I've been reading some local community papers discussing the Fredy Villanueva shooting by police. I've been thinking about accomodements raisonnables, I've been thinking about the funding cuts in the arts sector. And I'm livid. What angers me is a wanton disregard for humanity, for "the other" in our society. Which touches me nearly because that's a cross-section of the population that I identify most with: that which is not the mainstream, the majority. And I gotta tell you, it's hard not to take this mess personally. Because I've been harassed by the police for living, my image is trivialized and caricaturized by colleagues in blackface during work parties at the gym, (although I'm unreasonable for taking offense); the government is slashing funding for arts programs and my kids and I can't catch a break.
So I've decided to practice what a very wise friend and colleague of mine said to me a few years back when I was going through my separation and divorce: put it in the work. Well, I'm going to. And I won't pull any punches. The kids will love it; the teachers... watch out.
