the little newsletter that might get you in big trouble
by Austin Channing Brown
Footnotes
New Math
screenshot of "doing the math" gif.
In the 2010s I'm on staff at a predominately white church that has made productive DEI commitments. They have a free class on racial justice open to all congregation members. They have changed the worship music to be more inclusive. The staff is going through DEI trainings. They hired me as their part time DEI person.
Because there aren't any pastors who are Black at this church, one of the specific commitments they made is to have a certain number of Black folks as guest speakers. I think the starting commitment is between 15-20. That first year, we meet our goal!
And then. The following year, I'm sitting in a staff meeting when the pastor gives an announcement. He is eager to share that this year he wont be taking a summer sabbatical. He will be here to preach through the summer and will be preaching more often in general.
With more than 100 people on staff, the whole room erupts with excitement. Except for me, and perhaps 7 other people.
We don't dislike the pastor. We are not upset that he is skipping his annual sabbatical. We are not mad that he wants to preach more often. We are just doing new math that no one else in the room is doing. While everyone is clapping,we are doing the math for howmany weekends are left to have Black guest speakers. The number is 3, and that is a very sad number when you started in double digits.
My disappointment stood in stark contrast to the whistling and clapping happening around me. They were only counting how many more weekends they'd get to hear the pastor preach. That math was not wrong. That math was not unimportant. That math was not something to feel guilty about. That math was perfectly normal.
But when you are committed to racial justice, you often find yourself doing new math. This new math will prioritize openings and opportunities differently. This new math pays attention to shifting priorities and changing budgets. This new math asks about variables others have forgotten. New math will get you into trouble.
My math resulted in being questioned for why I wasn't more excited. I was asked whether or not I'm a "team player". New math ultimately got me fired when my supervisor turned to me and asked, "will you ever be satisfied with our diversity efforts?" and my honest answer was... probably not.
Our commitment to social justice requires that our math take into account more variables than others are considering. And it might make you stand out when everyone is excited about a new prospect and you are... not. But new math is what our work requires. It is an act of rebellion, not for the sake of being contrary, but to make sure that the least powerful folks represented by or within our organizations are not forgotten.
It's the kind of math that will get you into trouble, but I think that trouble is holy.
*PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS NEWSLETTER mAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS TO BOOKSHOP.ORG, WHICH MEANS I RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE A PURCHASE USING THE BOOK LINKS. I WILL BE USING SAID COMMISSION TO FEED MY BOOK ADDICTION, OFFER YOU MORE REVIEWS, AND AROUND AND AROUND WE GO. THE COMMISSION DOES NOT COST YOU ANYTHING, AND I WILL ALWAYS LET YOU KNOW IF I RECEIVED ANY OF THE BOOKS FOR FREE99.
A Tiny Poll for A Tiny Zine
Okay, so I love being on the internet with you all, but I'm also looking for ways to get off the internet! I bet you are, too. For years, I have wanted to start a zine- very 70s of me, right? I never quite figured out how I could do it until I heard about snail mail clubs. Many of these clubs focus on stickers, scrapbook ephemera or artwork- all of which is very cool. But I can't stop thinking about the possibilities of a tiny zine!
So what do you think? Would you like some mail that isnt bills or junk mail? Take the poll below, and let me know!
Would you be interested in joining a snail mail club, where I send you a monthly tiny zine?
Austin Channing Brown is the author of NYT Bestseller and Reese Book Club pick, Im Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness. Her newest book, Full of Myself is already a USA Today bestseller but she's waiting to be placed on your bookshelf.
