Black Lives Matter. This month, racism and anti-racism have taken centre stage. It was a conversation that was well overdue and that black people have been raising for decades. Now the viral trend is over, I hope we we can continue to talk about it and work harder to bring lasting change.
This can’t be limited to filling our feeds with black tiles because it was trendy. This requires action from all of us. This requires change from me.
‘This isn’t new, it’s just more visible’. I have read, seen and heard this over and over this month. We white people seem shocked or surprised, but black people have been experiencing it every day for centuries.
I am sure by now you have been directed to or found your own resources on the subject of racism. If not, why not? A quick Google search will offer many knowledgeable voices. It is time we listened.
This month’s Friday Favourites will mention a documentary I found helpful, because I think it’s worth watching, but I hope my consumption of culture is diverse enough to always include a variety of perspectives.
I am aware this isn’t always the case. I am also aware that it takes more than hope to make it so. So I am committed to continue to learn, to look harder and to dig deeper to make sure it is.
Documentaries:
13th. I learnt of lot of important history from this documentary on Netflix. From the 13th amendment of the USA constitution, to the current system of mass incarceration, this documentary talks about ways in which black people have been systematically oppressed, discriminated and sidelined for centuries. The first step is being aware of what is happening, the second is changing it.
Feminists: What were they thinking? This had been on my list for a while and I finally got around to watching it. Taking the photographs of Cynthia Macadams as a starting point, the women featured in the collection talk about feminsm, what it meant to them then and what it looks like now. Here’s the trailer.
Disclosure was an interesting watch, too, and covers the role that media and Hollywood play in representation on screen and how it shapes our view.
Explained. This documentary series covers a range of topics (one of them being global pandemics) in short 20 minute episodes. They are independent topics, so you can pick and choose whichever sparks your interest.
Photography:
This month I’ve discovered photographer David Uzochukwu and his series Pluton.
On the subject of work:
Without forgetting that the mere fact of having a job is a privilege, this pandemic has made me examine the way we work and wondered if there might be room for improvement.
This series of articles on work, and how it is sometimes less than ideal, was hilarious and fun to read.
Extreme night owls, an article in The Guardian on the times of day or night we feel most awake and productive, was a fascinating look at how our sleep patters affect our work. Perhaps if we were allowed to choose our own time tables we would work better and improve the quality, productivity and profitability of our work.
The pandemic has affected work in many ways, too, affecting women far more than men.
That’s all I have for now. Check back next month for more favourites and give me your recommendations in the comments.
The Spanish Berry 