This week, several states across the country are beginning to reopen. Even in New York, where we’re still on PAUSE, people are beginning to settle into routines and talk about getting “back to normal.”
We think back to normal is impossible. And it’s also not what we want.
Normal has been living under white supremacy and racial capitalism. In New York City, normal has been a system where poverty, homelessness, criminalization, and now death all fall disproportionately on Black, Latinx, Asian and Indigenous New Yorkers because of structural attacks and exclusions.
You may have heard people talking about Arundhati Roy’s powerful piece “The Pandemic is a Portal” (and if you haven’t, have a read!). As we consider where this portal could take us, we also encourage you to read “No return to normal: For a post-pandemic liberation” by Max Haiven. The piece visions possible futures: one that digs into increased corporate greed, authoritarianism, and hyper-capitalism; and one grounded in mutual aid, solidarity, and re-learned cooperation and communal care.
At SURJ, we’re committed to fighting for the collective liberation of the latter. And in order to do that, white folks are going to need to refuse a “new normal” that remains rooted in a white supremacist status quo. We cannot shrug our shoulders and say well, that’s just how it is. We can’t stay complacent, or look away.
Just last week, Gotham Gazette reported that the City’s proposed budget for next year includes huge cuts to public housing, education, and delays the plan to close Rikers Island. While the Mayor has said these cuts are sad but necessary, we don’t agree: this public health crisis has shown how necessary it is to adequately resource communities.
We’ve got some concrete actions you can take to fight for a transformative future:
Come to our May chapter meeting this Thursday to continue this conversation! Read on for more information.
Today is #GivingTuesday, and that’s a great reason to support our partners and movement leaders who are organizing hard to build a more just and liberated future. Several organizations have match offers that are active today only! See below and follow us on social media for links.
Take good care of yourselves, friends.
In solidarity,
SURJ NYC