Hi All. My family members have asked why I haven’t updated my blog in a while. I have updates I could share with you all, like (online) grad school classes starting two weeks ago, but the truth is that I just don’t feel like anyone needs to be reading about my life right now. There are far, far more important updates to pay attention to, so instead of a blog post here is a short, not-comprehensive starter list of resources to empower you to pay attention to the areas that need your focus. These are things I care about, and their existence is not up for debate. I welcome you to look elsewhere for resources, though!

COVID- 19 News: whenever you read a news article, there should be a reference (in the article or at the end) for where they got the information they are writing about. Go read the cited article, THEN go read the news piece. Scientific peer review exists for a reason, and it can protect you from becoming an ill-informed ‘Karen’ who gets her news from Twitter. If the scientific language isn’t worth the effort to read, you have no business regurgitating it to people who will believe what you say. Believe the scientists. 

• If you don’t want to wear a mask, read this- BEYOND THE SECOND PARAGRAPH: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2006372
• THEN, read this: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2020836?query=featured_coronavirus
• Scholar.google.com has collected the current COVID-19 resources on their landing page, organized by journal. Happy reading!

Tackling and Dismantling Institutional and outright Racism in America: The obstacles I have faced in life do not take away the fact that I am still a white woman in America, and enjoy the services of a system to benefit me while oppressing people of color. Black Lives Matter, and I have channeled my energy and resources into how America can do better here. Some resources to get you started:

• Sign up for the Anti-Racism Daily: a daily email that thoroughly explains a different facet of prejudice and discrimination in the current society, and provides resources on how to change that. Subscribe here: https://www.antiracismdaily.com/
• Donate, if you can. To the ACLU, to the NAACP, to the George and Gianna Floyd Foundation. Do some research and find the cause most meaningful to you. If not money; time, resources, professional expertise.
• Educate yourself about the inherent racism you have practiced/shown/contributed to; White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo is where I have started- it’s hard to stomach at times, but I am a better ally for reading it. I recommend ordering through bookshop.org, which helps support independent bookstores, who are struggling during the pandemic.
• Listen to the experiences of people of color. As the oppressor, we do not get to decide which feelings are valid or not. Listen to it, HEAR it, and do something.