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In response to the current social movement regarding justice and equality in the United States, I was inspired to create the graphic above to begin my work towards becoming a more engaged citizen and creator. Recent tragedies, including the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, are not new occurrences but, for reasons I am still unpacking, are igniting millions to take a stand against issues such as police brutality and violence caused by xenophobia.

As so many of my friends and family have experienced in the last two weeks, there has been a reckoning with white privilege, some of us for the first time in our lives. I have benefitted significantly from the very same system that has both silenced and caused immense suffering to others, asking me to look closely at my explicit and implicit contributions to the oppression of others. This past week I have reflected on how I want to show up in my personal life, work life and spiritual life to resist oppressive social systems, heteronormative agendas, and the concerning acts of injustice being inflicted upon minority groups in the United States. It has become clear to me that being non-racist is not enough, having black friends is not enough and yes, speaking against inequality and oppression is important, but that, too, is not enough.

“Activate” is the driving word I have chosen to focus this work through, as it reminds me to reflect on my own privilege then follow through with actionable steps towards becoming a more educated ally in my community. Read on for my personal pledge towards building more social equity.

AMPLIFY

There is a give and take within society: a time to stand up and ask for what you need, and on the flip-side, a time and place to be still and listen. I want to share the mic with my fellow citizens who have faced prejudices directly and are actively taking steps towards more equanimity. I pledge to listen to the voices from such marginalized groups, voices like Kimberley Jones and Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, who have taken on the role of activists to uplift their African American and Native American communities. In order to amplify the diverse voices and allies speaking on behalf of social inequity, I will use my own social media platforms and personal blog to recognize these people and their stories.

“Liberation means you don’t have to be silenced.”

— Toni Morrison

REFLECT

I pledge to look at my American, female whiteness for what it is: privileged. Looking back on nearly 30 years of advantages due to privilege has shown me how my world lens has been directly informed by me being white. Through this reckoning, I actively acknowledge that I have been given access based on the color of my skin and my class, while others have been denied because of theirs. I am currently reading literature regarding white privilege and white supremacy to more fully understand my inherent advantages and how that impacts the collective. It is also important for me to include more reflective writing time on these issues, making space for discovery of self with the acknowledgment of my privilege.

What I’m Reading:

TOGETHER

For too long, minorities, blacks, and Native Americans in the US have been subjected to a singular agenda, which is that of a white, wealthy male. In order to help breakdown this agenda that only serves one group of people, I pledge to communicate with the collective and step into a more active role as an ally. I will listen to the interests of underrepresented groups with an open-mind, honoring their stories without placing my personal agenda, nor any political parties agenda, onto them. Tuning in to voices like Tamika D. Mallory, an organizer for the Women’s March, and Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour, who show me more of the picture of racism and how to go about defending the disenfranchised. We don’t have to agree politically, but we can all at least agree in the fight for systemic change, together.

Check out this short video on How to be an Ally to help encourage an attitude of conscious support through our work and personal lives.

UNITE

I pledge to grow my yoga, meditation and wellness practices to become a more skilled leader in the variety of communities I live in, both nationally and internationally. I will continue to grow my wellness services so that I can step into a more active role as a healer and create safe spaces for individuals to be honored for exactly where they are, without judgment. Because there should be equal opportunity for everyone to partake in the journey of self-love and intentional living, I will work towards providing services and resources to others who may have limited access to them due to finances or technology, but are sometimes the ones who need them the most.

““I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.””

— Angela Y. Davis

GALVANIZE

To galvanize, means to shake into action, to be moved to respond rather than passively observe. In order for me to keep myself aware on pressing matters of race and injustice, both politically and personally, it is important to keep content and conversations around me that focus on such issues, not just during this current movement but after the hype fades. In order to stay connected to the activists and educators who are fighting for equality, I have made a list of their names (some listed throughout this blog), their point of contact whether that be through Instagram, their organizations or their websites. I am also staying connected to a few dozen petitions to pledge to and ask others to join in order to keep tipping the scales towards social equity.

EQUALIZE

In order to seek equity within humanity on a daily basis, I am choosing to check my language. I will look towards my choice of words, the power within them, and make a strong effort to activate my verbiage to be more inclusive. I will omit polarizing and subjugating words like thug and ghetto, pledging to understand the impact language has on different people and ultimately inviting more sensitivity to the expressions I use, both spoken and written.

“Whenever we openly choose a different path, we make it possible for others to see both the path of least resistance they’re following and the possibility of choosing something else. ”

— Allan Johnson

CREATE

Using my access in the publishing and journalism industries, I pledge to produce, source and write articles that feature more diverse subjects and their work, their perspectives and cultural and social experiences. I will highlight stories that celebrate our sameness that lives within our humaneness, and equally our diverseness that honors individuality. Our differences should not be feared, but celebrated, so, I will use my platform in journalism and publishing to advocate for innovative activists, provocative creators, healers and historians who tell more of the story, outside the lines of the predominantly white narrative. For every other story I produce for my publishers (half of my content), I will focus specifically on voices and subjects who are historically overlooked in mainstream media and in the respective industries I cover, ranging from travel to design to art and wellness.

“Journal every possibility, no matter how far fetched, turn your brain into an imagination generator and free your mental power to discover more . . . don’t hold it back. The answers are here, right here right now and it is waiting for you, me and every one of us to discover. If the problem is there, which it is, the solution must also be right there . . . it’s the law of nature . . .”

— Guru Singh & Guruperkarma Kaur

EDUCATE

The past few weeks have shown me that I have a world of understanding to embark on when it comes to systemic racism in America. So, listening to the people directly impacted by these systems, not just liberal politicians and celebrated authors, but the voices of the people (literally) in the streets. I am tuning in to the ‘other side’, including anyone who comes from a different upbringing than me, culturally, geographically, socially, so that I may become more understanding and empathetic. This educational undertaking means I will consume more content regarding the histories of the cultures I am traveling to across Latin America and the American history of my own country, which are both often seen through a white lens of privilege and capitalism.

I am also pledging to educate myself on local government and policies, ensuring that my vote is informed for every election. I will understand the agendas of the individuals running for office. including mayors, sheriffs, district attorneys, judges, governors and representatives in congress. and their impact on disenfranchised groups in society. I will pay close attention to issues that have historically affected minorities, including police brutality, criminal justice reform and equal opportunity acts that can move the needle on more systemic equality in our communities.

What I’m Reading:

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Thank you for sharing space with me here as I begin this essential work towards equality. If this post inspires you to act, I encourage you to download and complete the accompanying worksheet in this Google doc to create your own Activated Pledge.

Be well.

Liv

Images of the 2020 Los Angeles protests captured by LA-based photographer Felisha Carrasco