Hi Corinne,

I really appreciate your reflections and you taking the time to respond. I posted it on my personal social media platforms (FB and instagram). Several individuals in my life reached out to me directly to ask for my thoughts on current events. I have been told that people have formulated an expectation that I'm the type of person who might speak out about these injustices, and that people are looking to me to share my thoughts. I've been unsure if I am the right person to address these things, but I wanted to be respectful of others' request for my thoughts. Indeed, I would probably not bring this up otherwise. My previous silence was taken as complicity, and thus I am now trying to educate myself and see if there are useful and productive responses and words that I can formulate that would serve as helpful.

I would say that it is difficult for me to understand everything that is going on right now, and I have appreciated the ability to be an active listener. Indeed, I agree that the anger and frustration is justified and warranted. I am not the one to tell people otherwise. I suppose the difficulty for me is in that I hope that people would be more loving, kind, and open to fostering healthy discussion. I feel that this would channel that frustration toward actionable change, and thus a better society.

I hope that I can take the personal responsibility to learn and educate myself. I guess it's just hard to understand what I really can do. People want me to speak out, but my understanding of the situation is relatively null as I begin to acquaint myself with it. How can I reasonably speak without understanding the problem? This is what is difficult for me. I hope that I can continue to learn, and information such as your email and the Zoom call were extremely helpful in that end. 

Many thanks,

Cole Butler
TPAC Project Coordinator
University of Maryland
2103W, Cole Field House | College Park, MD 20742
tel 301.405.6163


On Tue, Jun 23, 2020 at 10:31 AM Diop, Corinne Joan Martin - diopcj <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hi Cole,

I am just wondering, who will be reading your post that you are addressing this to and why do you feel the need to post it?

It's not that I don't agree with you in the long run, I am just wondering what point it serves for you to announce this now. Your pleas for a compassionate and non-divisive system might be a bit too ironic? Maybe right now it's time for people to be collectively angry and to expose the racism that has been accepted as normal, to expose the individual and collective shadows, and so it is not time to tell people who are finally finding their voice how they should treat others, even if some of it is painful to others or even misguided and destructive. Maybe they have earned the right to be angry and the love and compassion needs to be for them, not from them.

It would be incredibly moving if you were to state this in first person in a way that shows how vulnerable you feel, something like what you said in the zoom yesterday-- I am trying to change and understand what is going on right now and the labels and divisiveness really paralyze me. I want to learn and help, but feel like I am treated like the enemy. What can I do?

Black people who have been unwillingly suppressed and rightfully enraged for a long time are finally being heard and supported by others who are validating what they already knew. Nothing changed, and maybe (only maybe) now it will.

I sincerely hope a strong, nonviolent leader (or several) will emerge for this movement, and then the journey you're asking for can begin.

Does this make sense?

FYI, I have no background in psychology or counseling. I am white but have seem the pain of my Black husband and mixed (so Black) son and have been appalled. I have often thought about how much easier my life would have been if I had married someone white (it is all about me, right?) Our life together is a constant negotiation that is hard to explain-- and my response to you comes out of what I know from that.

In love and hope,

Corinne




Corinne Diop
(she/her/hers)
Professor of Art
Graduate Director/ Art Studio
Associate Director
School of Art, Design, and Art History
MSC 7101/ 820 S. Main St
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA  22807
[log in to unmask]
(540) 568-6485
*************
JMU Safe Zone Member
http://www.jmu.edu/safezone


________________________________________
From: tree of knowledge system discussion [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Cole Butler [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 10:39 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Many thanks

Hi all,

I will echo Gregg's gratitude and sentiments here. I found this discussion particularly meaningful and helpful during these difficult times. The resources and actionable suggestions were great, and I hope to see more of that approach in how people tackle this. Additionally, the real narratives from our discussants and others provided a real human element and personal insight on this topic that I think it's hard for people to see without listening to stories such as those. The discussion prompted me to post on my social media, and I will share these words with you all.

"Just coming out of a Zoom panel discussion, and wanted to share some reflections I found important.
In asking people to make change, please offer compassion to your fellow human being. It may be useful to consider what you want to draw out of the other person, and recognize their own experience. Consider that the person that you'd like to change may want that same change, but that they're in a radically different place in terms of their understanding of the issue. Not everyone is going to align with and accept the viewpoint that you'd like them to share, and especially not immediately.
Please consider offering others love and understanding. Do not alienate your fellow human with jabs, attacks, and/or hurtful labels. This does not serve either of your ends. Provide them space to grow, learn, and understand. You may hurt and alienate them, rather than having them support your cause. Create allies, not foes. Participate in unity, not divisiveness."

Best,

Cole Butler
TPAC Project Coordinator
University of Maryland
UMD ADHD Lab<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.umdadhd.org_cole&d=DwMFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=oiIc3DtUELTGP0i641APfB4F6NWZC5vHcJQ8zzRU3dM&s=6uR0E-JMCkx0X2DMN2yCZTHn7u075kABf5QCzI-NjPk&e=>
2103W, Cole Field House | College Park, MD 20742
tel 301.405.6163


On Tue, Jun 23, 2020 at 9:27 AM Henriques, Gregg - henriqgx <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
Hi TOK-Thrive Community.

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for yesterday’s discussion on fostering reflection about recent events. I found it meaningful and healthy.

I want to say special thanks to Paulihna, Rhea, and Shelly-Ann for putting it together and leading the discussion.

If there are materials you all are willing to share, please send to the list.

Best,
Gregg
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