I've been listening to/watching/reading a lot recently and I want to share in case you're looking for resources:
I also want to note that I attended an Indivisible SF meeting for the first time last weekend (there are ~6,000 chapters all over the US if you want to find one near you!) and I was really impressed and motivated by how organized and effective they are. One really awesome thing is that Indivisible SF has weekly meetings with our Member of Congress' staff (Harris, Feinstein, Speier and Pelosi) and anyone in the group can attend. This past week I went to their weekly meeting with Senator Feinstein's State Director and it was a fascinating experience to be so close to the process and get to understand how to bring issues and requests to a senator. Please join me at a meeting in SF if this sounds interesting and/or if you've been looking for a group to get involved with.
I would love to support anyone getting more involved in civic life, in any way, at any level (I still consider myself incredibly new to all of this) so let me know if you have questions, want to talk about how to do it, etc.
Please also let me know what you're learning about or any other resources you've found recently!
- 12 part podcast - Seeing White: I'm just getting started on this one, I've made it to episode 2 and one of the biggest ideas I want to fully wrap my head around is that race is not genetic in any way (and that doesn't mean it's not real). Episode 2 talks about the fact that slave traders basically commissioned the invention of racist ideas - the creation of black people and then implicitly on the other end of the spectrum, white people.
- Frontline video 'Life on Parole' (1hr) - The film follows four former prisoners as they navigate the challenges of their first year on parole. It was so uncomfortable for me to watch the power dynamic of the parole officers, to see how the institution of parole treats people (almost like children) and the statistics of recidivism. The video brings up the odd balance that parole officers are simultaneously responsible for supporting people to get back on their feet but also catching them in the act when they're not following the incredibly strict parole terms. I'm trying to learn more and more about mass incarceration, bail, parole, etc.
- Book 'You're More Powerful Than You Think' - This is focused on civic action, written by Eric Liu (who served as a WH speech writer and policy adviser among many other things) and is a really powerful read for someone who spent all my life not engaging in civic life. "We are all giving power to others by our actions and omissions. When we surrender it unmindfully or heedlessly, our power tends to gravitate toward reinforcing the status quo."
- A little behind the times but I'm watching both TV series made about O.J. Simpson - 'The People V. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story' and 'O.J.: Made in America' and both are incredibly insightful about race in America.
- I'll be attending the SF screening of The Bail Trap: American Ransom, you can either host a screening or find one near you if you're interested
I also want to note that I attended an Indivisible SF meeting for the first time last weekend (there are ~6,000 chapters all over the US if you want to find one near you!) and I was really impressed and motivated by how organized and effective they are. One really awesome thing is that Indivisible SF has weekly meetings with our Member of Congress' staff (Harris, Feinstein, Speier and Pelosi) and anyone in the group can attend. This past week I went to their weekly meeting with Senator Feinstein's State Director and it was a fascinating experience to be so close to the process and get to understand how to bring issues and requests to a senator. Please join me at a meeting in SF if this sounds interesting and/or if you've been looking for a group to get involved with.
I would love to support anyone getting more involved in civic life, in any way, at any level (I still consider myself incredibly new to all of this) so let me know if you have questions, want to talk about how to do it, etc.
Please also let me know what you're learning about or any other resources you've found recently!