletter because yes this is an anti-racism newsletter. Yes, we are on a journey to continue in dismantling racism and promoting healing. I know though that anti-racism work is not divested from dismantling homophobia or misogynoir or capitalism.
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).