BLACK LIVES MATTER
Like much of the world right now, the past few weeks we’ve been reflecting on (and having many conversations about) racism, white privilege, and spiritual bypassing. As two privileged white women, we feel overwhelmed as how to speak about this systemic injustice. We have found ourselves asking - who are we to have a voice in this? How can we speak about something that we have been largely insulated from?
This is a big part of the problem. Our white privilege has made it easy for us to believe that the problem does not affect us, or that it is not our problem to solve, and to remain apathetic. It is now clear to us that we, as white people, are the ones who need to do the inner work. We need to recognize the ways that we are responsible for perpetuating the narrative of white superiority, and complicit in the oppression it causes. This work is uncomfortable, and at times we’ve felt the ugly temptation go back to burying our head in the sand. But, just as we stretch ourselves and reach beyond our comfort zone on the mat, we cannot avoid doing the difficult inner, and outer, work of anti-racism.
We’ve been listening and will continue to listen to BIPOC voices, stories, experiences, and critiques. We are in this for the long haul. While Yoga is a path of raising awareness and recognizing unity, the yoga community is not immune to racial injustice. When one member of our community suffers, we all suffer. At Hamsa, we are committed to using our voices to speak out against systemic racism and injustice.
We’ve compiled a living list of resources that are helping us do the inner work required to actively choose anti-racism. If you have any additional resources you would like to share with our community, please send them to us. This is only the beginning.
In solidarity,
Courtney & Debby
Watch:
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
Read:
How to be an Anti-Racist - Ibra, X. Kendi
Me and White Supremecy - Layla F. Saad
Between the World and Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates
A Sickness Known As Hate - by our teacher V
African American Owned Businesses to Support in San Antonio