This is profound: "My hope is that you can help Black folk rest through how you treat yourself and how you treat the systems you control."
Can you expound upon it? The 'systems we control' really ends up being just one's self, I think. There is the Hierarchy, and the .0001 who control it, but are you addressing something in between?
Thanks for the engagement, Whitney. Great question. I'm thinking about the economic levers you control and the emotional systems you control. What kind of anxieties do you bring to others, including Black folk, that you can lessen? How can you nudge economic systems around you to more fairly treat Black folk so they might rest a little more because you're near. Where do you see Black folk working around and for you in restaurants and schools and whatnot. How might you encourage their rest through policies you advocate for on their behalf? Is there someone Black who works for you often in a cafe or restaurant who you might treat to dinner? In airports one thing I like to do is ask flight attendants and people at ticket counters how they're resting. Just even ask the question can go a long way. I also try to resist praising severe overwork of Black folk in my communities. As a musician, that's pretty common with my colleagues.
You're right that the top of the hierarchy controls a lot, but we contribute a lot to each other's restlessness through how we show up and what we choose to say or do.
You know what's funny? I just got this notification of your reply as I am sitting in my back yard listening on Spotify to your gorgeous album, Rest Assured.
Thank you for expanding on this, Julian. It has helped raise my consciousness in a simple but profound way. You are talking about being in a state of grace and by being so, inviting others to do the same.
Hey, Julian:
This is profound: "My hope is that you can help Black folk rest through how you treat yourself and how you treat the systems you control."
Can you expound upon it? The 'systems we control' really ends up being just one's self, I think. There is the Hierarchy, and the .0001 who control it, but are you addressing something in between?
Thanks for the engagement, Whitney. Great question. I'm thinking about the economic levers you control and the emotional systems you control. What kind of anxieties do you bring to others, including Black folk, that you can lessen? How can you nudge economic systems around you to more fairly treat Black folk so they might rest a little more because you're near. Where do you see Black folk working around and for you in restaurants and schools and whatnot. How might you encourage their rest through policies you advocate for on their behalf? Is there someone Black who works for you often in a cafe or restaurant who you might treat to dinner? In airports one thing I like to do is ask flight attendants and people at ticket counters how they're resting. Just even ask the question can go a long way. I also try to resist praising severe overwork of Black folk in my communities. As a musician, that's pretty common with my colleagues.
You're right that the top of the hierarchy controls a lot, but we contribute a lot to each other's restlessness through how we show up and what we choose to say or do.
You know what's funny? I just got this notification of your reply as I am sitting in my back yard listening on Spotify to your gorgeous album, Rest Assured.
Thank you for expanding on this, Julian. It has helped raise my consciousness in a simple but profound way. You are talking about being in a state of grace and by being so, inviting others to do the same.
Aw I’m so glad, Whitney. Thank you for your caring engagement. I’m glad the record, like my writing, can help attune you to God’s grace! Amen.