November 23rd
Beautiful people,
This week is going to be better than last. I know you’re expecting an explanation, and it’s not enough to simply say that last week was abysmal.
On Saturday, Maryland College held a dedication of the Commemorative to Enslaved Peoples of Southern Maryland. The event, to celebrate an installation that takes the form of a cabin, was called “From Absence to Presence.” This is not a small thing. The struggle for justice in the US is a struggle of people to be seen.
Iris Ford, an associate professor of anthropology, addressed the unasked question:
“One might not think that a cabin is the best way to commemorate enslaved peoples: roughhewn, one or two rooms, dirt floors – a quarter built to control those in bondage. But it was in that space that the enslaved linked their past and present, nourished their bodies and spirits, and created a profound way of life that, like a beacon, like Sojourner Truth’s shooting star, transcended the immediacy of bondage, transformed the colonial and American landscapes, and shrouded all of us in an eternal light of faith, joy, and aspiration. Let it shine, let it shine.”
When we fail to see others, to see their value, their history, and their human potential, we miss something fundamental. This is true every day and bears mentioning during this week of Thanksgiving. The president-elect’s transition team is vetting Congresswoman Deb Haaland for the position of Secretary of the Interior. If she is appointed, she would not only become the first Native American cabinet member, but she would be in a position to oversee the US government’s relationship with Native nations and the management of public lands. This would be a significant move from absence to presence.
And now, your action for today. This one is difficult. If you have not yet done so, please cancel your travel plans and let go of plans for an indoor gathering that brings people from different households together. This is about seeing the other people in our city and our nation — health care workers, people at high risk, those without health insurance — who will potentially pay a high price if we contribute to the spread of the coronavirus. Read Priya Parker’s invitation to rethink the holiday and see what you come up with:
This may be the year to do Thanksgiving in a way that honors other, broader definitions of love. That might mean pulling new people into your vision of Thanksgiving: neighbors, co-workers, classmates and those in need in your community. It might mean finding ways to “do” Thanksgiving that don’t involve a shared meal but instead involve acts of charity, phone calls, distanced get-togethers in the park and food exchanges.
Resist the urge to rationalize exceptions. It can be freeing to do things differently. In any case, this is what we must do.
with love,
L