Knowledge is the light at the end of the tunnel

Hey it's me staci b!

If you read last week's edition, you know I experienced a sciatica flare. Not fun.

But the body is connected to the mind and spirit - in my belief system anyway, and I've spent some time exploring the mental and spiritual contributions to the back pain.

When I realized today that I hadn't sent out an e-mail yesterday, i immediately knew why. My mind and spirit are overloaded with the hatred, fear and divisiveness oppressing our world right now. It has been paralyzing.

If one of us is not free to live as who we are, none of us are.

If one of us is being persecuted, all of us are.

And as a white woman born in the 60s, who still has an inner €œArchie Bunker that wants to contribute antiquated thoughts to current situations, I have been a part of the reason why we all are not free.

While I would never claim to be a €owoker- because what is that even? I am curious. I want to know the truth of the history that was literally white washed. I want to understand my trans and non-binary brothers and sisters. I want to ensure humans with disabilities are treated with respect and access. Most of all, I want to eliminate the fear of the unknown by educating myself.

I know there may be strong opinions about TikTok, and some of them may be very well founded. There is a lot of hate, too many trolls and also absurd silliness. BUT

the level of education I have received from this 21st century digital Britannica is stunning.

Here are some of my most favorite accounts who have contributed to my education. You don't need to have an account - just click on the link. Most content creators put topics across their videos. Pick one that interests you.

Levert Blount - black history

Asinaabe - indigenous history

Erin in the Morn - trans history and legislation

Sunn m’Cheaux - Gullah Geechee and cultural history

Alok Vaid-Menon - non-binary author and speaker

Imani Barbarin - disability advocate

Babatunde Akinbobye - black opera history

Ernest Crim III - black history author

Okpik Irwin Kingmeatok - Inuit educator

David Akh - middle Eastern travels

Spencer West - LGBTQ and disability educator

Soogia - Asian education and advocate

If TikTok isn’t your jam, I would encourage you to read or seek out the information you’re lacking in some other way. We can't know everything, but we can always know more and knowledge is power. The only chance we have to mitigate the fear, anger and hatred drowning us right now is to address our own individual biases and misunderstandings.

Til next week…