Toward Solidarity

RADICAL SELF-CARE AS RESISTANCE + ACTIVISM CLOSE YOUR EYES. DRINK A GLASS OF WATER. SUPPORT A BLACK, WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS. CALL A FRIEND. DELIVER FOOD OR A DESSERT TO A FRIEND’S DOOR STEP. PICNIC IN THE PARK. LOOK AT ONLINE COMEDY SPECIALS. FIND AND TAKE A WALK TO A MINORITY-OWNED BAKERY. MAKE AN EXTRA SIGN TO GIVE AWAY AT A PROTEST. READ A BOOK BY A BLACK AUTHOR. LOOK AT CUTE VIDEOS ONLINE. LIGHT A CANDLE. BURN SOME SAGE. MEDITATE. TURN OFF SOCIAL MEDIA. SEND A POSTCARD. WRITE A LETTER TO SOMEONE YOU CAN’T SEE NOW. WRITE “FORGIVE YOURSELF” ON SOME PAPER AND BURN IT. SPEND 30 MINUTES DOING YOGA. TAKE A DIGITAL DAY-OFF. WRITE AFFIRMATIONS IN CHALK ON THE SIDEWALK. MAKE PROTEST ART. WATCH VIDEOS OF CIVIL RIGHTS ICONS. WATER YOUR PLANTS. DIG INTO DIRT. DO SOME STRETCHES. GO FOR A BIKE RIDE. COOK SOMETHING DELICIOUS. LET SOMEONE ELSE DO THE COOKING. BLAST YOUR FAVORITE SONG. DANCE TO THAT SONG. ENJOY THE BREEZE. STOP TO SMELL THE ROSES. DISTRIBUTE FOOD AT A FOOD PANTRY. WRITE A POEM. WRITE A SONG. WRITE ABOUT A HAPPY MEMORY. APPLY FOR A BETTERPAYING JOB. REARRANGE YOUR ROOM. MAKE A SCRAPBOOK. COMPLETE AN ONLINE TUTORIAL FOR A NEW SKILL. RECORD YOUR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS TALKING ABOUT THEIR LIFE. SIGN UP TO WRITE POSTCARDS TO VOTERS. DO NOTHING. PLAY VIDEO GAMES. WATCH A MOVIE. BREATHE. RESIST. REPEAT. You have to decide who you are and force the world to deal with you, not with its idea of you.

– James Baldwin