Light, not Darkness; Love, not Hate

 Hi Friends,

Our uncertain times continue to be so. I keep having the feeling of waiting for something to be over, only to discover that there are more challenges waiting around the corner. There are so many things I could say about the events of January 6 that it has kept me from speaking to all of you about it sooner. I apologize for my delay. I hope you have been processing, taking time for self-care, and opening your eyes ever wider to the immense amount of work there is to do, for white people to bring more white people into this work.

I have so many resources to share with you, but for now, I would like to amplify the words of three Black women, two of them local to Arlington: Symone WalkerWhitney Parnell, and Marian Wright Edelman.

Please listen, hear them, and center your compassion. Choose to amplify their words in your own work, whatever form that takes each day. Follow their leadership, accompany them on this path, and bring more people with you.

Whatever happens in the next day, week, month, or year, we must continue this work. I have been considering the pattern of people who are cast out of society for one reason or another, and the increased tendency some of them have towards violence. Rather than cast people out, no matter the intensity of your anger, love fiercely. Call people in, find compassion for pain, seek the source and address it. Light, not darkness; Love, not hate.

More resources soon. Keep up the work.

Emily
Listen. Amplify. Follow.