Racist slurs are never banter

By the time you read this, the almost total eclipse of the moon will have passed its peak. Where I am, it's cloudy anyway and the sun will be coming up soon but I know it's happening. The world is turning. It's another day and almost another year.

I urge all white people to watch Azeem Rafiq's testimony from the DCMS committee this week. Watch it and sit with it all for a bit. Put yourself in his shoes. It’s devastating to watch and a lesson in the difference between banter and racist slurs. The P word is as unacceptable now as it ever was. It's not meant affectionately. It's not reclaimed. And, white people, it's not for you to decide anyway.

And do read Shaista Aziz's article and this one by David Matthews.

Interesting and useful links 🖇️

A useful twitter thread about prayer rooms and inclusion in the workplace.

This new animation from Bond’s Disability and Development Group dares us to do things differently when it comes to telling stories about disability.

I love Wanda Traczyk-Stawska, still fighting the far right in Poland at 94-year-old.

Learning points 🎓

I'm often to be found wide awake and anxious at 4am. Thanks to Emma Mitchell, I learned the other day that our levels of dopamine (feel-good) are lower and cortisol (feel-yikes) are higher between 3-6am. I'm still awake but at least I understand better why. Here's Emma's thread about it.

Day of the Week 📆

Appropriately enough it's Islamophobia awareness month

What am I watching? 👀

This effective little clip, All the Little Things, depicts what racist micro aggressions are and their impact on people.

What am I listening to? 👂

KOKOKO!

KOKOKO! is a Congolese band I've just discovered. Discover them too 😀

Joy-giving things 😍

It's been a heavy week. It's also self care week so I've made sure I got myself out of the house and into the light as much as I could.

Have a lovely weekend

Lucy

PS Here's to staying hopeful.

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