Can we exhale yet?
Up to Speed is a biweekly newsletter brought to you by Momentum, a Medium blog dedicated to the fight against anti-Black racism. Every other week, we bring you a collection of stories to consider as we all learn, evolve, and fight for racial justice and true equality.
Hey Momentum readers,
My four-year-old’s pre-K class held an election last week. They selected their favorite movie song. And as the tally marks in pink and purple came in, it became clear that Trolls was the winner. My election judge son proclaimed (but didn’t claim 👀) the song, and the children all danced (via Zoom) as the winning ditty was streamed. No one cried that Dora didn’t win. No one was physically threatened or intellectually disrespected.
The children accepted the new winner, and I pray the adults in the room can follow suit when it comes to elections on a larger scale. By the time these kids grow up, let’s hope that the grown folks in this country will have figured out how to run an election without dangerous theatrics that encourage citizens to behave in ways that threaten everyone’s future.
President-Elect and Vice President-Elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will soon enter the White House, and you can count on Momentum to cover the joy, provide analysis of this historic moment and investigate the inevitable challenges. To paraphrase Dave Chappelle’s insightful SNL monologue, we understand that race runs all through this.
🗳 READ: Racism Was on the Ballot, and in Some States It Got Voted Down
Some other victories to celebrate: Yes, racism was on the ballot in several states and was soundly voted down by many, including voters of color. Mississippi got a new magnolia-centric state flag that is finally absent of the stars and bars. And we celebrate the poll workers, who risked it all to count ballots, and White allies who admit there is still work to do in the fight against anti-Black racism in this nation.
Before you go: Read our special report on the police killing of Walter Wallace Jr. in Philadelphia, who died after his mother called 911 for an ambulance and police showed up instead. Perhaps the ballot measures enacted in Philadelphia will help save someone else’s son in the future.
Adrienne Gibbs
— Editor, Momentum
Other stories to keep in the conversation:
Look, it’s been a wild news week, so let’s keep this section short. I’ll leave you with an uplifting work of art by Nick Cave and an essay from a writer who regrets being married at a slave plantation.
