A major concern I have heard (and felt myself) is that with Joe Biden's win, white liberals will go back to their comfy routines and the action will stop. It's crucial to keep learning, stay aware of the issues, and to continue to take action. One thing that has been helpful for me is newsletters - instead of scrolling when I wake up in the morning I read through a few newsletters. These are my favorites that keep me updated on race, equity, and current events (note - I never make it through them all, and I've heard from friends that these newsletters are great for late night feedings with new BBs).

Fortune has some great regular newsletters, these are my favs (subscribe to any by selecting them here):

  • RaceAhead is a weekly newsletter about DEI in the workplace.
  • Broadsheet is a daily newsletter that shares stories about powerful women in business, and the things that impact us.
  • CEO Daily rounds up everything you need to know happening in corporate America, and often leads with a write-up on leadership (which more often than not includes CEOs' stances on DEI initiatives).   

Anti-Racism Daily provides daily actions to dismantle white supremacy. 

New York Times Race/Related explores the ways race impacts our daily lives.

Washington Post About Us explores identity in America through race and political movements. 

Teen Vogue Take: Teen Vogue has emerged as the wokest teen mag out there in 2020 and their daily newsletter highlights current news, history lessons, and hot takes centered around social justice. Meanwhile as a teen I skipped the articles to swoon over pix of Devon Sawa and Usher. Good for these teens. 

The Betches Sup is a sarcastically hilarious take on the daily news.

Rebekah Gienap's Raising Kid Activists newsletter is a great parent resource. Last week's emails included a guide for addressing kids' stereotypes and a list of ten resources for an activist family.

Politico's Weekly Education: COVID Edition dives into news around education policy and politics. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-education

The HBR Hotlist: a weekly collection of HBR's most popular stories, usually includes 3-4 stories on being an inclusive leader. I also recommend subscribing to the Management Tip of the Day.



11 Newsletters to Keep You Learning & Doing the Work (newsletters on race and equity)

Monday, December 14, 2020


The 2020 Pollsters' Blind Spots (Teen Vogue): tbh I didn't know pollsters' role and how important they are in shaping our future. A look into what they do, what went wrong in 2020, and how to fix.

A brief history of Georgia's runoff voting (Yahoo News): Spoiler alert -no one else does runoffs because its roots are racist af! (P.S. if you're in GA please vote for Warnock and Ossoff - make your plan for early voting today plz)

America was expecting a COVID baby boom but they got an egg freezing boom instead (The Lily): Egg freezing at Langone is up 41% compared to this time last year - even though NYC clinics were closed for 3 whole months! What is up with this? 

Ethiopia's Humanitarian Crisis Explained (Vox): Brief on the conflict in Ethiopia and the humanitarian crisis that ensued.

Disenfranchising voters with disabilities (NYT): People with disabilities represent 95% of COVID deaths in Alabama, yet SCOTUS blocked a trial judge’s ruling permitting Alabama counties to offer curbside voting as a reasonable accommodation to disabled voters. A whole side I hadn't considered.

How to Build Trust in the COVID-19 Vaccine  (The Atlantic): A follow up to our #WakeUpWednesday conversation last week.

Is Mormon Culture Really Plastic Surgery Obsessed? (Vice): Why can't I stop reading about Mormon lifestyle??!!! RHOSLC has turned me into a monster!

Is American Dietetics a White-Bread World? These Dietitians Think So (NYT): The argument that dietitians ignore different body types and diet needs. Proud to see a colleague of mine quoted on the inequitable barriers to entry in the nutrition industry!

How to make your virtual company holiday party not suck (Inc): Practical tips to rethink the company holiday party. It doesn't have to suck. 

2020.12.13 Sunday Reading List

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Hi everyone! A lot of you have asked how you can contribute for the education challenges etc, and so this holiday season if you have gained anything from this blog/instagram account over the last few months or had a good laugh with Tik Tok Tuesdays, I'm asking that you help me clear out some teacher wishlists. There are two teachers who have contributed to a lot of different Wake Up Wednesdays (which yall all learn from!) and who are doing amazing work - AND you can support students, teachers, and Black authors in one swoop:

Ms. C.'s 2nd Grade Wish List

Ms. F.'s Middle School Book Drive 

If you would rather keep it local (totally cool!) there are a few options:

  • TeacherList where you can search your zip code to find teacher wishlists in your area 
  • https://www.donorschoose.org/ and pick a teacher's project to help fund (there are some really cool projects!)
  • Venmo/Paypal your teacher friends for lesson plans
  • Send gift cards, coffee, wine to teachers you know

I sent a book set and some school supplies to the lists above, not saying this to to toot my horn but because peer pressure is one of the most effective ways to get people to donate (: 

Thank you for your support!


Action item: teacher wishlists

Monday, December 7, 2020

 

Via



What Do Inclusive Leaders Sound Like? (HBR): A study analyzed leaders' behaviors and audience reactions to determine which behaviors drive audiences to believe perceive their leaders as inclusive. Must-read for anyone leading people in 2020.

'Flexing their power': how America's richest zip code stays exclusive (The Guardian): Housing inequality is all systemic and it even happens in California.

The Dream Job Is Dead. Long Live the Good Enough Job (Refinery 29): What does it mean about you if you're not pursuing your dream job? 2020 has completely changed my perspective on work and this was a timely read.

It’s time to recognize the forgotten Americans who helped elect Joe Biden (WaPo): Six Native Americans were elected to Congress and Native Americans tipped the scale in a lot of states in this election, despite all they are currently up against when it comes to voting rights. 

As Police Departments Outsource Officer Training to Save Money, Society May Be Paying the Price (Time): For profit education companies running police trainings with no regulation or oversight - what could possibly go wrong? This article goes into how police training works (or doesn't) - and the fact that officers can be out in the streets before ANY training, and looks at states that require less training for police offers than for barbers. I just...

The number of Black female founders who have raised more than $1 million has nearly tripled since 2018 (Fortune): And their businesses are trending to be more successful in 2020 than their counterparts. Let's keep supporting the Black-owned businesses!

How Black Lives Matter Is Changing the Church (New Yorker): Side eye to the churches who serve a radical liberal activist but are currently "avoiding politics" which is code for "letting racism slide".

Sunday Reading List12.6.2020

Sunday, December 6, 2020

The days are getting shorter and I may or may not have conquered all of Netflix and HBO Max before December, which means it's book time. Let's make sure supporting Black authors stays a priority (because if you just did the reading in Summer 2020 and then resumed your regular reading list it was virtue signaling). I try to order from my local Black-owned bookstore (Mahogany Books for me), I'm linking to the Amazon listings as a reference. 

Pro tip: check out e-books and audiobooks (fo FREE) from your library. Mine uses the Libby app and is SO easy to use, and my woke librarians post BLM reading lists.


Reads



Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi: Oprah's book of the year (and we know O does not miss) is the story of two half sisters born in Ghana who were given two very different paths follows their families through 300 years of generations and I could not put it down. 

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams: Named to NPR's best books of 2019 and TIME's 100 best books of the year, this book has been described as Bridget Jones meets Americanah and follows a young woman as she navigates decisions and tries to figure out what she's doing.

An American Marriage by Tayari JonesA newlywed couple is torn apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Never have I loved AND hated characters so much in one read. This one is heavy, definitely not a vacation read but a must-read. TIME, NPR, and Oprah all have it on their 2018 book of the year lists.

My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite: Betches calls this a mix between Sharp Objects and Dexter which is really all I need to know to put this book on the top of my to-read list. 

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Another one I finished in 3 days. Chimamanda's story of race identity in America is so, so good. If you're craving more Chimamanda after this one get Half a Yellow Sun next.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett: This New York Times #1 Best-Seller is my favorite book I've read this year. The story of Black twin sisters, one who goes on to pass as white and one who does not. 

Ordinary Light: A Memoir by Tracy K. Smith: A coming of age story that explores the meaning of home and the bond between mother and daughter with the backdrop of race.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid: I am on the hold list for this NYT best-seller about a white blogger who calls the family's Black babysitter in the midst of a family crisis. 

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole: I love a mystery/thriller and this NYT best-seller comes recommended by Grace so it's at the top of my winter reading list. This book about a gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood that may not be what it seems is said to have Rear Window and Get Out vibes.

Ties That Tether by Jane Igharo: Forbidden romance, love story, cultural identity, yes please.

The Playbook Series by Alexa Martin (starting with book #1 Intercepted): The author is married to an NFL player and uses her experience to craft this series about dating and football. NPR named the first and second books in the series best books of 2018 and 2019. 


Educate Yourself

Again, if your learning stopped when the protests and social media quieted down, you were virtue signaling. The more we know the more we understand the issues and solutions. Let's commit to getting through these during the winter months. These books can be heavy, so I read them in conjunction with a lighter book.



White Rage by Carole Anderson: Ok when I ordered this one I thought it would be about how angry white allies fought the system (because I'm used to books being written to make me feel good #whiteprivilege), but this is quite the opposite. I learned so much about American history, the barriers white people put in the way of progress, and the ripple effects this had. Interesting how history repeats itself...

Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad: This daily study book requires about 15 mins/day and is REQUIRED no matter how much work you've done. I just wrapped week two and have learned a lot.

How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi: Great read, not necessarily for beginners. This one really opened my eyes to everywhere that racism exists and my role in fixing.

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Questions About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum: So many of y'all recommended this book about racial identities and the US divide, currently in my audiobook queue! 



Winter Book Club: Black Authors

Wednesday, December 2, 2020