Will We Repair Broken Relationships after Election Day?
Volume 2 Number 36
The past forty-six months have been a path littered with strained relationships, broken friendships, and a scattering of stopped, blocked, and unfollowed social media contacts loosely dubbed friends, not to mention those we encounter in person — all sacrificed on the altar of politics. What remains is a basket full of like-minded individuals and probably a couple of dissenters who consider it best to keep their mouths shut. I hope to get the jump on November 3, by pondering the question: What do I do with a basket full of profiles and no bread crumb trail to find my way home? Is there a way for me and my friends and acquaintances to return to that former state of grace, when we treated a difference of opinion with deference? Did this thinned-out herd simply outwit, outplay, and outlast the others in the real-life Survival of the Fittest competition? Or does this self-imposed segregation of goats and sheep warrant cancellation?
—from the upcoming OHF Article, “The Way Forward: Will We Repair Broken Relationships after Election Day?”
On the morning of November 4 will Americans wake, wipe the sleep from their eyes, amble out of their homes and into the streets, join hands, and sing “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” in the warmth of the rising sun?
Gotcha!
You have to admit I had you going for a second. Truth is all those people you know—the good, the bad, and the ugly—will still be there; online, at work, on the subway, in the grocery store, and at home. And so will you. Whoever wins the election notwithstanding (that was obligatory), have you given thought to a proper modus operandi? You know what they say, “Fail to plan, plan to fail.” Just sayin’.
Let’s write about it! Yes, I’ve already started, but it’s not a party unless more people play (submit articles).
Without getting into the weeds of who you voted for, tell us how you plan to handle your virtual and in-person relationships moving forward. Will you be Team Rainbows and Lollipops? Or Team Whoop-Ass? Or maybe a mash-up of the two? Maybe your plans are to transfer to that district office in another state? Come on . . . we’re all one, big, happy human family, right? If you can’t us, who can you tell?
OHF writers, you know the drill. Newbies, everything you need to know can be found in our Submission Guidelines. Deadline: as soon as you can get it written. Your friendly OHF editors will buff up the drafts and begin posting articles as soon as we receive them.
OHF Fam, in other news, please welcome Brian Kean the newest writer to join the Our Human Family team. Brian puts forth deep insights as to the real purpose stereotypes serve racists, and gives what some might consider a bridge too far at first glance a means of dismantling those stereotypes. Judge for yourself, either way, it’s captivating reading.
New This Week
“Why Racists Use Stereotypes”
by Brian Kean
As a middle-aged white man, I have been privy to the way racists think and act for a good part of my life. Unwittingly, they assumed I might agree with their racial stereotypes just because my skin is the same color as theirs. I have listened and learned that there is a way we can reach them, to deliver to them messages of racial harmony, but it will require not just more patience but the mastery of subtlety and nuance.
Calling someone a racist is condemning; doing so can both alleviate some of the pain felt by the offended and empower the offended person — when supported by a group. If the accusation is indeed correct, calling someone a racist can sometimes embolden that person by indirectly rewarding the behavior. But in an instance where the behavior was based on ignorance, circumstance, or cultural misconceptions, we risk permanently losing the opportunity to educate and bring that misinformed person into our ranks. (continued at Medium.com)
“Fieldnotes on Allyship: Achieving Equality Together”
Our first book, Fieldnotes on Allyship: Achieving Equality Together is an informal and informative guide to becoming an effective ally right where you are. Written by eighteen authors from the U.S. and around the world, this collection covers four areas:
- a history of how we as a nation got here
- the forces that maintain systemic racism
- preparing to serve as an ally, and
- serving as an ally
This anthology, with an introduction by anti-racism educator and author Tim Wise, presents a different way forward: a vision in which we acknowledge, support, and celebrate the humanity in all of us.
Contributing authors: Consuelo G. Flores, Michael Greiner, Christienne Leigh Hinz, Marley K., Sherry Kappel, Joel Leon, stephen matlock, Kim McCaul, John Metta, Lecia Michelle 📃, Aisha Paz, Clay Rivers, Glenn Rocess, William Spivey, Estacious(Charles White), Jesse Wilson, Sylvia Wohlfarth, and an Introduction by Tim Wise.
Fieldnotes on Allyship is available in print at Amazon. 20% discounted digital editions (iPad, Nook, and Kindle) for our OHF family and friends can be found at ourhumanfamily.org/publications. Also available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom
Please Support Our Mission
Since April 2019, Our Human Family has published articles with the purpose of uniting the world around two simple truths:
- Our similarities as human beings far outnumber our perceived differences.
- Ultimately, we all want the same things: to be accepted, understood, and loved.
We at Our Human Family on Medium have increased our scope and established Our Human Family, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. We will continue to advocate for racial equality and inclusion, and your tax-deductible donations and gifts will allow us to create and offer workshops, panel discussion groups, host guest speaker events, and much more.
Racism harms not only its victims; it harms its perpetrators, and bystanders. Racism harms everyone. Our Human Family, Inc. is working to bring an end to racism and to establish a society firmly rooted in equality. You can help us continue our anti-racism work.
Please contribute to the critical work and word of Our Human Family, Inc. at the forefront of the national conversation on better race relations and widespread equality in America. Visit us at ourhumanfamily.org for more on our mission and to sign up for special offers and announcements.
Family Ties
You can always find Our Human Family articles on Medium and Twitter, and friend-linked versions posted on our Facebook page for your convenience. Be sure to check out our Instagram page. Comment, follow us, and share our articles with people you think would enjoy them. You know, you’re always welcome to chat with us on Twitter. Until next week —
Love one another.
Clay Rivers
Our Human Family, Founder and Editorial Director
