Monday, June 19, 2017

Philando and the Missing Pussy Hats


Philando Castile. 

His murderer's acquittal makes anything I've attempted to write seem inadequate, but I refuse to let it keep me from saying nothing. 

A viral post by Maggie Ann calling out her white peers who had a "five alarm freakout" after the November election resonated with me as I'm wondering too where are all the pussy hats and "all lives matter" folks? The silence is deafening and echoes of the sentiments I wrote in my Mom 2.0 recap about feeling like in the wake of what was happening in our nation as influencers gathered at the conference we should be also sounding an alarm.

Maggie wrote: "If white liberals were as emotionally threatened by the police as they appear to be by Trump...I think we might be living in a different country."


Uka and Grayson in Chicago last week
Coming off of Father's Day and looking ahead to my son Grayson's 3rd birthday next week, I can't help but think of how my husband and son are both at risk. When white people, especially of the older generation, smile and fawn over how adorable my son is I can't help but think how when he's an adult and resembles his 6'8" father at some point he'll probably be perceived as a threat. And no, it doesn't have anything to do with dressing in a suit, having 2 degrees, or following orders - my husband can attest to that. 

I don't have a recommendation on where to go from here no more than what I've shared in my previous posts about the topic. The continued tone deafness in the wake of this coming from many of my fellow influencers is disappointing, but instead I will focus on what I can do. 

As I prepare to head to BlogHer this week to speak on a panel about balancing your public and private personas I will use my voice to inform others on how to use their influence for good. 

As Luvvie wrote in her book I'm Judging You

"I cannot ignore what's happening around me because I'm afraid to alienate readers. If the audience I've built leaves because I talk about what is important to me, I got the wrong people."