There is no them, only Us
“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” - Fannie Lou Hamer
“Love is the revolution.” - Dr. Zoe Spencer, Virginia State University
“I am a Christian, and a Hindu, and a Muslim, and a Jew.” - Gandhi
I’m a White, well-off, hetero, cisgender, able-bodied male. I have all the privilege and thus every incentive to maintain the status quo, but I’m not interested. I’m an unaffiliated voter who is frustrated and saddened by divisive politics and by violence. I’m a practicing anti-racist who believes that systemic racism still exists in this country and that there are far too many White brothers and sisters who have been left behind. I believe that the reasons why BIPOC are disproportionately poor and why Whites are the majority of the poor are the same: divide and conquer politics and labor practices intended to maintain the advantages of those in power and the rich. I believe that the antidote is solidarity.
I’ve read a fair number of books about divisive politics, racism, and poverty. I took notes for some of them. Below I share the notes/summaries to make it easier for folks who may not have the time to read the entire texts. Some of these summaries are cleaner than others. I’ll be adding more over time.
A brief history of the creation of race and racism in the US - These are notes summarizing what I learned in educational sessions put on by White Men for Racial Justice and Groundwater Institute. I am a proud member of both organizations.
The Sum of Us, by Heather McGhee about how racism hurts us all, including Whites, and how solidarity helps us all, including Whites.
List of “solidarity dividends” and racism taxes, taken primarily from The Sum of Us.
White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy, by Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II, about how systemic racism and exploitative economic and political policies have resulted in the US having the highest poverty rate in the developed world. The poor in the US are disproportionally BIPOC and majority White.
The Life of Mahatma Gandhi, by Louis Fischer about the man, his approach to leadership, and the history of India. Maybe the best book I’ve ever read.
Strongmen, by Ruth Ben-Ghiat about authoritarian leaders and their playbooks.
The Persuaders, by Anand Giridharadas, about the strategies used by various politicians and movement organizers to build bases and power and ultimately to tap into the humanity of the people they represent and engage with.
Fundamentals of Community Organizing, by George Goehl, describing the characteristics, skills, and strategies of great community organizers. These organizers are not super humans. They are like you and me.
Oath and Honor, by Liz Cheney, about January 6th. Liz had every incentive to go along with the narrative that the 2020 election was stolen. She chose to sacrifice her career instead.
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I wrote a political philosophy. It’s called What I Know. It is grounded in love. 2 min read.
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Info on transgender folk:
The science: click here and here. The violence: click here, here, and here. One of the best interviews I’ve ever seen with a transgender person, top of their class at Stanford scholar and a poet: click here. A great book about the history of queer folks of all types from all over the world: click here. My TikTok posts on this topic here.
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Climb for Unity September 2024
In September 2024, I hiked historic Pikes Peak in Colorado in protest of divisive politics and “othering”, in support of all forms of equity, and for Unity, Solidarity, and Love. I called it the Climb for Unity. I sold Unity t-shirts and raised $473 for the Poor People’s Campaign, a multi-racial coalition founded by MLK Jr. in 1968 and still working to end poverty in this country and to hold politicians, corporations, and the elite accountable. My core message to every single one of my American brothers and sisters is this:
We are more the same than we are different. We’re all in this together, and we want the same things: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
My call to action for fellow citizens: Don’t buy into the vitriol. See the humanity in all fellow Americans. Be genuinely curious about how they come to their views. Express yours with respect. Embrace solidarity. Demand bi-partisan cooperation from your local politicians.
My call to action for politicians: End the vitriol. Reach across the aisle and pursue politics for the people instead of politics for your “team”. We’re all on the same team.
Climb for Unity Instagram posts about my Why and a bit about the state of our political economy:
9/4/24 - the first: Non-partisan message of Unity, Solidarity, and Love
9/19/24 - the last: Top of the world and a quote from General Douglas MacArthur about Gandhi, war, and peace
I also did a number of posts in between.
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More TikTok posts on topics related to Equity & Politics:
On Change and Humanity: regarding cuts to Federal agencies, change, and how this change is being conducted
On the botched Oval Office meeting between Zelensky, Trump and Vance
On revisionist history and “race”: regarding attempts to erase history, specifically at the Smithsonian