What is your knee-jerk reaction to this TEDTalk? How does the challenge of being an ally not a savior resonate with you?
In what way can you personally recognize moments of being a "savior" as opposed to a genuine ally in efforts of social justice? (No one is perfect, but we encourage you to examine how you have contributed to this issue personally--just as I, Grace VP of 2020 recognize doing so!).
What did you think of Graciela Mohamedi’s experiment with silence? What are some ways we can immediately implement this practice of listening to the marginalized in society amidst the noise of the "majority?"
What are some organizations in your community that promote anti-racism work--these already built tables Graciela speaks of? How can we invest and promote the work of these existing social justice narratives as opposed to our desire to immediately act?
Amidst excessive posting and cancel culture, what have you taken from this past summer on the social media scene? What trends have you noticed and how do they make you feel? (Yard signs, hashtags, Blackout Tuesday, Facebook filters)
What do you think prevents many from jumping into the meat of activism? Why does it have to feel superficial or disingenuous?
How are you navigating the balance of "White Silence is Violence" and insincerity?
What ways can we act on Lil Wayne's quote "“Real Gs move in silence like lasagne.”
Think about clear resources you can read, listen, and engage with to contract this long term work--not just a post or a walk in protest, but what are you going to do to keep this work going?
How can we inform others of the reality that the construction of race, whiteness and Blackness, is a construct of oppression--not just as a thing of the past, but an abuse that persists in labor disparity, health care access, economic interests, etc. today?
How does Kendi’s reflection on universal healthcare and access to healthcare relate to issues of access to Music Therapy across socio-economic and racial lines?
Reflect on what ways you’ve observe yourself being “not racist” as opposed to being “anti-racist?” We’ve all fallen short on this end!
Per Kendi’s challenge to integrate our professions, passions, and social groups wth this anti-racist lens, in what ways do we observe systematic racism in the field of Music Therapy (curriculum, instrumentation, AMTA structure,representation, peer relationships, etc).