Every January, I choose a study topic. Economics was so hard for me it took five years and bugs took me three years (I love bugs). In my civic work, my fellow activists and organizers rely on me for this kind of deep study. I’m disciplined and dedicated to my civic work and spend no less than 2 hours a day studying. My expertise in land-use, the built-environment and community development have served my region well. Together, we have challenged the land-use system in our region, and then we changed it.
For example, last year I watched a 220-unit, low-income, single-family, housing project sail through super-heated opposition during the planning process with ease. It took activists and organizers, including me, almost 15 years of constant, unrelenting work to make changes to the system necessary to make that project possible. If that can be done in an ultra-conservative rural region, it can be done everywhere in this nation. In my heart and mind, that is the measure of success.
In 2020, I was ready for a new subject. While I was painfully aware of the impact of racism on our nation’s systems, I had not made racism a focus of study. In January 2020 I changed that.
By January 2021, I was far from educated and continued my study of racism. I also retired and moved to Kentucky where I was able to dedicate twice the amount of time to my studies. It is November 2021 now, and I will spend next year studying systemic racism as well.
With all due respect, to everyone who cares about racism and wants to end it, caring and wanting are not enough. Each of us must bring our very best skills and talents to a collective effort in our own communities (and leave our egos at the door). I focus on my part of the job, for it is the part I do best. Others bring their passions, skills and talents as well. Never discount the power of anyone’s genuine talent, passion or skill. One of the most powerful activists I know is a home baker – that woman overcomes the most divisive moments with her baked goods (Patty is a legend). Individually we are weak, together we are powerful.
Over the last year, I’ve been weaving my studies into conversations and people are repeating it to other people. It’s slow work – too slow – but the impact is deep and enduring. Right now, here in Kentucky, sensitivities make discussions of racism towards black people are divisive. By focusing on my studies of racism against Asian people, I’ve found a remarkable willingness to condemn racism here. The leap from racism against one group of people, to another group of people, is but a fraction of an inch. That last fraction of an inch is the biggest one of all, but I intend to help close that gap.
Sorry for the long comment. I merely wanted to share my belief that civic work is never about me, or you, or any one of us. It is always about us.
