June 21 is the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. That’s only half the world. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the Winter one. And yet, we’re all still here together on this tiny, blue planet. Some have daylight to spare, and some are going to have more nighttime. And yes, as we spin and circle around the sun, our Northern days will begin to shrink, and Southern begin to expand. And round and round we go.
And here in our own little corner of the hemisphere, the one that has a small percentage of people yet consumes mass amounts of its resources, we might be finally, too slowly, but finally beginning to realize that we are better, stronger, when we include everyone. I’m keeping a keen eye on how to disregard the cultish fervor of Trump supporters and keep sustainable growth for myself, my family and my students–growth of perspectives, global ideas and big thinking. One of my sons is going to Seattle today to join the protests. I know he’ll do his part to stay safe, keep his mask on, and come home safely. If we are in a place where my sons can go protest, and their friends, and the friendships and connections they’ve made on their own, without my explicitly saying so, that gives me hope.
And white people: this is our mess to clean up. Please don’t listen to Hasan Minhaj and expect BIPOC to clean up our mess.
There Is No Such Thing as a “White Ally.” by Catherine Pugh, Esq.