Deep Sorrow at the State of the States

What's the way forward?

I feel deep sorrow for the United States—a country that was built on the backs of slaves and still operates, in large part, under the labor of people of color (POC).

If you’ve been to restaurants, bars, supermarkets, hospitals, or any entity that serves the needs of humans, then you’ve benefitted from the hard work and inequitable status of POC. This alone is cause for pause and reflection.

I wrote an article for you, but out of respect for this tumultuous time, I’ll save it for another day. Instead, I’m sharing a few links (not only about racial justice—a variety of links). I hope you take a few moments from your day and check them out. I know it’s difficult to override our biases, still, the future of civil society depends on us—we must start with understanding one another through open minds and hearts.

There are many eloquent voices on the subjects of systemic racism and police brutality (as well as COVID-19, climate catastrophe, etc.). I hope you find something worthy of your reading time.

And, we will travel again, so don’t miss the links about travel—especially to Portugal!

On to the links!

RACIAL JUSTICE

• 77 Black-Owned Businesses to Support Right Now

• How to Support the Struggle Against Police Brutality

• The “Outside Agitator” Trope from Judd Legum’s Popular Information newsletter on Substack (News for people who give a damn).

CLIMATE

• Heated, by Emily Atkin, is "Accountability journalism for the climate crisis." So many useful articles it's hard to choose. Heated is THE go-to source for accurate climate information. Here’s a good one: The DNC’s “troubling” platform process (subscribe, she writes on Substack)

  The climate movement's silence: On insidious anti-blackness in climate activism, and the rise of Climate Chads.  (More from Emily/Heated)

TRAVEL TO PORTUGAL & BEYOND

• Flights to Portugal From the U.S. Will Resume June 4 via Conde Nast Traveler

• Until we can travel, 10 of the best novels set in Portugal – that will take you there (via The Guardian)

• Coronavirus: Flying in the age of Covid-19? From the BBC Travel Show

OTHER GOOD STUFF

• Is Everything an MLM? Written by Anne Helen Petersen for the Collected AHP, also on Substack.

This article hits at the heart of why I stopped teaching yoga (and practicing in studio settings). Mainly, the training mills pumping out teachers with little experience and fewer prospects, and the co-option of yoga by the fashion and beauty industry, which pushes (white) body standards and toxic messages (yoga butt?), et. al. Also: see debt, capitalism, unfulfilled promises, and overproduction of PhDs. Just read it—it's fantastic :)