Who else has fallen victim to our own goals or promises we make to ourselves? February is the most popular month for any resolutions you made a short time ago to fall by the wayside and for old habits to creep back in. Often times we self-sabotage by setting large-scale goals without thought into how we can train ourselves daily and improve just a little every day. It's also Black History Month, and chances are you've been around some conversations regarding race and have found yourself uncomfortable. Rather than pushing through that feeling, we brush it off as being “too much.” I want to call out that excuse, though. Changing policies and systems of oppression isn’t being fought from any one individual, but rather a collective understanding that we can accomplish more in a movement built on small actions.
Podcasts are a great way to start learning something new and are an easily digestible time commitment. The Black Elevator is one that was recently launched and is a great way to feel a part of a larger conversation while amplifying Black voices. Intersectionality Matters is another great podcast that discusses the complexities of how other parts of one’s identity, such as gender, can cross over with racism to form a different sort of oppression. I’ve recently learned how well I retain audio compared to reading; it is something I can do while cooking dinner or in the morning while stretching. They are also largely free, which is a huge benefit when finances are tight.
Who says you can’t have a little fun while sticking to your goal? Not That Funny is a tabletop game designed for awkward conversations and education behind how everyday language fuels discrimination. You can order yours online at www.notthatfunny.store and introduce a new game to your circles. Jesse Lipscombe and I created this product to provide a safer and more approachable way toward challenging conversations, and we guarantee you’ll learn something new.
There are countless courses available through coursea.com. As someone who always loved school, I am grateful to have so much education at my fingers. Indigenous Canada was a course I finished that I have recommended to many others to form foundation knowledge of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Choose a block of time in your day when productivity is low and commit to working on a course instead of scrolling through social media or watching TV. You’ll be surprised how much extra time you have in the day, and how satisfying working out your mind can be.
Learning how to truly incorporate anti-racism in your life doesn’t have to mean a complete life change (which is often very scary). Instead, the realization of approaching it one thing at a time will yield constant progress, and that’s something you can be proud of.
Chelsea Gouchey spent much of her childhood in St. Albert and is now a TESOL teacher, hospitality manager, speaker, writer, activist, and avid globetrotter.
