On listening
"10% of the world is rich. It’s white. 90% of the world is poor. It’s black, brown, and Asian." Umar Haque
This week I have been watching, listening and reading and considering how I can make a meaningful contribution.
Rather than try and articulate all of what I have absorbed this week and sum it up on behalf of those who have spent too long being unheard, I’ll share with you my reading list.
It’s hard to pick just one article written by Umar Haque - writer, consultant, director of Havas Media, because he’s nearly always spot-on, in my opinion, and has a point of view that is not always echoed by the more mainstream media. So I’ll pick my two top favourites:
White Guilt is Not Enough to Save the World
My friend Jenny Gordon’s son, Gabriel Bisset-Smith, is mixed race but his skin is white. You can read his thread on Twitter ‘White Privilege’ starting from here.
Thanks to Gabe Noble for sending me this - a reworking of Gil Scott-Heron’s We're New Again - A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven available on Spotify.
And on the same theme, Gil Scott-Heron Spells Out Why “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”
Specifically about what the tech community can do, this article, “It’s Time we Dealt with White Supremacy in Tech.”
The story behind the iconic photo taken at the Long Beach protest last Sunday.
This film about Ella Fitzgerald - Just One of Those Things.
Worth rewatching. Spike Lee’s ‘Do the Right Thing’
If you’re wondering what action you can take, this 17-year old put together a comprehensive list.
Let me know if you have any further recommendations or any comments on any of my choices.
Stay safe & well,
Suzanne