Hello All,
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately and had an idea. I was wondering if you would like to join me.
Every time I see the protest sign “All mothers were summoned when George Floyd called out for his mama,” my heart shatters.
I’m home with a new baby and four-year-old, so we are still in full quarantine mode. I know other parents and folks for various reasons are still heavily isolating and are not able to join in the protests. You have been doing the work by having difficult conversations with your friends, donating to charities, along with the constant deep dive into the continual work to learn & unlearn. We need all of this.
Yet, I am feeling like possibly many of you want to show it more publicly.
I’m channeling the energy of those who knew they saw injustice but knew they had to stand alone in it sometimes. I tap into my grandfather Pete Seeger’s energy with this one. If you ever visited the Hudson Valley in the late 1990s or early 2000’s, you might remember seeing him, by himself, standing on the corner of Route 9 and 9D every single week (if he was not traveling) with his “PEACE” protest signs. It was on the calendar in our family home for years. Grandpa would always welcome people to join him, although he didn’t need a big organized event for him to embrace his need to protest. As he grew older others would drive and hold protests to end climate change; stop the war; and to protect our children, to name a few. He didn’t need it to be big, he just needed to protest. He wanted just one person sitting at that light to challenge the system with him.
Here is a clip of Pete Seeger singing “To My Old Brown Earth.” At time count 2 min you will see the protest mentioned above.
Here is our idea and we would love for you to join us:
On July 3rd (hopefully not a rainy day) we will take to the streets, driveways, sidewalks and parking lots, to draw art that highlights marginalized groups.
It can be Chalk art, or you can paint your own signs and put them in your yards, front doors, and windows. This can mean #BlackLivesMatter inspired art. It can also mean anything that speaks to the corrupt system we are breaking down. We are dismantling a system so our children can grow up in one that’s safer and more accepting.
Personally, I think appreciating the intersectionality is key in the movement.
To me, #BlackLivesMatters also means #translivesmatter. It means we need clean drinking water, so climate change matters. It means we need better access to education, so education reform matters...to name a few.
Allow the possibilities in your art to have no limits. As a family therapist, this is a wonderful way to talk to your kids about race & the state of the world. It’s sensory-friendly as you are incorporating different elements. Art, the outdoors, and connection to each other in addition to an Adlerian perspective in your connection and responsibility to the world around you.
How beautiful would our towns be waking up on July 4th decorated with your artwork? Decorated with our hurting hearts and our children’s love.
We are supplying chalk:
If you are local to the Hudson Valley and need chalk I will be buying and donating a lot to this social project. You can pick up chalk on Thursday 7/2 & Friday 7/3 at Meyer’s Olde Dutch. It is a safe pick up location in Beacon. I ask that you wear a mask, choose four pieces of chalk per child, and bring your own reusable bag ♻️.
If you are planning on picking up chalk, please send a quick DM or email so I can buy enough. Also, feel welcome to pick up chalk for neighbors who you know might not have any and drop it with them. I trust everyone here to lead with kindness and generosity on this social project.
Tag @ToMyOldRacistEarth & @BFFTherapy on Instagram and if it’s public, we will share your work across our social media platforms.
PLEASE USE Hashtag #ToMyOldRacistEarth on IG/Twitter/Facebook
Enjoy creating your own masterpiece,
Moraya