Birthing a future free from racial injustice
‘This is a statue of La Mulatressse Solitude who in 1802 helped lead a slave revolt in Guadeloupe whilst 8 months pregnant. Who’s last words before she was hanged would be “Live free or die”.
During the battles, the women showed exemplary courage. Solitude was said to be a fearless warrior who pushed herself and her belly into the heart of every battle. Unfortunately the rebels would eventually become outnumbered by Napoleon’s French troops, though most of the rebels died, Solitude survived and was captured and sentenced to death. Because she was pregnant at the time of her imprisonment, she was not to be hanged until after the birth of her child, as her child would become the property of a slave owner. The morning after giving birth, Solitude stepped out of jail peacefully, while according to accounts, maternity’s milk stained her nightshirt.
Live free or die would be her last words before being hanged, becoming a symbol for all women and mothers who have sacrificed themselves and fought against all odds to defend the ideals of freedom and equality’.
Thank you to @Chnge for sharing this story of Solitude.
It’s June 2020, Black Lives Matter has taken centre stage. I’ve felt a huge rollercoaster of emotions from sadness, anger, grief, helplessness and frustration at myself for not taking more of an active stand for the Black community before now. Frustration at my silence and how my white privilege negatively impacts others. And knowing this emotional rollercoaster I’m on is nothing compared to what the Black Community endures with stories like Solitude’s that are present today along with the trauma carried from centuries of slavery, police brutality, discrimination and racial hatred.
The tidal wave of grief we are all feeling from the disconnected world we live in under the system of white supremacy is palpable. White supremacy has created a culture of shame, blame, dominance, fear, separation, control and death. It creates disconnection in ourselves, with a drive to be more perfect, make more money, have one-up over others, live in our ego and look after number one. Oh and not to mention, the daily anxiety, depression and low self-worth.
This is not the life I want to live. This is not what I believe in. I know the power of staring my conditioning in the face and freeing myself from societal expectations of what it means to be a woman and how I should be living my life.
I, like Solitude, am about to give birth - to my second daughter. I, unlike Solitude am a white woman and am three to four times less likely to die due to pregnancy complications than black women are. So, the threat that black women face today isn't that unlike Solitude - to die shortly after or during childbirth due to discrimination and inequality and being torn from not just your life, but your baby.
It’s now high time to birth new conditions, to take action and fight against racism. To look to Solitude’s story for courage and to speak up for justice and equality and stand with her. To go deeper, to become dehypnotised from ‘that’s just the way it is’ and address the conditioning of my white privilege and inherent racism.
So...as a white woman, I’m asking myself:
‘In what ways do I hold white privilege?
How have I stayed silent when it comes to race and racism?
How is my worldview a white-centred one?
How have I responded when I’ve witnessed racist words and actions?
How has my feminism been white-centred?
How have I gained from my Whiteness?’
Just some of the questions that I’m addressing, from Layla F Saad’s book ‘Me and White Supremacy’.
Along with taking a deeper look at my own internalised racism, (which is where it needs to start, as white people need to take ownership for racism in this world, it is not the job of BIPOC) what else can I do?
I can challenge privilege where I see it
I can have conversations with my family and friends and raise awareness of how we can better support the BLM movement
I can put my money where my mouth is and support important organisations such as
Pregnantthenscrewed.com - a charity led by women with lived experience of pregnancy and maternity discrimination
Lovelandfoundation.org – therapy and access to healing for black women and girls that will impact generations
I can promote the work of incredible black leaders, coaches, teachers. My current favourites are
Rachel Cargle and the Loveland foundation.
Layla F Saad and I love her Good Ancestor Podcast
Candice Brathwaite and her campaign to Make Motherhood Diverse
I can make changes in my business to ensure all women are being spoken to
I can buy anti-racism books for my children.
I can remain open and awake to the next right actions
I can do what is right rather than what is comfortable.
This work is here for our lifetime and beyond, this work is here to be shared and passed onto my community, to my daughters and to their children.
What are the actions are you taking?
To get inspired and help you bring more clarity to this question, join us next Monday for our tribe call: A future free from racial injustice.
Zoom info: https://zoom.us/j/4610757463
Monday 29th June at 7.30pm - 8.30pm BST