I was looking back at my posts to see if I’ve mentioned this before. I couldn’t find it but if i’ve written about it this in the past please forgive me.
ONE of the fears I continue to meet is connected to conversations around race. I don’t want to write a super long story about this journey but it continues to be eye-opening. Years ago, a friend asked me if i’d be willing to participate in a recorded conversation (for an audio art project) about my experience with race, specifically as a white, Christian woman from the South. I was scared of saying the wrong thing and sounding unintelligent. I decided to do it - because when something like that scares me, I know it’s connected to fear of rejection vs my own personal safety. I was confronted again by my privilege and other blindspots during the Black Lives Matter movement. Last year, the same organization that i’d worked with for the recorded conversation reached out and asked if i’d help devise a new theater piece on race. I said yes. And then very recently, my church hosted a documentary screening of the movie, Unspoken, which I highly recommend.
These conversations and the research required still hold fear for me - but like a lot of things, baby steps and an openness to listen / change have helped me grow.
