June 15, 2020 to June 19, 2020

As I write this week, I invite you to take a deep breath with me. Take a deep breath because we must prepare ourselves to be in movement work with each other for the long haul if we want transformation; and, that pledge must be both personal and collective.

Because of the pandemic, and particularly since the killing of George Floyd, there’s been a lot of individual awakenings. Finally, the world seems ready to confront what Black people have been saying all along – things are bad; they are not working; and, they will never work to achieve the equity outcomes corporations, government and nonprofits have declared if things don’t center on Black lives. So, there are more people showing up, and there’s now discussions about what all that showing up means, and how long the showing up needs to be in order to transform systems.

First, I believe it’s never too late to show up because change doesn’t become transformation till the masses are on board. I am seeing elements of that. However, one must understand that communities who have been and are hurting have every right to be disappointed, disillusioned and cynical when “new” people show up because conviction to the cause has not been demonstrated.

The personal showing up at this moment requires a deep self-study to relearn our country’s history of white supremacy and how racism became entrenched in every system we now operate in. It also requires a kind of truth check about one’s power and privilege gained through affiliation with whiteness. Personally showing up means we each must allow that truth (not our feelings) to change our beliefs and behaviors.

The collective showing up requires understanding that there are already those who know the problems; they have envisioned the future and have thought about the strategies to get there. The collective movement work may need more people power, specific talents, resources, connections and so on; so, showing up collectively means you’ve come to be in service of the movement agenda.

The task when you are new/newer, then, is to hold up a mirror to yourself, as well as to push yourself to catch up so that the demands of those who are most impacted by injustice are not held back. However you are showing up, there should be no expectation of pats on the backs, because those who have been fighting for justice, equality and freedom are exhausted; they need you to join them to sustain the work. Yes, breathe deeply and be ready to be in it for more than this moment.

These are my insights, but there are books and many past and present leaders you must turn to. I welcome your thoughts on this reflection, and invite your company as we work for shared liberation.

In community,
Bo Thao-Urabe
Executive & Network Director

P.S. It’s not too late to complete your census. Click here to complete your form online now. Now is also the time to request your absentee, mail-in primary and general election ballots. You can do so by completing this online request.

Recorded Webinars

Bo Thao-Urabe, CAAL Executive and Network Director, took part in two webinars this past week. You can watch the recordings by clicking the links below:

• Act to Change and NextShark’s conversation on how Solidarity Convos: Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders for Black Lives
• Grassroots Asians Rising’s webinar on Using the Asian American Racial Justice Toolkit to Defend Black Lives

Join us for a conversation about essential workers…

In the past several months, we’ve heard a lot about essential workers. Many of our Asian immigrants and refugee communities are essential workers, but what does essential really mean?
Essential workers have been required to work so that everyone else can have food, supplies, healthcare etc. as we sheltered in place. Yet, many essential workers (especially those in low-wage jobs) have experienced lacking safety measures and support for their families. Industries like meatpacking, where many Asian Minnesotans work, have been hotspots for COVID-19 outbreaks. Join us as we hold a conversation about what “essential’ has meant to our community members during this pandemic.

Join us on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 4 PM – 5:30 PM
Register here and we’ll send you the Zoom information.
For more information, contact Jenny Srey, Leader Organizer, at jenny@caalmn.org