tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.comments2023-10-25T06:27:17.825-07:00Witnessing WhitenessShelly Tochlukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02675680856289600965noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-31181577929917840082015-02-08T13:15:50.502-08:002015-02-08T13:15:50.502-08:00Dear Shelly,
Hi, there, my so, so very dearest an...Dear Shelly,<br /><br />Hi, there, my so, so very dearest and precious white sisterfriend, Shelly! What a fantastic and very inspiring blog post article in which you have written, and I just love the wonderful work your friend has done on his great song, Listen. I so love this song of his-this white brother of ours has been so on point and right on with this beautiful work of his, sister!!!!!! Shelly, you, too, are For Always my very special and steadfast inspiration as the wondrously wonderful white woman who you are as my sister as the lesbian black woman who I am, and to other black persons, other nonwhite persons, and our white sisters and brothers, my white sisterfriend who you are so, so very much!!!!!! Shelly, I have just gone to the great link which you put on this spectacular blog post article, and I made a donation for the splendid creator of Listen, and I am praying so hard and thinking such good thoughts for him, and sending him positive energy his way that he has all the success as possible in spreading his proactive message in his allyship and activism as a white anti-racist brother!!!!!!! He is just doing such a great and wonderful, so, so very empowering endeavor, sister!!!!!!<br /><br />Sister, I just so love and cherish so, so very much you, Shelly, and my other white allies and activists in solidarity as the beautiful inside and out children of our Good God who you all are so very indeed!!!!!!! You and the others, Shelly, just For Always keep me keeping on, and For Always keep my very faith and hope alive, sister!!!!!!!! I think of each and every one of you like my local white sisterfriends, and indeed all of you, who have been such true blue and loyal friends to me, Spirit-saving and even life-saving at times-like in the Great Flood of 2008 in Iowa I lost my basement apartment back then on the Iowa River due to the flood, and I received an emergency evacuation order to get out of my apartment because the flood waters were coming down the street intersecting mine. I don't drive due to my multiple physical disabilities, and I don't have a car. I had no way to escape and evacuate my apartment, so I called one of my very many, many local white sisterfriends who came and got me, and we took as much of my belongings out of my old apartment. Because she came and got me,. I escaped being trapped in my old basement apartment and drowning. This is not even the first time my white sisterfriends have been in a life-saving position for me-my white sisterfriends are my very family of choice and my very heart, my white sisterfriend, Shelly!!!!!!!<br /><br />I can just imagine in my mind's eye and when I pray and meditate how challenging it must be for you, precious sister Shelly, and for the great creator of Listen, and for other white persons to come out of white denial and to face racism and white privilege. Dealing with your white process,. white conditioning, and white enculturation must be a major life's change, and take a major revamping of all of your thinking. I can just imagine in my mind's eye and when I pray and meditate that if I were a white women that this would be so unsettling and petrifying of a process. I understand so, so very well, sister. I truly appreciate you, precious and dearest sisterfriend, Shelly, and all of the other empowering and inspiring white anti-racists and allies in your allyship in solidarity from the very deepest depths of my heart from the very bottom of my very heart For Always!!!!!!!<br /><br />Shelly, thank-you, thank-you, thank-you For Always for this magnificent blog post articles and your other very marvelous ones, and for all you do so, so very well in such a very gracious and generous manner!!!!!! Sisterfriend, please have a Happy Sunday!!!!!!<br /><br />Very Warmly and Sincerely For Always, my white sister, Shelly, and Blessings and Even More Blessings To You For Always, my white sisterfriend,<br /><br />Your Christian lesbian black sisterfrriend For Always in solidarity, Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-45528415939124644462015-02-02T17:28:34.369-08:002015-02-02T17:28:34.369-08:00Dear Shelly,
Hi, there, Shelly! What a magnificen...Dear Shelly,<br /><br />Hi, there, Shelly! What a magnificently inspiring and brilliant blog post article in which you have so, so very graciously and generously composed, my precious white sisterfriend, Shelly!!!!!!!! It has taken me longer to respond because my very silly and temperamental home computer refuses to work anymore and that darned computer won't cooperate with me. Some of my local friends don't feel technologically able enough to help me get it up and running again but I won't give up on seeking help-if worse comes to worse I'll just have to buy a new computer when I am able or continue going to the Iowa City Public Library and the University Of Iowa Main Library and use their computers. Thank God for libraries my so, so very dearest and precious white sisterfriend, Shelly!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Vitaly is such an absolutely impressive person doing a vitally necessary and even life-saving job as a teacher and an educator, sister! He is so amazingly courageous as he follows his conscience, doing the right thing by these precious young people, and with integrity staying the course even though this decision has put his job in jeopardy. Our young people should not be demonized like this and treated like criminals without cause, and they deserve the very best and have such talented potential, my white sisterfriend, Shelly!!!!! These delightful and so full of creative intelligence also need and deserve a very vibrant and a trusting environment, my white sister Shelly!!!!!! I am so blessed to learn of Vitaly and the story of these spectacular and fantastic kids-they are all such a great inspiration to me, Shelly!!!!!!! You, too, Shelly, are very indeed my very inspiration as you are such an incredibly and wondrously wonderful white woman as an empowering and inspirational white anti-racist and ally in solidarity, my sister!!!!!!! You are a sister not only to me as the lesbian black woman who i am but also to other blacks and nonwhite persons, and to our white sisters and brothers as well. I thank-you, thank-you, thank-you For Always so, so very profusely, Shelly, for all you do in such a grand and powerful, and graciously diligent manner, my dear white sister who you are For Always so, so very much!!!!!! You and the other astounding white anti-racist allies in solidarity just keep me keeping on, and keep my ever increasing faith and hope For Always alive, sister!!!!!!! Thank-you For Always, Shelly!!!!!!!<br /><br />Very Warmly and Sincerely For Always, my so, so very dear and precious white sister, Shelly, and Blessings and Even More Blessings To You For Always, my white sisterfriend,<br /><br />Your Christian lesbian black sisterfriend For Always in solidarity, Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-91752140881007109922015-01-21T08:54:36.132-08:002015-01-21T08:54:36.132-08:00Dear Shelly,
Hi, there, Shelly! I have told my lo...Dear Shelly,<br /><br />Hi, there, Shelly! I have told my local white sisterfriends and other white friends about you, dear white sisterfriend, Shelly, and about your fantastic and empowering blog, website, books, resources, info, and about the spectacular AWARE-LA!!!!!!! I have also told my dearest and darling local white sisterfriends and other white friends about the Unmasking Whiteness Conferences for each year, and about the White Privilege Conferences for each year as well, my precious white sister who you are so, so very much, Shelly!!!!!! I am just so inspired and encouraged, and so heartened, as my very heart, and my very heat, soul, and spirit is given such an increasing faith, hope, and positive optimism by all of the diligent, productive, efficient, and proactive work each and every one of you do as wondrously wonderful white anti-racists and allies in your great allyship in solidarity!!!!!! Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you for always each and every one of you-all of you just keep me keeping on and keep for always my very faith and hope alive, sister!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />I will for always have such complete confidence in you, my precious white sisterfriend, Shelly, and in other marvelous white persons, and I will for always with all that I have keep my firm and steadfast belief that you, Shelly, and other splendid white persons have such good inside. I will for always love you, Shelly, and other super white persons as the beautiful inside and out children of our Good God who you all are as people who have such potential and such great good inside. I will for always have such complete confidence in you, my white sister Shelly, and in my other white sisters and brothers, no matter what, even with whatever many mistakes, even bad, racist mistakes, you and other white persons make. I truly believe that is is perfectly alright, normal, and natural for white persons to make mistakes, even at times racist mistakes, along an imperfect lifetime's path and journey. Progress not perfection is the key. I also truly believe and think that is is possible for you, Shelly, and for the other astounding white anti-racists and allies to sometimes still only at times do, think, and feel racist things because recovery and healing from racism is a lifetime's journey, path, and recovery, and it is okay to be imperfect. There are degrees of racism-a marvelous white anti-racist ally can still at times do, think, and feel racist things on some smaller level but definitely not be on the same level as someone in the KKK or a Neo Nazi person. I will For Always have complete confidence in you, dear white sisterfriend, Shelly, and in other magnificent white persons, no matter what and despite how many mistakes, even bad, racist mistakes, are made along an imperfect lifetime's path and journey because it is okay to be imperfect[-this is a lifetime of recovery and healing from racism, sister!!!!!!!<br /><br />Shelly, you are just such an incredibly amazing and magnificent white woman as a sister not only to me but also to other blacks and persons of color in your great cross-racial outreach!!!!!!! You are also a very steadfast sister to other white persons!!!!!! You are doing just so excellent and great, Shelly, and you do my very heart, soul. and spirit such great good!!!!!!! AWARE-LA is also doing such progressive and productive, efficient and proactive work!!!!!! I thank-you, thank-you, thank-you For Always, my white sister who you are so, so very much, Shelly, and each and every one of you as white anti-racists and allies for working so hard and for doing an all-star job!!!!!!!<br /><br />Very Warmly and Sincerely For Always, my precious white sister, Shelly, and Blessings and More Blessings For Always, my dear and precious white sisterfriend,<br /><br />Your Christian lesbian black sisterfriend For Always in solidarity, Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-90734470491842210282015-01-10T14:06:58.080-08:002015-01-10T14:06:58.080-08:00Dear Shelly,
Hi, there, Shelly! It is so, so wond...Dear Shelly,<br /><br />Hi, there, Shelly! It is so, so wondrously wonderful to read your great and inspiring blog post articles again, sister-I am just so, so very thrilled and overjoyed, and what a nice blessing to have your great articles to read, learn from, and enjoy! Sister, I think this pre-K through grade 12 curriculum for trangender students is just fantastic and is very life-saving and life enhancing! As difficult as my life has been as a lesbian black woman who is disabled with multiple disabilities living on a low, fixed income in disability benefits, my life is easier than our transgender sisters and brothers because I am not a transgender person. I feel so incredibly blessed, sister. I know that life can be difficult for me coming from a very abusive and dysfunctional family background, and I stay away from my family of origin to keep me safe-I have not had contact with them since I left Ohio in September 1990, I have so much to be grateful for, like graduating in May 2010 from the University Of Iowa here where I live in Iowa City, Iowa with my B.A. Degree as a Women's Studies Major and receiving my Sexuality Studies Certificate. I have been receiving my disability benefits since my late twenties and I hope to get better as soon as I can to put my degree to good use for me and for others. I had attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor when I was a lot younger in the early 1980s, but I had personal problems and withdrew from Michigan back then, finally transferring to the UI when I had gotten much older. I have so, so very many blessings. I have my many white sisterfriends who I love so, so very much and cherish, and who are my family of choice and my very heart!!!!!! I have a marvelous open and affirming church that I have belonged to for decades where I can be an open, rejoicing and proud Christian lesbian woman, and I so love and cherish my church friendsfamily there. I have my very many, many 12-Step programs I belong to as a recovering and a healing person, and I so love my friends from the meetings. I have it so, so very much easier than our transgender sisters and brothers. I want to be a loyal and very supportive ally for our transgender sisters and brothers, and to learn more about these dear people who face such oppression, hatred, and discrimination.<br /><br />Shelly, I am just so, so very overjoyed to read your great and super articles again, and to be blessed and delighted with your superb writings! What a joy and blessing you are to me, and to others as a true blue sister to not only be as a lesbian black woman but also to other black and nonwhtite persons, and to LGBT persons. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you for always, Shelly!<br /><br />Very Warmly and Sincerely For Always, my sister, and Blessings and Even More Blessings To You For Always, my sisterfriend,<br /><br />Your Christian lesbian black sisterfriend for always in solidarity, Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-79348593090411443252014-12-23T10:46:45.442-08:002014-12-23T10:46:45.442-08:00Dear Shelly,
Hi, there, Shelly!!!!!!! Happy Holid...Dear Shelly,<br /><br />Hi, there, Shelly!!!!!!! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!!!!! I am just so, so very joyful and thrilled to read your great and inspirational blog post article again-I have missed you and your fantastic and empowering writings so, so very much!!!!!! Wow, is it good to read your great words again, sister!!!!!! As usual as always you are a true blue sister, not only to me as the lesbian black woman who I am, but also to other black and nonwhite persons. You do such great work on a cross-racial level, sister, with other blacks and persons of color, but also you do spectacular work working with other white persons working on racism and white privilege. Oh, it is just so good to read your great blog post articles again, Shelly. I, too, have been very alarmed and saddened at the unjust killings of many black men by the police and others, and also of black women. I know that there are great and kind, caring police officers out there, and that not all white police officers are bad. It is important for me as a black/African-Anerican woman to not stereotype all white persons, and to not see one or a few white persons as representatives of all white persons, because white persons are individuals and are not monolithic. You have written such wondrously wonderful words of wisdom, Shelly!!!!!! I found out about our Debby Irving and her eye-opening and heart-opening, honest, and brave book and her website from Wendy Jane Grossman's great and enlightening website. What great resources from our Debby Irving, just like your books, resources, blog, and website are splendid resources as well, sister Shelly!!!!!! I love all of the links and info which you have so, so very graciously and generously provided, sister!!!!!! I think both you and Debby make such great sense about how women can give men more deferential respect, and it makes so much sense that as white women it is so easy because of white processing, white conditioning, and white enculturation to automatically give white men more respect at least at first. This internalized sexism and racism is so easy to understand because of how white women are conditioned and and I think this all makes so, so very much perfect sense, Shelly!!!!!!! I understand so, so very well, and I appreciate how difficult this can be for white women.<br /><br />Shelly, I am just so, so very happy and thrilled and filled with such great joy and blessings to read your superbly super blog post article again, sister!!!!!!! Please have a very Happy Holidays, sister, and a Very Happy New Year to you and yours, Shelly!!!!!!!<br /><br />Very Warmly and Sincerely For Always, my sister, and Blessings and More Blessings For Always,<br /><br />Your lesbian black sister in solidarity, Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-56051217895461674352013-12-08T12:18:43.612-08:002013-12-08T12:18:43.612-08:00Please feel free to use portions of this post, lin...Please feel free to use portions of this post, link, cite, however you feel you can support others.Shelly Tochlukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02675680856289600965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-25341079063565752042013-10-10T02:27:24.429-07:002013-10-10T02:27:24.429-07:00Dear Shelly,
Hello, there, Shelly! What a grea...Dear Shelly,<br /> Hello, there, Shelly! What a great blog article and spectacular insights! Your blog article, words, insights, and analysis are right on target! I have been learning throughout my life as the 51-years-old lesbian black <br />woman who I am that my dearest and darling white <br />people come from many nationalities and ethnicities, not all the same, as well have a very varied background.<br />I have learned so much and healed over the past several decades of my life, Shelly. White people are people and human, and their lives are not always so easy and without problems. Over all of these decades I have learned that white people suffer as well, and that they have problems also. I have realized over all of these years as I have healed that white people are not one great big stereotype, and to not label them with one big broad brush, to not have a false image of who white people are as a people.<br />And white people do have culture and flavor as you said, coming from originally a great variety of European countries, nationalities, and ethnicities, and other areas, are not monolithic, and that they are diverse and have various cultures also.<br /><br />I have so, so many white people in my life who I love so, so dearly and deeply, especially my dearest and darling white women sisterfriends who are family to me! I will for always keep the faith in white people, that they as a people and community can heal from their white privilege and any racism in which they have, and that they can heal, grow, and find redemption and find themselves! I think so, so highly of white people, and that they are beautiful, and that they have goodness within them deep down inside! I have great faith in and confidence in white people that they can overcome any racism in which they have, and to heal and process their white privilege! I will for always support and validate white people, and all of their diligent work and efforts toward ending racism within themselves and elsewhere, and to end racist inequities and discrimination!<br /><br />Thank-you so, so kindly and so, so dearly, Shelly, for all of your superbly super and splendid work as an ally and advocate toward people of color and this great endeavor toward racial healing! I thank all of the other hard working white allies and advocates who do such marvelous work, and for their commitment and productive efforts in this great process! And I love white people so, so very much and dearly and deeply, and for always will love them and keep my commitment to them! I will for always love the white people in my life and keep my commitment to them, such as my white women sisterfriends! <br /><br />You are doing so excellent, Shelly, as the great ally and advocate who you are toward people of color, and I thank you and all of the other hard working white allies and advocates for a great job! Blessings so, so very much to you for always, Shelly!<br /><br />Sincerely always,<br /><br />Sherry Gordon<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />1life, such as my white women sisterfriends!<br /><br />Blessings so, so very much to you for always, Shelly! You are doing such excellent work!<br /><br />Sincerely always, <br /> <br />Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-2582265034676953002013-09-03T06:01:24.587-07:002013-09-03T06:01:24.587-07:00Dear Shelly,
Hello, there, Shelly! Happy Labor ...Dear Shelly,<br /> Hello, there, Shelly! Happy Labor Day! It is so, so good to read your superb blog post again!Thank-you for your fantastic and uplifting post, and for the great links and info! I, too, love the show with Jon Stewart and the other one with Stephen Colbert. I am in the Central Time Zone here in Iowa City, Iowa where I live, so these shows come on at 12:00A.M. Midnight and then 12:30A.M. which is too late for me, so I reoord them on my DVR and then I watch later. I, too, enjoyed and learned from the substitute for Jon Stewart this summer!<br /> I am also so sick at heart over how our Trayvon Martin was murdered and the verdict. I do not and will not lose heart, however! I will for always have my faith in and belief in the goodness of white people, and that they can find healing and redemption for any racism in which they have, and that they can learn and grow! I will for always support white people and validate them, and keep my faith, hope, and optimism! The many white people in my life who I love so, so dearly and deeply, especially my white women sisterfriends, give me the faith, hope, and optimism to not give up on white people! Shelly, I thank-you so, so kindly, and so, so dearly and all of the other spectacular white anti-racists for all of your great and diligent work, activism, and for being super allies and advocates! It gives me as the 51-years-old black/African-American lesbian woman who I am so, so much healing, and increases my optimism and positive outlook! I thank you, Shelly, and all of the others from the bottom of my heart! It means so, so much, and I have such appreciation in my heart Shelly!<br /> Blessings so, so much to you for always, Shelly!<br /> Sincerely always,<br /> Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-89879114648553263482013-07-05T23:20:54.602-07:002013-07-05T23:20:54.602-07:00Thank you for shouting out. I think we need to add...Thank you for shouting out. I think we need to address this ugly infection that is covered by a bandage. Officials keep trying to put a cover on what Yorba Linda is. It is a sugar coated infected wound. It is ugly and it must be exposed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-62551323164253982272013-05-12T07:46:49.438-07:002013-05-12T07:46:49.438-07:00Dear Shelly,
Hello, there, Shelly! It is so, so...Dear Shelly,<br /> Hello, there, Shelly! It is so, so fantastic reading your super blog post again! I have for sure been spreading the word about the Unmasking Whiteness 2013 conference to my dearest and darling white women sisterfriends and to other dear white people I know here where I live in Iowa City, Iowa! What a great conference and workshop this will be, as it has been in previous years! I am so, so very inspired as the 51-year-old black/African-American woman and lesbian woman who I am by you, Shelly, AwareLA, and by all of the other superb white antiracists activists everywhere! Each and every one of you work so diligently and do such sensitive, caring, productive, and excellent work! I thank each and every one of your everywhere in our society, country, and world so, so dearly and so, so kindly!<br /><br />Shelly, I have also been telling and sharing with my beloved, precious, and special white sisterfriends, as well as with other white people I know about your great and excellent website and blog, and about AWARELA, and that website! I am so heartened and blessed by all of the spectacular and fine work all of you do! All of you everywhere give my a much more increased faith, hope, and optimism! Thank-you, thank-you so, so dearly and so, so kindly, Shelly!<br /><br />I am thoroughly blessed and I benefit greatly from your marvelous and sensitive website and blog, Shelly! I am always so happy to check out your website, and to read your wonderful blog posts! I learn so much! Blessings so, so very much to your for always, Shelly!<br /><br />Sincerely always,<br /><br />Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-5763220984749623782013-04-07T10:28:53.607-07:002013-04-07T10:28:53.607-07:00Dear Shelly,
Hello, there, Shelly! It is wonde...Dear Shelly,<br /> Hello, there, Shelly! It is wonderful reading your great blog post again! I really enjoy and learn from your sensitive, great, and inspiring blog posts! Shelly, you and all of the other marvelous white antiracists do such splendid work working on white privilege, as well as working to end racist inequities, racism in general, and racist discrimination!<br /> <br />I have started to study your superb materials! What great work you have done, Shelly! Thank-you, thank-you so, so much for all of your advocacy and for being a super white ally! You and all of the other white allies give me hope, inspiration, and optimism for the future! I am not an educator myself, but I have dearest and darling white women sisterfriends who are educators. like one of my dear white sisterfriends is a professor at a college here in Iowa where I live, and my other friends work at the college level, and in the Iowa City, Iowa Community School District. I will for sure let them know about your superb materials, Shelly!<br /> <br />Shelly, you, AWARELA, and all of you fine and excellent white allies and antiracist activists give me such inspiration as the 51-year-old black/African-American woman and lesbian who I am! My heart continues to heal as a person who has experienced heterosexism, homophobia, sexism, racism, and all kinds of discrimination because of people like you and all of the other marvelous and hard working white allies and advocates! Thank-you so, so kindly and so, so dearly, Shelly! You are doing excellent work! Blessings, blessings so, so very much to you for always, Shelly@<br /> Sincerely always,<br /> Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-26731113152621272282013-03-10T12:05:37.021-07:002013-03-10T12:05:37.021-07:00I am so excited to have stumbled across this,
LOVE...I am so excited to have stumbled across this,<br />LOVE IT and will be using it in my foundations class.<br />:)Desireehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00331108175137673106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-74057519200542851252012-11-25T15:47:08.493-08:002012-11-25T15:47:08.493-08:00Dear Shelly,
Hello, there, Shelly! Happy Thank...Dear Shelly,<br /> Hello, there, Shelly! Happy Thanksgiving! It is so, so wonderful to read your great blog post again! I celebrate Thanksgiving knowing that there is some troubling and questionable history there, but I always try to find the good. I try to stay positive and optimistic. I feel so incredibly blessed and thankful even with whatever problems which I have to deal with.<br /> You are right on, Shelly, in your wonderful comments as usual as always! I can relate to what these courageous other black/African-American people have suffered and endured as a black/African-American woman and lesbian. In my 50 years I have experienced some very harsh things in terms of sexism,heterosexism, homophobia, racism, oppression, and discrimination, and I know that I will always have to deal with these mean things for the rest of my earthly life. I have such hope and faith in my heart, though, I feel so positive and optimistic! Even with these challenges, it is wonderful and super white people like you, Shelly, and other marvelous white anti-racists activists such as my dearest and darling friends, especially my white sisterfriends, who help me to heal inside and to somehow keep the faith and to find love in the world. I am so, so very appreciative of you, Shelly, and all of the other diligent white anti-racists activists who try to overcome their white privilege and any racist learning and conditioning with which they were exposed!<br /> Shelly, I just love your blog posts, and your very keen and perceptive insights! I learn so, so much from your blogs posts, and they are always so thoughtfully written with such care abd sensitivity! Thank-you, Thank-you so, so much so, so kindly and dearly, Shelly! I know how much you work actively to work on white privilege and to end racist inequities, you and the others like at Aware-LA, and all of the other white anti-racists activists everywhere do such fantastic work! People like all of you give me the faith and the hope I need to see the good that is out there still in society and among people every with all of the negative stuff which is in society! I have faith and hope, and I am so, so very encouraged and inspired by you, Shelly, and by all of you! Thank-you, thank-you to each and every one of you in our society who try so very hard to enact positive change! It increases my optimism and positive outlook!<br /> Blessings to you for always so, so very much, Shelly! Thank-you, thank-you,Shelly!<br /> Sincerely always,<br /> Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-67224769058038440082012-03-06T06:05:40.834-08:002012-03-06T06:05:40.834-08:00Dear Shelly,
Hello, there, Shelly! I will for s...Dear Shelly,<br /> Hello, there, Shelly! I will for sure spread the word among my numerous dearest and darling white friends in my life about this super Unmasking Whiteness Conference coming up later this year in June!!!!! I am so, so blessed by you, Shelly, and by all of the other white allies and advocates, as each and every one of you work so diligently toward ending white privilege, racist inequities, racism, prejudice, oppresion, and discrimination! I am so, so very appreciative of each and every one of you, and I am so especially blessed by all of you!!!!!<br /> As the 50-year-old black/African-American woman and lesbian who I am, I will for always have hope in you, Shelly, and in other white people that we all can work together toward effective change in making our society, country, and world to be a much better and fairer place for everyone! Thank-you, thank-you so, so very dearly and so, so very kindly, Shelly, and AwareLA, and each and every one of you!!!!! Blessings so, so much to you, Shelly, for always!!!!!<br /> Sincerely always,<br /> Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-11133534245991974222012-03-06T05:57:26.921-08:002012-03-06T05:57:26.921-08:00Dear Shelly,
Hello, there, Shelly! I am so, so ...Dear Shelly,<br /> Hello, there, Shelly! I am so, so very glad you are back! I have missed you and your superb anti-racist white advocacy and your being a great ally, and your very progressive and effective writing!!!!! I am so blessed as the 50-year-old black/African-American woman and lesbian who I am with you and our other great anti-racist white people who are doing a splendid job working through white privilege and learning more about white identity vis-a-vis ending racist inequities, racism, oppression, discrimination, and prejudice! Shelly, you and the others do such spectacular work, I am greatly appreciative so, so much!<br /> I am rejoicing with my interracial relationship and friendships with my very numerous white women sisterfriends who are very loving and kind, and who help me to heal as a person who has experienced racism, oppression, discrimination, prejudice, and racist inequities. We very often have open and loving conversations in which we actively work together to heal ourselves, and to learn from one another! My dearest and darling white women surely help me a whole lot, I am so, so very blessed to have them in my life!<br /> Shelly, you are doing so, so excellent, and AwareLA as well!!!!! Thank-you so, so much, and so, so kindly,and so, so dearly! Blessings to you very often and for always, Shelly!<br /> Sincerely always,<br /> Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-62643486736983742972011-08-17T05:23:18.987-07:002011-08-17T05:23:18.987-07:00Hi Shelly!!!
My name is Sunshine Kamaloni and I a...Hi Shelly!!!<br /><br />My name is Sunshine Kamaloni and I am just reading your book - Witnessing Whitness!! :) I'm doing my PhD on how black women are attributed with an identity through everyday experiences. And I am so super excited to find your blog!! I hope we can exchange ideas!! This is my fifth month into my research and I still feel like I'm going round and round in circles. <br /><br />You are doing such a fantastic job and I am definitely on your side :)Sunshine Kamalonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08888620095143303015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-84224653762759467612011-04-21T19:56:29.833-07:002011-04-21T19:56:29.833-07:00Remember when the GOP stood for balanced budgets, ...Remember when the GOP stood for balanced budgets, individual freedom and isolationism.<br /><br />The Republican Party has run up these deficits, we want the federal government to be in our bedrooms and between our women and their doctors, we started two wars instead of ending them like the Korean War and were supposed to stop the Vietnam War the Democrats started. We have lost our way!<br /><br />So why waste our time with these fools who use their racist rhetoric, like this Marilyn Davenport and Donald Trump with his birther unproven myth, why do we allow our Fox news people to keep talking down our country. Don’t they know we can win the next election with optimism and hope instead of the current rhetoric, that the sky is falling, if we are not careful we will end up like chicken little where no one will listen to us.Ron Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-79936333310667450672011-04-21T13:34:41.709-07:002011-04-21T13:34:41.709-07:00Dear Shelly,
Hello, there, Shelly! I truly app...Dear Shelly,<br /> Hello, there, Shelly! I truly appreciate how you are right on in your superb blog post about the vile and insensitive email which Ms. Marilyn Davenport sent out! I am so, so saddened and heartbroken over this horrific email. This email brings to my mind my own intense personal struggle to heal from my anger and my hurt over insults and other offenses like in terms of animalistic and other hurtful words and images cast upon me as a black/African-American woman and lesbian. I know that this reality is far, far too common for other black people and other people of color as well. I have healed over past hurts, insults, and offenses and let go of my anger and my hurt, as I came to grips with the racism, heterosexism, homophobia, and sexism which I have faced in my life.<br /><br />True sister who you are, Shelly, I thank you so, so dearly and so, so kindly for offering to talk with Ms. Davenport. What you are offering, Shelly, and our other fantastic white anti-racist people, is so vitally needed and so necessary, I truly appreciate you and the other white anti-racists, allies, and advocates! Shelly, you are right on target when you said that ignorance is not innocence, intent is not impact, and that race consciousness is by far preferable to colorblindness!<br /><br />You and are other white anti-racist folks are indeed such a powerful inspiration to me! I have indeed found out all of my life that there are good white people out there who really try to do the right thing, such as my white women sisterfriends who I love so very much and who I care about so very much! Shelly, you are doing a great job, you are really a true sister in the cause toward racial justice and equity! Thank-you!!!!! Blessings so, so much to you for always, Shelly!<br /><br />Sincerely always,<br /><br />Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-70156036444351383392011-03-25T10:14:36.634-07:002011-03-25T10:14:36.634-07:00Anonymous, what do you mean why you say "just...Anonymous, what do you mean why you say "just because your grandfather was an American Indian, doesn't mean you are apart of the culture?" What qualifies one to be? Do they have to be 100% American Indian? What if they were adopted by Natives their whole life, that's the only culture they know, and yet they are white? Why do you get to say who can be apart of the culture and who cannot? Just wondering...Little Birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-49401230187893177522011-03-10T02:43:38.755-08:002011-03-10T02:43:38.755-08:00Signed Waiver? That's just too funny!! How man...Signed Waiver? That's just too funny!! How many times did I sign a waiver to participate in my way of life? Some talk about culture appropiation, what does that even mean, does it mean its alright to sweat with me because you "understand" my culture. On the one hand, I would support other cultures to partake in such behavior, to experience a ceremony, for their journey, for their path, not because they can take it. On the other hand, the elders much know that these people are not like us and there are dangers that should have been explained to them. No waiver needed because it is a life changing journey. You know your own limits, and if you don't, this is not "survivor", this is real as it gets. People just don't get it, and that's so sad! peace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-56837066520910257432011-02-25T08:08:01.607-08:002011-02-25T08:08:01.607-08:00Great comments Sherry -- it was always so good to ...Great comments Sherry -- it was always so good to talk about race and gender and sexual identity and class with you! It is also great to hear from you out in the world -- feel free to write and let us know your current contact information if you like. -Kelly Willson now e-mailing from kellylwillson@gmail.comUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10602005484684405834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-17865303870729866982011-02-02T07:21:02.639-08:002011-02-02T07:21:02.639-08:00Dear Shelly,
Hello, there, Shelly! I am so glad ...Dear Shelly,<br /> Hello, there, Shelly! I am so glad that you were able to write and to blog again, I have missed your marvelous writing on your wonderful white antiracist activism! I know how hard it can be with the busyness of life, I am just so glad that you are back, Shelly!<br /> I will for sure spread the word among my super white antiracist friendsfamily here where I live in Iowa City, Iowa about this great Unmasking Whiteness Conference coming up again this year in June! This is what I like to see, super white antiracist people such as yourself, Shelly, and our other fantastic white antiracist people getting together to learn, to grow, and to heal! I applaud you, Shelly, and our other fabulous white antiracist folks for your progressive and vitally important work in all of your white antiracist endeavors in doing white antiracist activism!<br /> I have been doing joyfully important work (it is so fun, it doesn't seem like work) with my white women sisterfriends who I love so very much and care about so very much as friendsfamily here where I live in Iowa City, Iowa. We are doing a group, a kind of a study and sharing, on books related to racism, white antiracist activism, ending racist inequities, and battling white privilege, as well as talking openly and honestly sharing in general, and talking heart to heart about our interracial relationship, and interracial friendships! I have showed them as well my two copies of the First and Second Editions of your remarkable books, Witnessing Whiteness, and we are for sure discussing those two great books of yours as well! We are trying to think of a name of our group, I wonder if our group should be called Interracial Sisterfriends, or Interracial Spirit Of Unity! I can't wait until our group meets again, I am filled with eager anticipation!<br /> Shelly, you as usual as always are doing such remarkable work as the true sister who you are doing your progessive and superb white antiracism work as the super antiracist white woman who you are! I thank you, Shelly, so dearly and so kindly for all of your great efforts, and for your diligent work, and I am so very inspired and uplifted by you, and all of our other white antiracist folks! Keep up the great work, Shelly, and remember, "Progress not perfection," it is perfectly alright to make mistakes along this lifetime process and journey! Blessings to you for always, Shelly, so, so very much!<br /><br />Sincerely always,<br /><br />Sherry GordonSherry Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09019310093116054897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-16384485793670678772011-01-14T04:01:53.649-08:002011-01-14T04:01:53.649-08:00It just seems so cut and dry simple. I can't b...It just seems so cut and dry simple. I can't believe people can be so dumb that they cannot see it.<br /><br />The defense attorney asks the jury: Would you go into a hot sweat lodge if you felt you could not handle it? No, right? Would you, your honor? No, right? Would it matter if everyone else was going in and not suffering any adverse reactions? No, it wouldn't matter at all. Even if your own mother was encouraging you to go in you wouldn't go if you felt you could not handle it, right? Of course not...unless you were trying to prove how tough you were. If you were trying to prove how tough you were and went into a hot sweat lodge over and over and over, ignoring your body screaming that it was actually dying, you would have no one to blame but yourself for whatever would happen as a result. ESPECIALLY, after you signed a liability waiver stating that you promised to take full responsibility for taking part in the scheduled activities of the workshop.<br /><br />You must remember that MOST OF THE PEOPLE who participated in the sweat lodge workshop DID NOT suffer adverse reactions to the event. What does that say about those who did suffer adversely? Well, it obviously says they should not have gone back in after the breaks between each 10-15 minute round. They have no one to blame but themselves for going back into the sweat lodge when they knew they could not handle it, period!<br /><br />These are responsible adults we are speaking of who REALLY wanted to be at that workshop to the point of spending over $9,000.00 in order to attend. It was THEIR responsibility to research into what they could expect at that workshop and judge whether or not they could handle it. It was NOT James Arthur Ray's responsibility to know what each person could or could not physically handle. YOU know your body better than anyone else. It is YOUR responsibility to protect your life, not anyone else'sAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-9072764537684493332010-11-17T09:35:39.966-08:002010-11-17T09:35:39.966-08:00Sorry Sherry but just because your great-grandfath...Sorry Sherry but just because your great-grandfather was an American Indian that doesn't mean that you are part of their culture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3594706581145644123.post-73248200676508121732010-10-05T07:43:30.098-07:002010-10-05T07:43:30.098-07:00For me, the O.J. trial was a watershed in this reg...For me, the O.J. trial was a watershed in this regard. As a white man, I could not imagine how anyone would see the trial as anything but an open-and-shut case. When the verdict was announced and the division of opinions along racial lines became clear, it stopped me dead in my tracks. That was when I realized how little--OK, nothing--I knew about being a person of color in America. I find I still know next to nothing: like you, Shelly, I am somewhat but not fully aware and have other commitments, so I don't spend nearly as much time on this issue as I'd like. But I remain curious and hungry to learn more.John Backmanhttp://www.dialogueventure.comnoreply@blogger.com