December 2022

What's Going On?

Happy December! Because no one volunteered to speak, we will not be meeting this month. Check out our MVBLM YouTube page and watch many of the previous presentations. Remember to like the page when you're there to enable improved services. “…there’s no single answer that will solve all of our future problems. There’s no magic bullet. Instead there are thousands of answers–at least. You can be one of them if you choose to be.” Octavia Butler

If you want to meet in January, we need speakers: Please contact Dana Nunes if you'd like to present.

Honoring Black and Brown Lives November 6: Daniel Prude was honored by Cynthia Tilden. Here is the PowerPoint presentation Cynthia developed for more images. Your participation in the Sunday vigil keeps it going. Please sign up to present. See the names of those previously honored here. Details of how to present are included in the document. Use this resource to find stories of Black women who were killed and amplify their stories.

Click here to access MV BLM's Website. Share it with friends and family!

Half American During her presentation last month, Cynthia invited us to read the book Half American by Matthew Delmont. She shared this link to a presentation by Professor Delmont full of additional powerful resources that shine light on the hypocrisy of U.S. leadership during WWII as well as racism. Cynthia also shared this transcript of an interview with Delmont on Race in America: History Matters with Matthew Delmont. This too offers detailed historical information about what being "half American" meant to Black people in the mid 20th century and how it still resonates today in the 21st century.

Angst to Action

Liberation Work Includes Showing Gratitude Sharing what you're grateful for may be something you and your family reflect on over the holiday season, but gratitude is a part of the liberation movement. This article by Mia Henry affirms the importance of showing gratitude and how it feeds us, allowing us to continue to do the work of reaching equity and justice. "Cultivating a culture of gratitude is critical to movement-building and a clear antidote to White supremacy," wrote Henry. "We often think of giving thanks as easy and trite, but there is no true freedom without connection. There are few better ways to connect than by rooting ourselves in gratitude."

More To Explore

Tough on Crime: Here's a Boston Globe article about how the statement "tough on crime" is used as a tool to perpetuate and concentrate power with wealthy white supremacists. Reclaiming Reproductive Health of Black Women: Many people don't know the violent history of J. Marion Sims, known as the "father of U.S. gynecology". Lucy, Betsey, and Anarcha, are three slaves Sims repeatedly operated on without anesthesia. Activist Michelle Brown honored these women by creating a park and recently purchased Sim's former facility in Montgomery, AL. The facility will become a museum and a primary care clinic which includes a training program focused on reversing the terrible reproductive health outcomes for Black women. White Lives Matter Gets Owned: The unending examples of brilliant Black people lives in this story of how two Black people are preventing "White Lives Matter" from being monetized. Native Elders Storytellers: Native elders and actors, Wes Studi and Tantoo Cardinal, partner in Spirit Rangers, a Netflix children's show. Mary Peltola Goes to Washington: Mary Peltola is the first Alaska Native person elected to Congress. Glory: This video is worth watching again to be reminded of the power of music, but also shows us subtly how to be a white ally. Notice that as the choir walks on the stage, the white performance are not singing, but walking/standing in solidarity. 

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."