Recommentunde: I Ready | 3 Nov 2020
it's the latest edition of
The Recommentunde Newsletter
Sent on 3 November 2020 Edition
Hi you,
It’s me.
Regardless of what happens in the election results, today marks the end of something in the United States. Thank you for persevering. Thank you for being. I know it's not been easy. We've lost so many people along the way. We've lost parts of ourselves too. But we can honor the legacies of the lost, and we can reclaim and renew the parts of ourselves we've felt we had to abandon for our survival.
I'm filled with all the emotions as I write this at 11am Pacific Time on the 3rd of November 2020. I'm tired. I'm so, so, very tired. I'm hopeful. I'm afraid. But most of all, I'm ready. I'm ready to move on and move forward. I'm ready to continue about the business of self-government. I'm ready for a long nap and some ice cream... in that order... because I fully believe I can sleep-eat ice cream because it's 2020, and you can't tell me what I can't do.
But not yet.
We need to run through the finish line and then keep running, keep moving forward.
I've been a little busy these past few weeks, and I want to make sure you see some things you might have missed.
In an effort to conjur the peaceful energy we need right now, I wrote my first op-ed for TIME. In it I say, "We can’t shoot our way out of a political crisis. We have to citizen our way out. We don’t need more guns. We need more democracy.." It's the most complete argument I could muster against taking up arms in response to an election or even a usurpation of an election. Please share with those who need to hear it.
As I learn to deepen my own citizen practice, I am so excited to share that NPR's All Things Considered had me on yesterday to talk about How To Citizen and share some of my mother's beautiful life. I talked about how my mom partially inspired the podcast and how she fully inspired me by taking me to her community college classes at night. After my interview aired, my sister told me our mother also took her to college classes at night.
This has been a time of beautiful collaboration, the highlight of which involved me writing a pro-democracy web series for Yara Shahidi. Yes, the Yara Shahidi. The final episode just dropped today on her Instagram. This young woman is the future we need in so many ways, and I'm honored to have been able to work with her.
In the spirit of running through the finish line tape, let's finish strong in the name of self-government.
You can still phone bank through groups like SwingLeft or Back To Blue Pennsylvania or Color of Change's Black Joy Call Party.
Don't like synchronous audio communication, then you can text bank instead and have a dope DJ spin for you while you do it.
And because votes don't count if they aren't cast or counted, please keep this number handy and share with others who have any issues voting today: 1-866-OURVOTE
And be prepared to resist any attempted usurpation of our democracy through organizations like Choose Democracy We need to #CountEveryVote and #ProtectTheResults.
A legitimate democracy is worth waiting for. Be patient. Remember to breathe.
Check in with your loved ones. If they can vote, make sure they have voted. Encourage them to vote for Biden and a Democratic Senate. Encourage them to vote all the way down the ballot for people and policies that reflect their values. Encourage them to join and stay in the fight.
This is not a drill. We've been training for this, working toward this, for a long time. I'm grateful to be here with you, and I look forward to making a new America with you soon.
Finally, I made these comments during last week's Live On Lockdown in the video link below. They are my sort of closing and opening argument in under five minutes. Let's write this next chapter. Let's build a political system worthy of us all.
With love and gratitude.
Baratunde.
My message on election day and beyond: we have work to do. Find this on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Subscribe to my text messages, and interact with me directly and relatively quickly. Send a message to +1-202-894-8844 or visit here to sign up.
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