Thursday, September 19, 2019

Finishing One Reading List On Racism

This spring I found a book list on Sojo.net which was focused on racism through the lens of classic novels by African-American Authors. At this point, you have to be a subscriber to read the article but I have slowly worked through the list. It has been both interesting and challenging to complete this list* but it did force me to read a wide selection of books many written by authors I had not gotten to experience before.

*Well I got to 8 out of 9 on the list. I could not finish the last one.

Here is the list, with a short summary

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The Color Purple is the story of two sisters--one a missionary to Africa and the other a child wife living in the South--who remain loyal to one another across time, distance, and silence.

I know I read this once before in high school but I did not remember much of it and found a lot of depth of meaning I am sure I missed when I was younger.

The Wedding by Dorothy West

Set on bucolic Martha's Vineyard in the 1950s, The Wedding tells the story of life in the Oval, a proud, insular community made up of the best and brightest of the East Coast's black bourgeoisie.

An interesting tale exploring issues of class and race and gender the complexities of the intersections of all of those things.

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

The first science fiction written by a black woman, Kindred has become a cornerstone of black American literature. This combination of slave memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction is a novel of rich literary complexity.

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Sethe was born a slave and escaped to Ohio, but eighteen years later she is still not free. She has too many memories of Sweet Home, the beautiful farm where so many hideous things happened. Her new home is haunted by the ghost of her baby, who died nameless and whose tombstone is engraved with a single word: Beloved.

This is a hard story which while powerful is still emotionally challenging to read.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Told in the captivating voice of a woman who refuses to live in sorrow, bitterness, fear, or foolish romantic dreams, it is the story of fair-skinned, fiercely independent Janie Crawford, and her evolving selfhood through three marriages and a life marked by poverty, trials, and purpose.

Overall I enjoyed this story of a woman learning about herself and love. One personal challenge was reading the large parts of the story which were written in dialect. The dialect means you need to take more time to understand what you are reading.

The Ways of White Folks by Langston Hughes

Hughes wrote The Ways of White Folks while living in Carmel, California. In it, he shares acrid and poignant stories of blacks colliding--sometimes humorously, but often tragically--with whites throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

This was a collection of very timely stories. It is sad how little the situation has changed in the past almost 100 years. While the details have changed in many cases the general attitudes have not changed at all. I think this is an important collection for people to think about.

Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes

I have been challenging myself to read more classics written by Black authors and this was the most enjoyable to read so far. While the story does deal with racism etc is does so in a gentler way. It is more a slice of life story than a story which is doing the much needed but very heavy work of processing the collective PTSD which resulted from slavery and institutional racism.

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

I don't know how I feel about this story. While I have some knowledge of the African American church community and currently go to a predominately African American congragation I felt I was missing something. Like I was missing the decoder ring which would turn the story from semi-trippy into something meaningful and powerful. So while I could feel why this is considered a classic I can't say I really understood it (Other than men are jerks who can't keep their pants up and some really messed up people cause a lot of trouble using the name of religion)

Native Son by Richard Wright

This is the one book on the list I could not finish. I found it too heavy and the main character struggled so much with anger and pain and hurt that it was anxiety-producing for me. I decided that it made sense for me to declare defeat. (And I understand that individuals who live with racism live in this anxiety-producing state for large parts of their lives, I know it is my privilege that allows me to go this is too intense I'm skipping it) 

I already have two more sets of books I am working through: The August Wilson Cycle of 10 plays and https://remezcla.com/lists/culture/latin-american-books-literary-canon/ 

Monday, September 9, 2019

National Suicide Prevention Week

Suicide is a tragic but important topic to have conversations around. You may have seen many articles and discussions appearing in your newsfeeds around suicide and related issues since:
  • September is National Suicide Prevention Month
  • September 8 -14, 2019 is National Suicide Prevention Week   
  • September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day
While these discussions often only come up when someone famous dies from suicide, in reality, it is highly likely that you, or someone in your family, or a neighbor is suffering right now. 

Consider the statistics:

Globally:
  • Each year nearly 800,000 people die by suicide, which is roughly one death every 40 seconds.
  • Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in the world for those aged 15-24 years.


In the USA (using CDC data from 2017): 
  • Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death for adults ages 18-65. (CDC)
  • An estimated quarter million people each year become suicide survivors.
  • There were more than twice as many suicides (47,173) in the United States as there were homicides (19,510).

Let that sink in for a moment. (And the fact that while you read those statistics someone else died)

Warning Signs:

The warning signs of suicide are indicators that a person may be in acute danger and may urgently need help.
  • Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself;
  • Looking for a way to kill oneself;
  • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose;
  • Talking about feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain;
  • Talking about being a burden to others;
  • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs;
  • Acting anxious, agitated, or reckless;
  • Sleeping too little or too much;
  • Withdrawing or feeling isolated;
  • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge; and
  • Displaying extreme mood swings.

Lies and Truths (via To Write Love on Her Arm):

Lie: If someone wants to die by suicide—there’s nothing you can do to stop it.
Truth: When people have reduced access to lethal means they are less likely to act on their thoughts.

Lie: How we talk about suicide doesn’t matter.
Truth: When people misuse extreme and hurtful phrases, it strengthens the stigma that surrounds a serious issue like suicide.

Lie: People who talk about suicide openly are only doing it for attention.
Truth: If a friend or family member is talking about suicide it’s important that you take it seriously.

Lie: Suicide is a purely selfish act or is the “easy way out.”
Truth: By viewing suicide as a strictly selfish response, it limits our ability to be compassionate, take action, and connect people to the help they need and deserve.

Important hotlines/organizations:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/) is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. 
  • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255.
  • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (ESP) can be reached at 1-888-628-9454
  • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Deaf & Hard of Hearing Options) can be reached at 1-800-799-4889

Veterans Crisis Line (https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/) is a 24-hour, toll-free hotline that provides phone, webchat, and text options available to military veterans and their families. It provides options for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

IMAlive Crisis Chatline (www.imalive.org) is a non-profit, worldwide 24/7, anonymous chatline to help anyone in crisis via instant messaging.

The Crisis Text Line (crisistextline.org) is the only 24/7, nationwide crisis-intervention text-message hotline.
  • The Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting HOME to 741-741.

Samaritans USA (http://www.samaritansusa.org/) is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in distress or at risk of suicide throughout the United States.

The Trevor Project (http://www.thetrevorproject.org/) is a nationwide organization that provides a 24-hour phone hotline, as well as limited-hour webchat and text options, for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.

Trans Lifeline (https://www.translifeline.org/) is a nonprofit organization that is created by and for the transgender community, providing crisis intervention hotlines, staffed by transgender individuals, available in the United States and Canada.

And if you are not from the USA here is a list of global numbers you can contact for support: