We could all use a bright new year.
And let’s fill it with empathy, justice, and fresh air.
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What a week of conflicting emotions. Last Friday, I arrived in India to celebrate Diwali — which, for those of you who are unaware, is the Hindu “Festival of Lights,” symbolizing the ultimate triumph of good over evil. I was driven straight to a party where my family was playing cards, sharing old stories, stuffing their faces with delicious Rajasthani food, and admiring each others’ stylish outfits. The mood was joyous and optimistic for the upcoming year.
Before leaving, I read a flurry of #metoo posts (and accompanying think pieces), powerful words about last week’s horrific attack in Mogadishu, and Lupita Nyong’o’s stunning op-ed about her experience with Harvey Weinstein early in her career. Upon landing in Delhi, my throat immediately seized up and my eyes began watering — a direct result of the city’s extreme, seemingly unchecked air pollution.
I didn’t exactly feel joyous or optimistic. I arrived with heavy questions on my mind: Why do so many people suffer silently at the harassing hands of bullies? What allows abusers to objectify their prey, play mind games with them, and ultimately discredit their stories? Why does empathy for 358 victims of terrorism not extend to dark-skinned Somalis? Why are the citizens of Delhi so unwilling to change their personal habits to favor the public good?
The mythology around Diwali reminds me of the power of love and community. The reason it’s called the Festival of Lights is because villagers collectively lit diyas, or clay lamps, to help King Rama return home after being exiled for 14 years.
What if each of us committed to holding a candle for someone who needs a little light? Even better, what if we all committed to holding space for others’ realities, and treating them with care, regardless of how different they may be from us?
One thread that ties all of the above examples together is a stunning lack of empathy. Harvey Weinstein’s victims kept silent for so long, along with millions of others who suffer from sexual abuse, in part because they didn’t think anyone would believe their stories. The politics of a terrorist attack on African soil — that too in a majority-Muslim country — meant it wasn’t surprising to see it greeted with a loud silence across social media. Instead, it demonstrated the sad truth that it is harder for many of us to have empathy for people whose skin color is different or who don’t share a gender identity. But also, maybe we’re not trying that hard.
In all of the above examples, there are a few glimmers of hope. I expected the #metoo campaign to last at most a day; the fact that I’m still seeing dozens of new stories shows that it’s really struck a chord. And alongside #metoo is a meager but meaningful #BecauseofMe hashtag, in which men admitted to being complicit in sexual harassment, including Quentin Tarantino not speaking up despite knowing what Harvey Weinstein was doing. Somalis, meanwhile, are fervently telling their own stories of victims and creating crowdfunding campaigns for survivors. And in Delhi, as toxic as the air is, this year’s ban on personal firecrackers during Diwali meant that pollution levels “improved” to “very poor.” That’s… a start.
On another note, BRIGHT Magazine relaunches next week! We can’t wait to begin publishing new stories again. In the meantime, here’s some of what we’re reading this week. Please tell us what you’re reading, too, on our Facebook or Twitter threads. And while you’re at it, subscribe to our new newsletter. This one will be dormant by next week.
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— Sarika Bansal, Editor-in-Chief, BRIGHT Magazine
P.S. Congratulations to Nikole Hannah-Jones, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, on getting the MacArthur Genius grant for her reporting on school segregation! Check out her work here.
Our reads…
Dear 14-Year-Old Boy, You Are Not Entitled to Sex
By Hanif Abdurraqib for Bright
Sharing our experiences with sexual harassment and assault with #metoo is as strong a call as any for us to get men and boys on the same page. If you could write a letter to a young man in your life, or a younger version of yourself, what would it say?
In Kosovo, legal recognition of war-time sexual violence survivors after 18 years
From UN Women
More than two decades after the armed conflict and the sexual violence that occurred in Kosovo, soon women sexual assault survivors may finally get legal recognition and reparations.
Dear Men: It’s You, Too
By Roxane Gay for The New York Times
As Hunger and Bad Feminist author Roxane Gay puts it, “…we’re tired of carrying it. We’ve done enough. It’s time for men to step up.”
Where Is the Empathy for Somalia?
By Alexis Okeowo for The New Yorker
(might link above with any mention of the attack in Mogadishu)
An Aid Worker Was Raped In South Sudan And The U.N. Did Almost Nothing About It
By Jina Moore for Buzzfeed News
This investigative story looks into the story of a Canadian aid worker who went to South Sudan to help women and girls cope with the violence but experiences sexual violence herself. Global women’s rights correspondent Jina Moore chronicles her fight for justice.
The Secret Lives of Male Sex Abuse Survivors
By Joanna Schroeder for The Development Set
One in six boys in the United States has experienced sexual abuse before turning 18. With few IRL recovery options, more of them are going online for support.
‘Said to Lady Journos’ Tumblr is ‘depressingly relatable,’ female journalists say
By Mallary Jean Tenore for Poynter
Female journalists hear it all, and some of it is unconscionable.
If #MeToo Makes You Angry, You Can Fight Back Like This
By Joseph D. Lyons for Bustle
Does #metoo have you wondering what to do next? Here are some ways to take action.
