A "bad day"

8 people didn’t die because someone had a bad day.

It happened after a year of blatant (and sanctioned) anti-Asian rhetoric and scapegoating. It happened because we come from a long-standing history of racism against Asian American Pacific Islanders. And it happened because we have not yet reckoned with the stain of racism, not just in our systems and structures, but in our hearts and minds.

Confronting anti-Asian violence or violence against any marginalized community means standing up to white supremacy. There are no good intentions or bad days that can justify the force of white patriarchy. And as long as we, bystanders, remain “fair weather allies”, conveniently rising up only when there is some horrific act of violence, we will never get free of its grip.

This labor - of disrupting and dismantling white supremacy - must be a relentless and everyday practice of refusing to comply and choosing something different. How can we be as diligent with the practice of anti-racism as we are with the practice of meditation or yoga or compassion? What can we commit to everyday to become more aware, engaged and accountable in this work? When will we realize that this is the only way we can be truly well?

Kerri (she/her)

Art @solonjeburnett

1. The Answer to Anti-Asian Racism Is Not More Policing. Instead of looking to more policing as a solution, we must redirect our grief toward positive healing in the form of solidarity. [click to tweet]

2. Too often professionalism is “a distorted elaboration of white cultural norms and the standards that meet the comforts of those who hold social and institutional power?”. The myth of bringing your “authentic” self to work. [click to tweet]

3. Violence against Asia American Pacific Islanders didn’t just start with COVID. Ignoring the history of anti-Asian racism is another form of violence. [click to tweet]

4. “Whenever I am faced with emotional ambivalence, or a sense of duty to others in competition with my own emotional needs, I ask, ‘What would a white woman do?’” [click to tweet]

5. Dear ladies who are fearful and hostile to trans women, trans women pose no threat to cis women, but we pose a threat to them if we make them outcasts. [click to tweet]

Anti-Asian hate crimes have surged 150% since 2020. From March 2020 - Feb 2021, there have been 3,795 reported anti-Asian hate incidents (503 incidents in 2021 alone). And none of these incidents are isolated. They are a part of a larger racist history and culture that continues to play out until we choose to stop it. Here are some ways to get engaged, resourced and organized:

• Call out racism when you see it and report hate crimes.

• Support families of the victims murdered.

• Donate to @stopaapihate

• Support Asian-owned businesses.

• Mental health resources for AAPI.

• Follow @kimsaira @annie_wu_22 @aapiwomenlead @stopaapihate @asians4antiracism @amandangocnguyen @intersecional.abc

• Educate yourself about the history of anti-Asian racism in America like Chinese Exclusion Act and People vs Hall

Here’s an extensive toolkit for anti-Asian violence actions and resources.

Art @inthistogether_la

We throw around the word burnout so much in wellness culture, that I didn’t understand what it really was until it was happening to me. I thought burnout was blip, a momentary system overload. But I’m learning that burnout is much more than that. “Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress”. It’s what happens as a result of chronic stress when the body and mind become so fried that they resist functioning. Symptoms to watch out for are when you notice changes in your ability to focus or function, when you’re uninterested in the things that used to bring you joy, when you feel yourself become more socially isolated and removed. If you’re feeling these things, it is likely the body inviting you to slow down and listen. Here’s more on the burnout crisis and what you can do about it.

Art @maisiesghost

We are learning that growing doesn’t necessarily look like doing or performing or delivering. Growing can look like standing still, feeling sad, falling down, questioning everything. Trust the process. Be kind. Let yourself be where ever you are.

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