Heartbreaking and not my America. At least I thought so…. at 65, I’m beginning to see I’ve been incredibly naive most of my (privileged, white) life. It’s got to stop.
I just saw the news. Had not had any tv or radio on for a few days. It is unthinkable that your quilt needs to come out again. When will this continuous injustice stop. Please keep your voice strong.
Last night, watching PBS News, I immediately thought of this quilt and the power it holds. I apologize for all we have done. And I hope–how? when? where?–that there is path out of this. I always want to respond to your work and your blog posts, but I am also always afraid that I will do and say the wrong thing. I want more than anything to do and say the right thing. I hope you know this. Much love and support. Maria
It is possible that venturing a comment and humbly receiving (or accepting lack of) feedback, including corrections for misguidedness or obtuseness, is the right thing to do. If this is true, then you have done the right thing. We white folk are as remedial students of patriarchy/racism dismantlement, and one way to learn is listening to those who are hit hardest by it. It’s hard to be vulnerable (I hear you!) ) but it beats fragility. We may be part of the problem, but it’s not about us.
I too hope that my words can convey the solidarity I wish to embody.
Until I can’t breathe either, I will try to hold my breath alongside you.
To be a young black man in this country means living in fear. Fear of white women, fear of police and fear of plain white men with no authority whatsoever. This has to stop. No wonder black men run from police when useless violence like this happens for simple misdemeanor allegations.
I can’t even… I used to argue that mankind was basically kind, but bad behavior was driven by some sort of cultural force/belief system like economic power or lack of that caused some to be inhuman to other humans. I don’t anymore. There is something hardwired in humans that is cruel and something tribal gives it permission to come forward. That cop is leaning over a prone figure with his left hand in his pocket—just taunting the prone man. It’s obscene. Pandora’s Box has been opened right now and God only knows how we get it and its inhabiters back into it so we can shut the lid. I’m starting to think humans go truly crazy at the national level about every 100 years.
I deleted all social media during Covid. As a nurse, working the ‘front lines’, in an area with only one hospital employer, daily reminded of ‘appropriate’ ‘acceptable’ posts and hashtags, daily emailed policy regarding ‘appropriateness’ of comments, likes, and retweets, I decided there was nothing personal or free about my speech. I have already been in trouble regarding Facebook posts in relation to patient’s requesting “only white american born male doctors”. I have lived without television for some years now. It is a form of self imposed isolation sometimes wonderfully peaceful. I was standing in a patient’s room yesterday, while working the floor, an uneducated appalachian white man broke down into tears and said “I don’t care who you are, that is murder”. I looked up and on the television saw the now unforgettable image of George Floyd, strong, powerful, and imperfectly human, held down by a uniformed knee, uniformed, shined shoes in the background.
He died how he lived, and until we see that, we haven’t seen anything.
I am a huge fan of your works.
I hope you will not mind that I showed your quilt on my blog. Sorry it is in French, but you can ask for a translation on the right-hand side.
Your quilts were what I thought of when I saw the news stories about the murder of George Floyd. That and the infinite tragedy of lessons going unlearned. May I share this image of your “I can’t breathe” quilt on my FB page with proper accreditation?
completely cauchy. 
Yes. Again.
Heartbreaking and not my America. At least I thought so…. at 65, I’m beginning to see I’ve been incredibly naive most of my (privileged, white) life. It’s got to stop.
Good to hear. You and your voice are missed. Hope that you and your family and friends are well.
I just saw the news. Had not had any tv or radio on for a few days. It is unthinkable that your quilt needs to come out again. When will this continuous injustice stop. Please keep your voice strong.
NO WORDS
The sorrow is just overwhelming….and the loss unfathomably there…again.
I despise that I know your art because of your pain. May you receive whatever you need at this moment in time and always. Sending love.
Your art was the first thing that came to mind. Then sadness descended….
Last night, watching PBS News, I immediately thought of this quilt and the power it holds. I apologize for all we have done. And I hope–how? when? where?–that there is path out of this. I always want to respond to your work and your blog posts, but I am also always afraid that I will do and say the wrong thing. I want more than anything to do and say the right thing. I hope you know this. Much love and support. Maria
It is possible that venturing a comment and humbly receiving (or accepting lack of) feedback, including corrections for misguidedness or obtuseness, is the right thing to do. If this is true, then you have done the right thing. We white folk are as remedial students of patriarchy/racism dismantlement, and one way to learn is listening to those who are hit hardest by it. It’s hard to be vulnerable (I hear you!) ) but it beats fragility. We may be part of the problem, but it’s not about us.
I too hope that my words can convey the solidarity I wish to embody.
Until I can’t breathe either, I will try to hold my breath alongside you.
These racist murders make me so angry-I cannot
Full of fucking fury.
Unthinkable…and yet all-too-thinkable that your quilt “speaks” again.
To be a young black man in this country means living in fear. Fear of white women, fear of police and fear of plain white men with no authority whatsoever. This has to stop. No wonder black men run from police when useless violence like this happens for simple misdemeanor allegations.
I can’t even… I used to argue that mankind was basically kind, but bad behavior was driven by some sort of cultural force/belief system like economic power or lack of that caused some to be inhuman to other humans. I don’t anymore. There is something hardwired in humans that is cruel and something tribal gives it permission to come forward. That cop is leaning over a prone figure with his left hand in his pocket—just taunting the prone man. It’s obscene. Pandora’s Box has been opened right now and God only knows how we get it and its inhabiters back into it so we can shut the lid. I’m starting to think humans go truly crazy at the national level about every 100 years.
😢😢
I deleted all social media during Covid. As a nurse, working the ‘front lines’, in an area with only one hospital employer, daily reminded of ‘appropriate’ ‘acceptable’ posts and hashtags, daily emailed policy regarding ‘appropriateness’ of comments, likes, and retweets, I decided there was nothing personal or free about my speech. I have already been in trouble regarding Facebook posts in relation to patient’s requesting “only white american born male doctors”. I have lived without television for some years now. It is a form of self imposed isolation sometimes wonderfully peaceful. I was standing in a patient’s room yesterday, while working the floor, an uneducated appalachian white man broke down into tears and said “I don’t care who you are, that is murder”. I looked up and on the television saw the now unforgettable image of George Floyd, strong, powerful, and imperfectly human, held down by a uniformed knee, uniformed, shined shoes in the background.
He died how he lived, and until we see that, we haven’t seen anything.
As i heard the words coming from his mouth I saw your quilt in my minds eye… unable to believe it was happening yet again.
Again….. how is it possible…..
I am a huge fan of your works.
I hope you will not mind that I showed your quilt on my blog. Sorry it is in French, but you can ask for a translation on the right-hand side.
https://quilteuseforever.com/2020/05/31/je-ne-peux-pas-respirer/
😢
Your quilts were what I thought of when I saw the news stories about the murder of George Floyd. That and the infinite tragedy of lessons going unlearned. May I share this image of your “I can’t breathe” quilt on my FB page with proper accreditation?