We hope you join us for our next vigil this Sunday, September 11 at the Chilmark Library. If you can't make it in person, join us via Zoom. Sometimes the library wifi is a bit iffy and it takes a bit to get us started or it doesn't work at all. We're doing our best to record the presentations. You can go to the MVBLM YouTube page and watch many of them. Please like the page when you're there to enable improved services.
A few more things...
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What are you thinking? As the summer comes to an end, it's a time for us to reflect on what we've done and what we want to focus on next summer. Please take a moment to complete this survey and tell us what you're thinking.
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Volunteers Needed: Most of us enjoy coming to the vigils and reading the newsletters, but there's a lot going on behind the scenes to make all of this happen. How about helping us out? We're looking for folks who can help with communications and/or MVBLM leadership. Send a note to hello@mvblm.org and let us know how you want to help.
Learn How to Bail Out: Most of us have never bailed someone out of jail, something we've talked a lot about this summer. People are sitting in jails across the country because they can't afford their bail or the $35 processing fee it takes to be released. The impacts are harsh -- job loss, families broken, trauma, and more. We're planning a field trip to the Dukes County jail to learn how the process works. Send a note to hello@mvblm.org if you're interested.
We need speakers: We depend upon the group to share. If you haven't done it yet, we'll help you plan and support you through it. Please contact Dana Nunes if you'd like to present at an upcoming vigil.
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Honoring Black and Brown Lives |
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Indigenous Awareness, Cultural Sensitivity, and Awareness Training
Some of us attended the powerful and moving Sassafras Earth Education training a few weeks ago. We began the training by walking in silence to our outdoor meeting space, intentionally considering our steps on non-colonized land. This was a first time experience for most of us as only 2% of the United States belongs to Native People. We learned about our brutal and painful history and also explored our personal responses before brainstorming what we can do. Here are some resources to learn more about our history:
Books:
Movies:
Land Acknowledgement:
Guide -- how to do a land acknowledgement.
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Black History is Under Attack
As states ban books and prevent teaching BIPOC history, here are two ways to protect the truth. Organizers created an AP African American Studies course for high school students across the country. This interdisciplinary course explores key topics from early African kingdoms to the ongoing challenges and achievements of our current times. The MV High School is offering the course as a part of the pilot testing period. If you'd like to bring this AP course to your community or for more information, contact Dr. Brandi Waters, Senior Director, AP African American Studies.
You can also sign a petition telling McGraw Hill, one of the largest text book producers in the country, to defend Black history. Sign Color of Change's petition here. Find out more about their campaign here. And, contact your state legislator and demand they vote against any pending anti-CRT (Critical Race Theory) legislation.
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Mass Incarceration
Because we talked about this a lot this month, we decided to keep this in the newsletter as a way to take action.
Read this article highlighting the inequality of sentencing and charging Black and Brown Massachusetts residents.
What can we do about it? One immediate option is to post bail for people. Jails are filled with people awaiting trail because they can't pay bail. The Massachusetts Bail Fund will post up to $1,000 per person. Getting out of jail as quickly as possible can allow people to keep their job, stay housed, reduce their incarceration time and help keep families together. Consider what you can do.
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The History of Inequality: What are the origins of inequality? If inequality is a choice, then we can change it. Find out more about the history of inequality on Wednesday, September 14 at 3:00 PM -- Inequality, Past and Present.
The Pandemic Erased Two Decades of Learning Progress: It's no secret that BIPOC were unequally impacted by the pandemic. This New York Times article highlights how nine year old children's learning dropped to levels measured two decades ago.
Systemic Racism -- Jackson Mississippi: Jackson residents were already boiling their water for the past month, well before the cresting Pearl River (35 feet above normal) forced their water plant to shut down. This crisis started years ago with the racist response to Board v. Education. Watch this MSNBC report and find out what systemic racism looks like in Jackson.
Addressing Unconscious Bias in the Workplace: Jessica Nordell's new book, "The End of Bias: A Beginning", underlines the impact of unconscious bias in the workplace. Read this interview to get a taste of what's in the book.
Here's Something to Make You Feel Good: If you haven't seen it yet, watch this (explicit) Tiny Desk performance by the amazing artist, Lizzo.
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Listen to Shed, a podcast series featuring interviews with islanders working to end systemic racism. Eric Adams leads each discussion using the unique lens of a therapist. Listeners are invited to "shed their old beliefs about race and make room for a new understanding of it's impact and implications."
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