Jun 12, 2020
Thank you for listening to this episode.
Before we resume our usual content, I want to take a moment to talk with you today about what’s going on with systemic racism here in America.
As part of the #amplifymelanatedvoices challenge last week, I did not air a podcast episode or post any original content. Instead I shared BIPOC content and took a lot of time to listen, learn and reflect.
In that reflection, I am disappointed in myself. I acknowledge and apologize for my internalized racism- by being silent about white supremacy I was contributing to it. I had recently become aware of the racist roots of diet culture, and was trying to learn more about it before I shared it on the podcast- and as a look back I do believe that was a mistake.
For one, this is an ever ongoing journey to learn and unlearn, I kept waiting until I understood it better- but I’ll likely never feel fully equipped with all the knowledge I feel like I need. That’s my own perfectionism to work on- I didn’t want to speak if I couldn’t speak to it perfectly, I didn’t want to mess or say the wrong thing. But it’s worse to not say anything at all.
And two, this is where I should pass the mic to Black women and men to have them educate and share about anti-racism work. It’s not my place to educate- because I am a white woman. I’ll never fully understand.
So how will we be moving forward? Until systemic racism is over, we will begin and continue having these conversations here on the show. Make no mistake, this is not a political conversation. This is a human rights issue.
I cannot talk about women’s wellness and health without addressing a huge barrier, and that’s racism. Racism is a health issue.
Even more so, racism is embedded into diet culture and if we are going to talk about intuitive eating and body liberation, we are also going to need to address systemic racism. Plus, the problematic white privilege in wellness is something that we need to address as well.
What to expect?
Well, first of all I need to create a safe space for women to come on the show.
I’ve learned from Rachel Cargle that Black women often don’t feel safe in spaces of white women, as we often change their words, benefit from their education, and then profit from their work.
I’ve also learned from Les, host of one of my favorite podcasts Balanced Black Girl, that many Black women won’t want to come on the podcast if it doesn’t feel safe for them.
I’m finding so many podcast hosts are reaching out to Black women to have this conversation because it’ so important and needs to be addressed. But if we’ve never invited Black women to talk about anti-racism and then we all bombard them with requests, that’s a version of performative allyship. I can absolutely see how all the sudden bombarding Black women to come on the show to discuss anti-racism work is performative allyship, and doesn’t help create actual change.
So over the next month or so, we will be addressing these topics so we can create a safe space. I’ll be careful to not educate, as that’s not my place, but I will share what I’m learning and make sure we create a podcast where all feel welcome.
Now, there’s lots of resources and lists going around about how to do this work.
And I don’t know that I want to add more to this.
But I will tell you a few things I’m doing over the next month, I’m attending Chrissy King’s training for fitness and wellness professionals for how to be an anti-racist in our fields.
I purchased and will read the books Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings and The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor. After I read this I am going to purchase more anti-racism specific books.
I donated money and for my monthly donations, I’ve chosen the Loveland Foundation. The Loveland Foundation helps Black women and girls receive therapy.
I am also trying to figure out how to pay Black educators who do come on the show. I am open to suggestions and feedback on this, so we can ensure we value and invest in their work and say thank you for their time.
For the fellow white women listening to this episode. This work should be uncomfortable. Sit in the discomfort and listen and learn. This is not the time to center ourselves or how we feel about it. It’s time for change. It’s been time for change. Let’s do better. And let’s remember: white people created white supremacy, so we have to be willing to do the hard work to fix it.