Tippy Tapage

Checking in

Added 2020-06-01 17:26:00 +0000 UTC

Hi everyone,

I'm not even sure how to start this... let's go with this: current events in the US have me absolutely heartbroken. I've spent the last several days watching protests around the country unfold on the news and social media live streams. I've spent it listening to Black voices tell their personal stories, Black voices sharing the (often erased) history of racism in this country, and donating to organizations that are working to end racism.

I live in a diverse city and region with a deep history of racial inequality and the fight to end it. There’s still a great deal of work to be done. I live not far from where a number of scenes from HBOs Watchmen were filmed. There’s a Confederate monument yards away that no one wants there, but when there were petitions to remove it a few years ago, the city & county could do nothing but point fingers back and forth at who had the rights and responsibility to remove it. My friends are afraid for themselves and their sons, their sons who have to think through what to do to avoid getting killed if they’re pulled over as part of learning to drive. These are minuscule examples of a large systemic problem. I’m not a historian, and no one needs my voice speaking over Black voices right now.

I urge those of you who are white to educate yourself about the history of racism and about white privilege, and to look at the history and present with compassion and empathy. If you're able to donate, please do- both to organizations working to dismantle racism and to organizations working to rebuild the communities damaged by the riots.

I will be back to posting videos later this week. I'm currently struggling with creative block and the knowledge that the stories that most need telling right now are not mine to tell. Also, please forgive me if I'm slow to respond to messages and comments right now. My bandwidth is limited at the moment.

Much love,

Tippy