The Weekly - June 9, 2020 - 12

Resources and Education
"WE NEED ACTION NOW MORE THAN EVER.
WE HAVE PLAYED WITH WORDS FOR FAR
TOO LONG. WORDS ARE AN EASY OUT.
AND WE MUST NOW DO THE HARD WORK
OF MAKING OUR WORDS COUNT."

Knowing is awareness work.
This is opening up to information
you did not know. For many, it starts
here. It's indicative of, "How could
this happen?" This is the space to
educate yourself, which can start
with reading, listening to podcasts,
workshops, watching videos, etc.
José G. González
and Teresa Baker

Action Now

This is what you can actually do to make a
difference when it comes to racism and
inequality in the outdoor space.
By Teresa Baker and José G. González
WE HAVE ANOTHER MOMENT IN

which inequity and injustice is
clearly visible and requiring of action. The work of Justice, Equity,
Inclusion, and Diversity (JEID)
has been one approach to do better, to change, to do differently-in
recognition not just of the demographic inevitability that calls us
to demonstrate what it's like to
exist and lead as a diverse nation,
but also to fundamentally exist

with each other in ways that value
difference, acknowledge diversity
as strength, and dismantle systemic oppression and violence of
others-for example, and specifically, Black lives.
The question that often comes
up is: "What can we do?" With
answering that question in mind,
here are some starting points,
and while this has applicability
in general, the audience is you,

12 THE WEEKLY / OUTDOOR RETAILER SUMMER 2020

Doing is response, action, and
behavior-change work.
You commit to doing something
and to following up. It can start
with straightforward responses like
putting out a statement, but also
includes putting money into it, as
well as examining existing policies
and practices that can be changed.
This is the space to do different and
better.
Changing is transformation
work. It requires putting energy
not just into what you are undoing,
but also into what you are building anew. It can also be messy, as
metamorphosis is. We often use a
butterfly as an example of transformation, of metamorphosis. It recognizes many parts at play: politically,
socially, economically.
Here are some examples:

1. Start now if you have not
already. The time for continuing to
live with the privilege to ignore this
reckoning will continue to diminish,
as it has long been past.
2. Talk to each other, specifically
as white people to white people on
white fragility, white discomfort,
white fatigue, and anti-Blackness.
Yes, this applies to all of us, though
we are still within a structure where
whiteness is centered, dominant,
and normative.
3. Read. There is plenty out there
already now. You can start with
Google. You can start with work by
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Dr. Robin
DiAngelo. You can start with this list.
4. Sit, move, and act with
discomfort. White discomfort
especially pushes and crushes
progress. It is not the same as being unsafe. Ask yourself questions
like: Why does this unsettle me?
How can my unease help reveal the
unexamined? Is it possible there are
dynamics I don't see? Yes, elements
of guilt and penance come up. It's
not about asking that to drive your
work, it's about not having fear and
discomfort disengage you from it.
You can still approach this with
justice-oriented joy, just not one that
is solely centered on you.
5. Evaluate what you're prioritizing. What you share, post,
and communicate matters. It shows

CA R LO N AS I S S E

dear outdoor industry, and, within
that, all leadership and staff with
white privilege.
When listing ideas and resources,
one framework that may be helpful
is to think about knowing, doing,
and changing.

https://robindiangelo.com https://www.ibramxkendi.com https://robindiangelo.com http://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

The Weekly - June 9, 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Weekly - June 9, 2020