25.07.2020

A secret superpower of revolutionaries and those who truly stay the course is that they know when to rest. Their boundaries remain sacrosanct. Perhaps long before you woke up, they had moved beyond performative to pragmatic. They have no intention of burning out or falling over. They know this is a long haul. They keep going because they know how to stop, rest and refresh... and then pick up again where they left off.

Your educational labour is not theirs to hold or redirect and it only adds to their exhaustion. It is not – and has actually never been - the job of those routinely impacted by misogyny / genocide / white supremacy / racism / sexism / able-ism / patriarchy / transphobia to educate you, just because it hasn’t been your experience and you don’t know where to start.

Begin with the work, art and stories already created by those whom you seek to understand. It connects you to their perspective and allows you to listen to their experience of the world. Then watch your reaction to it. Where you jump to defend yourself, control others or disagree: pause. Those uncomfortable feelings are your incongruent starting point. And it isn’t anyone else’s job to unpack them but yours.

So begins the education process that *precedes* good allyship. This is now a compulsory life skill, or you have become the newest part of the old problem.

This revolution takes root within. It will require moving off your spot at the centre of your universe. Truly listening, without formulating responses as you do. Believing what you hear even if it does not fit your world view. Understanding its impact rather than disavowing, ignoring or refuting it. Expanding beyond your own offence, fragility and conditioning. And unlearning by educating yourself, rather than by constantly asking the exhausted front lines to navigate all this for you. Your willingness does not qualify your ignorance.

All this requires regular rest. Time and space to integrate as you go. Flying in the face of the performative busyness and manic signalling that keeps the work above ground. Shadow work is always done quietly and tenderly in the dark.

Rest. It will all still be there when you come back. Rest.

Art by Pamela Zagarenski

Words c. Kerrie Basha 2020