If I’ve learned anything from the Black Lives Matter movement over these past two weeks, it’s that as a white woman steeped in privilege, I truly need to just SHUT UP AND LISTEN right now. And that’s why I’m thrilled to announce my new podcast, aptly named Shut Up and Listen, streaming HOURLY starting tomorrow!
I’m unemployed and have nothing but time, energy, the confidence that comes from white land-owning intergenerational wealth, and a fierce ACAB commitment to my journey of learning that it’s not all about my journey after all.
Now before you cancel me, which by the way would be incredibly triggering for me, yes I do I know what you might be thinking. Isn’t a 24/7 live streaming public documentation of my process a bit antithetical to the core thesis of my process? Not at all! Just a casual scroll through the incredible women of Black Twitter taught me that not only should I shut up and listen, I should take on the emotional labor of educating other white women about how they too should shut up and listen, so that burden doesn’t fall onto the shoulders of BIPOC.
Not all white ladies are as woke as I am, and it turns out that waking them up is my role in the revolution! And honestly, I’m so relieved it is, because I’m most comfortable engaging in acts of anti-racism with other Anglo-European white women who also share my same socioeconomic class background.
Sure, I could do this kind of racial justice work behind the scenes with my family and friends alone, but why should Black women strain their voices screaming through a megaphone right now, trying desperately to be heard when I could simply take the megaphone and use my privilege to shout the message even louder for them? I’m learning that’s what non-performative allyship is all about. I may not be able to protest on the ground due to recovering from a broken toe eight years ago, but I’m happy to protest with my mouth as much and as often as I can!
I’m so excited for you to join me for our first livestream episode tomorrow, featuring a deep dive into my revelatory experience of the Amplify Melanated Voices challenge. For a sneak peak (if you just can’t wait), I had originally participated in the challenge and posted that I was “Muted and Listening.” But after a few hours of being muted and listening, I couldn’t help but notice how challenging it was to be muted and listening, and I’m pretty sure that means something important! I’m not sure what yet, but I do know it’s my job to unpack it publicly, vocally, and hopefully with your support to my Patreon, as my Dad lost some money in the stock market crash and recently stopped subsidizing my rent.
I hate to ask in this particular moment, but if you like the podcast, I could really use your help right now as I get on my feet and start looking for a paid comedy job, which I’m sure is right around the corner if I just keep the faith alive and redo my 2020 vision board. Oh, and follow through on emailing all my Dad’s contacts at WME.
By the way, if you don’t know what BIPOC stands for, don’t feel badly! You’re learning, and I forgive you. I just learned the term yesterday myself, via a DM to my Black coworker from my nonprofit internship ten years ago. We hadn’t spoken since, and actually only spoke in the hallways once or twice at the time, but she seemed thrilled to share some helpful info for the cause. Actually, most of our chat consisted of me spilling my guts about how heartbroken I feel over all that’s going on. She seemed touched by how much I cared, but I was disappointed I didn’t get to hear more about her. And by her I mean more about her thoughts on what I should do to help. So I tried to message her again the next day but it was the weirdest thing; it said she had blocked me! I’m sure it was an accident because we’d had such a nice conversation.
So, I decided I’ll wait until she realizes her mistake and unblocks me to take any real grassroots action – I’d hate to act from a place of ignorance and do the wrong thing!!! In the meantime, I’ll stick to what I know: my thoughts, my feelings, and the amplified sound of my own voice.
