Leadership Message

When Dr Moore and I (Dr Rita) came together to talk about our reflections on 20-30 years of justice work, we agreed on one fundamental point. At the start, we underestimated the cost of what justice work would do to our bodies, our families, our pockets, and our careers.

Hey Family! We have a BIG announcement! WE”RE GOING GLOBAL, AGAIN Y’ALL! We’re excited about this decision. We’ve been looking forward to the White Privilege Conference returning to an international venue. #NowIsTheTime

I’ve been sitting on how to write this article for days. I’m watching what’s happening in Minneapolis with horror, as most of us, wanting to do my best to channel my power, and my rage, and not become hopeless and stunned. For the system feeds off shock and hopelessness. As long as we live from fear, state violence wins; racism wins. As a scholar of history and social patterns …

Collective intelligence is the wisdom that emerges when lived experience, critical thought, and embodiment meet. It’s strongest when different opinions are creative rather than destructive.

We must remember the lessons learned from our ancestors standing up against both physical violence and devastating policies fueled by white supremacy ideology.

Backlash is simply part of the process. It goes hand in hand with gains, just like inhaling and exhaling.