Feb 7, 2023·edited Feb 7, 2023Liked by Iyabo Onipede
As a well-baked middle aged white woman, I deeply appreciate your language and insights. They are really helping me to learn to stop centering whiteness. But I'd been lacking the vocabulary and language to really do so until now.
E.g. using "global majority" instead of "BIPOC". I am thrilled to finally have a way to refer to, literally, the non-white *global majority*. The best I could think of was just "non-whites". Which doesn't sound right either. (It's a negative, and still centers whiteness, just like BIPOC did/does.) White supremacy really is deeply baked in to my mindset and vocabulary yet, so I expect to be at this for some time.
ETA: to answer your original writing prompt "What values, beliefs, spiritual concepts and ideologies are foundational for your “heart work” in your desire for your racial healing and wholeness? Write them out so you can revisit them throughout the next 28 days."?
I would say humility, which is not the same as shame. It just means, I don't have to be the top dog, or loudest, or only, or brightest or first or best to be okay. It means I'm not ashamed, embarrassed or angry to not be centered. But nor does it mean, I am bitter or resentful. It means, I'm okay with sharing the spotlight for once, knowing that it will come back around in time, no worries. But meanwhile, I will get to hear from many other wonderful people who have been silenced for way too long. And my life will be richer for it. I'm okay, and you're okay. No one is greater or lesser than another. A rising tide lifts all boats. There's more than enough attention and resources to go around if we just believe in the unending Abundance from Source (God). I'm not losing by sharing the spotlight, or my food or other resources. Nay, I'm gaining in many tangible and intangible ways.
I will continue working to shift my point of view, thank you. I'm following you, plus several other amazing Black women and other leaders on Twitter, and reading "Living While Black" by Guilaine Kilouani. I lose nothing by doing this. And quite the opposite: I feel like I'm gaining a world full of great new friends and view points that enrich me every day. Thank you. I'll keep at it.
As a well-baked middle aged white woman, I deeply appreciate your language and insights. They are really helping me to learn to stop centering whiteness. But I'd been lacking the vocabulary and language to really do so until now.
E.g. using "global majority" instead of "BIPOC". I am thrilled to finally have a way to refer to, literally, the non-white *global majority*. The best I could think of was just "non-whites". Which doesn't sound right either. (It's a negative, and still centers whiteness, just like BIPOC did/does.) White supremacy really is deeply baked in to my mindset and vocabulary yet, so I expect to be at this for some time.
ETA: to answer your original writing prompt "What values, beliefs, spiritual concepts and ideologies are foundational for your “heart work” in your desire for your racial healing and wholeness? Write them out so you can revisit them throughout the next 28 days."?
I would say humility, which is not the same as shame. It just means, I don't have to be the top dog, or loudest, or only, or brightest or first or best to be okay. It means I'm not ashamed, embarrassed or angry to not be centered. But nor does it mean, I am bitter or resentful. It means, I'm okay with sharing the spotlight for once, knowing that it will come back around in time, no worries. But meanwhile, I will get to hear from many other wonderful people who have been silenced for way too long. And my life will be richer for it. I'm okay, and you're okay. No one is greater or lesser than another. A rising tide lifts all boats. There's more than enough attention and resources to go around if we just believe in the unending Abundance from Source (God). I'm not losing by sharing the spotlight, or my food or other resources. Nay, I'm gaining in many tangible and intangible ways.
I will continue working to shift my point of view, thank you. I'm following you, plus several other amazing Black women and other leaders on Twitter, and reading "Living While Black" by Guilaine Kilouani. I lose nothing by doing this. And quite the opposite: I feel like I'm gaining a world full of great new friends and view points that enrich me every day. Thank you. I'll keep at it.