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Pick the topic of your choice and post your insight.

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The determination, grit and resilience black people shown throughout enslavement and into the dawn of freedom inspires me.

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My difficult conversations often involve telling white folks how they need to 'show up' for antiracism.

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My difficult conversations often involve telling white folks how they need to 'show up' for antiracism.

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I'm a safe space person.  BIPOC students and colleagues need safe spaces.

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#12 --  just because I (as a white woman) think I'm an ally to my black colleagues doesn't make me an ally UNLESS those same colleagues feel they are being effectively and meaningfully supported by me.

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I was particularly taken by the pottery of the Southwest. I am also a fan of the Great Pottery Throw Down (Netflix) and they had a challenge in Season 4 where contestants created Acoma Jars using traditional methods of hand building and decorating. The final pieces were stunning works of art.

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Typical college age students (18-25) are usually at a developmental stage of either exploring or solidifying  their cultural identity(ies).  Through curricular and co-curricular experiences, colleges and universities can support the cultural identity development process best by providing ample opportunities for personal and academic exploration. I also think it is critically important to provide students with opportunities to develop coping strategies for dealing with the proverbial identity boxes our society has for marginalized and minoritized people, along with microaggressions, bias, discrimination, privilege, inequities, etc.  . Finally, for students who are interested in engaging in action for change and activism, something that many college age students are interested in, colleges and universities should support them organizationally.

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Last June, during the beginning of a summer of protests against racism and police brutality, NPR’s Code Switch aired an episode paying homage to the Stonewall Uprising - 6 days of protests against the New York City Police Department’s brutal treatment of the gay community.  This podcast shares the story of Stormé DeLarverie, known for having no tolerance for bullies,  fought back against the police to protect her own.  It is a great episode and a great reminder that while some things change for the better, we still have a lot of work to do as a society: https://www.npr.org/2020/06/26/884080764/they-dont-say-our-names-enough.

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Prior to having any difficult conversations, I first try to start with my own emotional awareness of how I am feeling and being mindful of the ways my “fight-flight-freeze” response systems are being activated so that I don’t sabotage the conversation before it even gets off the ground.  It’s important to be mindful of what you’re thinking and feeling from the onset so that you can move forward intentionally without ego or with your walls-up so you can focus on the purpose of the conversation and have trust in the process even though it requires vulnerability and discomfort.  It’s also helpful to recall previous difficult conversations that have been successful despite feeling anxious or uncertain of the outcome.

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The intersectionality between the LGBTQ and Black communities is not often enough considered, it was valuable to see how individuals in both of these communities have contributed meaningfully to our culture.

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I felt like there were so many great ideas in this document - I needed it printed out and framed so I could look at it every day and remind myself (as I'm having difficult DEI conversations) to follow all these great guidelines. The one that stood out most to me was to just listen instead of always trying to be heard. How much more united could we be if put the voices of others first!?

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There were so many good things in this document.  Some I do and some that I forget to do. It is very important to do all these things so that everyone feels seen, heard and valued. A worksheet that will go in my daily planner.

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Acknowledge our past. Be open and listen. Understand what and ally really means. Be willing to stand with my BIPOC colleagues to make real change.

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I read this and immediately think of the other people these 12 points could be applicable to depending upon place, time, context. #3 is the easiest one to "think with." Why do we switch from one group being the focus to another through periods in history, rather than making things better for all? How can I be an ally (referring to #12) if there is nobody there to tell me I am?  I speak up regarding these points for many groups more often than most people I know.  Yet, I'm left wondering if my reactions to this article signal white fragility or somehow make me something other than an ally?

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Such joy, pride, and happiness in this exhibit. I long to see that today.

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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage in the Collections

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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage in the Collections

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While I loved reading about Judi Oyama, I found myself a bit disheartened seeing the information about then Lieutenant, now Major Che-Een Lee because it was nearly all delivered through a White lens with the exception of a few seconds of him speaking about his own experience.  I felt the same about hearing about Larry Itliong through the voice of Augustin Lira.   Since, as he said, the Filipinos were so integral to the strike and the work, it would be great to see dialogue from Filipinos.

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I'm a bisexual woman. I was in a relationship with and married to a woman for 9 years. Then we were divorced. I am now married to a man, but still very much identify as bisexual - though this has been difficult to navigate. I recently read this article, which was super helpful:

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I'm a bisexual woman. I was in a relationship with and married to a woman for 9 years. Then we were divorced. I am now married to a man, but still very much identify as bisexual - though this has been difficult to navigate. I recently read this article, which was super helpful:

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https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/17/opinion/bisexuals-coming-out-anna-paquin.html

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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage in the Collections

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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage in the Collections

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I thoroughly enjoyed looking through the collections at the Smithsonian focused on Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage. My partner's family is Chinese and recently, we have started to explore this history with our children. I learned about Norman Mineta and his role in shutting down the air space on 9/11; the incredible writer, Maxine Hong Kingston and the actor, Nancy Kwan, who started in a film introducing interracial relationships. Thank you for this opportunity!

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I was so happy to see trans women and men depicted in this exhibit, even if they were not named as such. I think the current challenges to binary gender divisions are fruitful and I hope we continue to acknowledge and pay attention to all the work that happened to get us to this point. And all the work that needs to happen to make people feel safe in their own skin.

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I found the tools provided for strategizing around difficult conversations are helpful to some extent, but they do not necessarily address effective ways of confronting and discussing microaggression and racist behaviors.

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The next item is the model boat from Patagonia.  Shipping, sailing and working/enjoying the see is a big cultural connection w/Greeks.  We love the see and the sun.  We grow, fed, travel and explore by the sea.  I am thinking that without waterways and seaways exploration would not have been possible, cultural exchange, commerce... none of these would have flourish promote civilization.  Boats are great artifacts of communication and progress in my mind. 

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The next item is the model boat from Patagonia.  Shipping, sailing and working/enjoying the see is a big cultural connection w/Greeks.  We love the see and the sun.  We grow, fed, travel and explore by the sea.  I am thinking that without waterways and seaways exploration would not have been possible, cultural exchange, commerce... none of these would have flourish promote civilization.  Boats are great artifacts of communication and progress in my mind. 

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The work that I connect the most  because it brings up memories of my motherland is the arctic /subarctic with the flower embroidery.  I learned as a small girl to embodier and I would sit with m0m mom and do embroidery for many hours. It is something very close to my heart.  I have numerous  items form my mom's embroidery work throughout the house some of theme framed some we place them on the top of table to showcase them.  But I know every single story behind them.  The latest one was done by her for  my house about 5 years back when she was 75.  She had to use a very strong light  to finish because her eyes are not helping her anymore..  

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The work that I connect the most  because it brings up memories of my motherland is the arctic /subarctic with the flower embroidery.  I learned as a small girl to embodier and I would sit with m0m mom and do embroidery for many hours. It is something very close to my heart.  I have numerous  items form my mom's embroidery work throughout the house some of theme framed some we place them on the top of table to showcase them.  But I know every single story behind them.  The latest one was done by her for  my house about 5 years back when she was 75.  She had to use a very strong light  to finish because her eyes are not helping her anymore..  