Juneteenth: A Day of Repair

The "Honoring My Ancestors" Edition

*A reminder that the resource guide to support Palestine can be downloaded here.

Dorothy - My Grandmother who was often mistaken for Eartha Kitt

“Black people are expected to bootstrap their way through trauma, healing and chronic lack.”

~Erin Corine Johnson (Founder of The Reparations Race)

I took down my last audio post because, nah. What I shared was true. However, it wasn’t my vibe. Here’s a crisp recap. What I said was “If I ever choose to end my own pain, then I want people to know why.”

My reason: Poverty.

I don’t have anything or anyone that makes life bearable. And I live in chronic poverty? Absolutely the fuck not. There are days when it’s too heavy - that was one of those days.

But no, I’m alive for a reason.

Life is precious even on the days when I wish I wasn’t here.

With that said, feeling deeply alone in life sucks.

I desperately crave wise guidance, fierce protection and comfort.

And while I often feel alone, the truth is that I’m not.

I have my people. My ancestors are always with me.

Today I want to honor them by speaking their names.

And since today is Juneteenth, I want to share ways that white people (who benefit from the paid holiday) can take tangible actions to repair economic harm, reduce the racial wealth gap and redistribute (stolen) wealth to the Black community.

But first, let’s meet my family. These are my Great Grandparents.

Ora (b.1896) & Boyce (b.1886) were married for over 50 years.

Wait a damn minute. I just realized who my Mom got her ears from - Boyce!

Anyway, here are my Mom’s parents at my Grandpa’s graduation.

Sam & Dot - Hampton University graduation 1940’s

This is my Grandma and her sister. Jet was the oldest and Dot was the youngest, they had completely different realities. Jet had the ride of her life. Dot wished she could cease to exist. Guess which lineage I came from?

This my Grandma with her parents and siblings. I’m ashamed that I don’t know every name or where their children are. I want to remedy that one day. Who was the writer, the introvert or the dreamer? I want to know which ones shared their gifts with me.

Grandma Dot with the shades because, no.

And this is my Mama, Karen Diane. I called her Katie Doo Wop and I have no idea why. I stayed on her nerves. Ma, you’ve been gone for 23 years and I still can’t believe you’re gone - I miss you. I know you weren’t happy here. I really hope you are now. With love, your wayward child.

And this is me - a blend of everyone above with my own super fun mix of mental health issues and magic. Oh Robin. I see you trying. Stay with it, my love. You’re on the right path and you aren’t in this alone.

To my ancestors: you are remembered, you are honored, you are loved.

You’ve done your part, I’ve got it from here.

May your rest be gentle.

Thank you.

As for Juneteenth, here are three ways white people (with a paid holiday) can take tangible actions to repair harm and redistribute (stolen) wealth to Black people.

1. Learn real history

Learn about Juneteenth from actual Black people.

Additionally, learn about the generations of violence this country continues to inflict upon us. Click here or the image to sign up for daily “A History of Racial Injustice” emails from the Equal Justice Initiative.

And a reminder: Slavery isn’t Black history. Sit with that for a moment…

2. Pay Reparations

And nope, I refuse to explain what reparations are, why they are needed or why white people who weren’t part of slavery still need to make efforts towards repair.

That ain’t my lane.

What I will do is share a dope initiative called The Reparations Race.

Want to get involved as a beneficiary, contributor or supporter?

Check out the participation guide here.

For my podcast listeners, check out this NPR episode called DIY Reparations about a town who was tired of waiting for payments of repair to their Black community members and created their own reparations experiment.

3. Support and share our work

Is there a Black content creator that you stay learnin’ from?

• Hit up those payment handles

• Subscribe to their Substacks and Patreons

• Amplify their content to your networks

Free labor is trash…

…especially when it comes Black creators, educators and activists.

Pay Black people.

What did you say, which creators can you support?

Say less.

K Mataōtama Strohl works with organizations to create psychologically safe environments for people who share their lived experiences and coaches individuals on how to make boundaried decisions that prioritize their mental health.

Click here to tangibly invest in their rich educational content and podcasts.

Ways you can support your very own poverty educator named Robin?

1. If you’re resourced, upgrade to a paid subscription. Already subscribed? Share Poverty Sucks with that relative who believes poor people just need to “work harder” to fix systemic inequality.

Feelin’ generous and slightly petty? Send a gift subscription.

2. Contribute to my “Help Robin Move to Mexico” campaign because I need to leave this terrible place with a quickness. Click here or the image to invest in my wellness.

Why am I am leaving? Here’s one reason.

You can also read the Vision I hold for my life in Mexico here.

3. Want to love up on me just ‘cause?

Thank you in advance for the repair and community care

Venmo: @divinerobin

CashApp: $divinerobin

Paypal: practicecommunitycare@gmail.com

I’d (for real) love to rest today. Instead, I’m workin’ hard on the Summer 2024 Reparative Black Business Guide, the Decolonized Community Care Fund and my Poverty Sucks book outline.

Find a Black business to support from the 2023 Winter edition here.

I is tired.

To my fam, I love you.

To everyone else, please invest in our rest.