Leave it to Brentford to always make a joke that has me rethink everything I think I know about a situation.
Speaking of re-thinking what I thought I knew, these past weeks I've been working on a little presentation about white fragility based around the book by Robin DiAngelo and some of the criticisms of it. It's not a perfect book but her goal in writing it was to explain to white folks why it's so hard for us to talk about racism and she accomplishes that. I have read about half so far, and I have to agree with her I definitely felt uncomfortable talking about racism with my kids when they were young. I really didn't know what to say because I knew there was more to it than just “racists are mean people who hate other people for no good reason" but I could not figure out how to explain what I think we all sort of know as white people but find it hard to see/admit: it’s just so much bigger than we imagine (systemic) and we benefit from it (which we try not to think about) so we don't really spend much time examining it, figuring out how to talk about it and help end it like we should.
M'Links 🔗
For my fellow Substack authors who are also wondering what those gold stars next to our readers’ names are.
There's no such thing as a raw cashew actually
Not ready to party post-COVID yet? You're not alone. The U.S. in general doesn't do grieving well and Anne Helen Peterson has written a timely article about next steps after COVID vaccinations, most importantly that we won't allow ourselves to grieve enough and it will catch up with us.
Looking for some great art? Society6 prints great contemporary artists’ work on all kinds of things like pillows, shower curtains, bath mats, and stickers. And they have regular prints, posters, and canvas prints as well. Support artists and graphic designers. Browse, like me, for far, far too long. I have a lovely shower curtain I have enjoyed for years by an artist I discovered from a children's picture book. I bought some stickers and a framed print today and they sent me a code to share. Get $15 off your first purchase if you like https://share.society6.com/x/hozTin and in the meantime swoon over my cool shower curtain.
I made my first Granny Square
I probably need to work a little on the “square" aspect of “Granny Squares” but it's at least recognizable so my evening trying to figure out all the crochet diagram codes was a success! My only saving talent really was that I do already know about tension from my many past knitting projects so the stitches look pretty consistent even if the numbers are (quite) a bit off and I completely winged the magic ring.
“These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Ye all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.”
From The Tempest by Shakespeare, used in The Night Circus. I have been really enjoying this unusual and magical book on audio. Interestingly this book isn't about killing the villain, but fixing the system. Sometimes it's nice to think a little magic exists in the world.
And shortbread.
I LOVE your shower curtain! Coincidentally I was perusing wall hangings on Society 6 a little while before reading your latest newsletter. I was unable to make up my mind so I saved a few things for later - I really appreciate the coupon code! I'll have to choose now. Thanks!