Black Lives Matter

This is just the starting point for me as I openly acknowledge the omnipresence of white supremacy and that I have been complicit in the oppression of Black people and POC. I understand now just how little I understand about even what the definitions are of racism, racists, and white supremacy. And I will not except this of myself any longer.

I recognize that there are frameworks and structures that require time for me to be better educated about before action can be taken — this is not a fix easily made by statements, artwork, hashtags, social posts, donations and so on. Not that those don’t help but I understand now that they can be a distraction from the deeper work required and can only be done in subsequent analysis of my own personal/professional behaviors and practices. And yes, I acknowledge that having this time is also a privilege.

I would like to extend an initial thanks to the following people & organizations (and these are a few, there are many more): Rachel Cargle, Ibram X. Kendi, Rachel Rodgers, Sonya Renee Taylor, Austin Channing Brown, The Conscious Kid and Dr. Tomayia Colvin - helping us/me finally see the culture of whiteness that pervades our cultural practices, social policies, political infrastructures, businesses, daily lives & privileged comforts.

This is not about me, but I am posting this because without it, I know that I appear oblivious and tone deaf the the change required in our world. It’s my responsibility in my business to make it known that I will not be silent or continue being complicit.

That said, I will not post hollow words, surface commitments, unaccountable promises here.

So what now? Analysis before Action. (Thank you Rachel Rodgers and Erika Hines for this delineation & direction).

I am currently working on a pledge and a plan that I can be held accountable for in my business and personal life — and it will be posted here when it is done.

Make no mistake, this is not political, this is a human rights issue that I refuse to be complicit in or ignore any longer. Black lives matter.

With that said, I am ready to be wrong, to misstep, to course correct, to do the hard work every day.

xo Annabelle