The Fire This Time

Before the end of the month, I wanted to mention the final book I read for Black History Month, The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race, edited by Jesmyn Ward. I know that this is a current sort of book, talking about the Black experience and psyche in today's America but I do feel that reading about what happened yesterday is just as important as studying what happened in 1965. This collection of essays and poems range from topics such as slavery and police profiling, to family and music. Together, they begin to paint a picture of the required mindset and physical realities of being Black in America today.

There were so many beautiful and sorrowful pieces in this book. There were small glimmers of hope for a better future, especially for today's children, but these were all also tempered with a dose of reality. I personally found it to be a call to action -- both to be a better and truer ally to communities of color and to work harder to change the system through civil and political action so that everyone can truly know that they "have a right to be here" (Edwidge Danticat).

With a heavy heart,
K

New Release: We Matter: Athletes and Activism

Out in just a week or so, We Matter: Athletes and Activism by Etan Thomas is a collection of thoughts and interviews on athlete activism and also the issues that they have to be vocal about. Thomas, a former NBA player, speaks of his own education and mentoring and how it led to his ability to speak out when things in life were unfair or unjust. He covers everything from the Black Lives Matter movement to education to the unique barriers facing Black girls and women.

This isn't normally the kind of book I pick up because of the strong emotions involved but, as a big fan of the NBA (I'm actually watching a Lakers game right this moment) and with the recent crappy talking-head comments about how LeBron James should just "shut up and dribble", it seemed like this was meant to be in my hands right now. And I really ... well, enjoyed is not the word is it when you're talking about systematic racism and police brutality and other such topics ... appreciated the chance to learn and think and explore with Etan Thomas. The variety of people he chose to interview was helpful to presenting a well-rounded discussion and I enjoyed hearing from individuals that I "know". Still, there is not really any barrier to this book also being accessible to readers who are not sports fans.

The first few interviews were very tough to read, those with the siblings or children of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Terence Crutcher, and Philando Castile. These are all unarguably some of the most heinous, pointless murders of innocent people in recent history. To think of the losses from the points-of-view of the family is heartbreaking. It was also the perfect way to start the conversation about the ability of athletes to speak out about these sadly unpunished crimes in their hometowns or cities of play, whether by wearing hoodies or "I Can't Breathe" tee shirts or by participating in marches and panel discussions. I appreciated how Thomas spoke to athletes and coaches/CEOs from the NBA, WNBA, and NFL because each league has different audiences and different levels of receptiveness.

One thing that really resonated and stayed with me was when Thomas would talk about raising his own children and the children he coaches in basketball. I had to re-acknowledge over and over how privileged I have been to be able to keep my white son sheltered for so much longer in life than Thomas was allowed to do with his Black children. My heart broke at the young ages at which he already had to be talking to them about interacting with the police and other authority figures. This is something I can't ever afford to put to the back of my mind.

Finally, I really came to understand how "Black History" is not just about Washington Carver and Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. It is about everything that happened up until yesterday. It is the entire span of time and actions that determine the life (and, sadly, death) of each Black person today. It is being aware of the contributions, challenges, and needs of a community that still must fight to be integrated into the country that they helped build. We each need to take a part in keeping these issues in current discussions and we should thank the athletes who sometimes risk their entire careers to do just that.

In solidarity,
K

The Fire Next Time

For the first time this year, I decided to purposefully read for Black History Month. I recently watched the I Am Not Your Negro documentary on PBS and loved the words and thoughts of James Baldwin so The Fire Next Time was an obvious next step. And though this small collection is just over 100 pages long, it took me a while to get through because I reread almost every passage.

Now, I could sit here and copy out a host of meaningful quotes or you all could just go and pick this one up. I think each reader will get something different out of it. You may connect with some of the same parts that I did, ones that speak as much to the institutionalized racism of today as they did to that in the early 1960s. You may nod your head as Baldwin speaks about the failings of religions in America. Your heart may also ache as you think about the past 50 years when we could have made so much more progress.

Today, I'll pick up Jesmyn Ward's The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race from the library and keep learning.

Lost in thought,
K