Message Received, Loud and Clear — Now What?
There is an enormous amount of work to do. I feel compelled to first make clear who I am, and which messages I’m processing and responding to.
In 2016, there was just shock and rage. In 2020, a queasiness and deep sense of dread at how close the election was. And now? I take comfort in the fact that the past 8 years have forced me to get clear about who I am and what my purpose is in this world. And it is from that place that I receive these loud messages of November 2024.
As a Black, mixed race woman in a position of power who’s married to a Jewish man — message received.
As a mother who had two miscarriages, and received lifesaving surgery the second time, at 10 weeks pregnant, when the baby’s heart had stopped beating somewhere around 8 weeks pregnant and whose body didn’t understand there was no need to carry the baby anymore — message received.
As a Black, mixed race woman with white cousins (blood relations) celebrating the return of “Daddy” to the White House — message received.
As someone who believes we can hold being horrified about what’s happening to children in Gaza and what’s happening to Jewish people everywhere simultaneously — message received.
As a survivor of rape who suffered in silence, never wanting to burden others by sharing the experience publicly, or even with close friends — message received.
As a person constantly straddling the middle of so many worlds, yet devoting a life and career to the notion that with enough empathy, we can care for each other and coexist across differences — message received.
As an EDI consultant who continues to see arts organizations do the bare performative minimum to avoid getting in trouble, but avoid the real deep issues and work, even when Black women scream themselves hoarse about the long term preventive measures that are actually needed to begin to bridge divides and create the fertile ground for real empathy — message received.
Loud and clear.
Many messages have been received. Now the enormous work of processing begins so that I can respond and act — not from my rage and grief, but from my values of growth, compassion and wholeheartedness. Normally I wouldn’t take to social media with anything other than my values. I’ve moved from writing about my experiences on this blog to putting work in action. But as someone who lost their mother young, I now feel the weight of knowing that two beautiful boys will one day be beautiful men who will wonder what their mother was thinking on November 6th, 2024.
For now, all I can offer as advice is this — rage, cry, grieve. All of it. But do not expect to make an ounce of difference on social media. It is a void. Worse than a void — it widens the void.
Heal yourself. Give yourself the gift of defining the values that make you who you are. Surround yourself with love and draw strength from your communities. Then, if you feel strong enough, get off the screen and get in person. Look people in the eye, tell your stories and hear theirs. And get to work.
Here are just a few ways to work with me: