President* Trump, Did you know there’s only been 34 times in our history that people have lain in state (which apparently is different from lying in honor – this has happened just 4 times; https://history.house.gov/Institution/Lie-In-State/Lie-In-State-Honor/)? It would be less cumbersome to say that only 34 people have ever lain in state, but because there were … Continue reading The rot we’ve learned not to smell
History
The ends and the means
President* Trump, Yesterday morning when I set out on my walk I didn’t have anything specific in mind to write to you about. I figured something would occur to me in my perusal of the news or in reaction to the day’s poem (which, by the way was incredible and can be read here: https://poets.org/poem/five-horses-doctor-ramon-emeterio-betances?mc_cid=2d4fec3e74&mc_eid=03fcdf422b). … Continue reading The ends and the means
America’s deep, deep shame is upon us yet again (or really, is still upon us)
President* Trump, My heart is so heavy for Breonna Taylor’s family and her loved ones, and really, for all of us. It is beyond disgusting and sad that we are a country that ever visits such things on our people and that when such things do happen, we can’t step up and take responsibility other … Continue reading America’s deep, deep shame is upon us yet again (or really, is still upon us)
Other countries’ histories are instructive too
President* Trump, One of the things I most appreciate about Laura is that she’s an excellent curator – for the entirety of our now quite long relationship, she’s played me music she thinks I’ll like (most of which I do like), pointed me to books, movies, and articles that she knows I’ll find interesting and … Continue reading Other countries’ histories are instructive too
The Double V Campaign and déjà vu all over again
President* Trump, I’m reading Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi’s book Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning. I got through about 45% of Kendi’s How to Be An Antiracist before the library loan expired so I thought it would be a good idea to go … Continue reading The Double V Campaign and déjà vu all over again
There is no miracle that will deliver us from our racist history or the need to face it
President* Trump, Please note, I’m fully aware that we lost the wonderfully notorious RBG today, which no doubt has you and Mitch giddy with shitty possibilities, but I’m going to do some serious grieving before I comment further on her passing and will instead send you the letter I started this morning before her death … Continue reading There is no miracle that will deliver us from our racist history or the need to face it
MLK’s inner circle and sexism
President* Trump, Have you read the August 28, 2020 letter by the civil rights leaders who formed MLK’s inner circle, the one where they formally pass the torch to America’s youth? I suppose not, but you sort of never know… Anyway, I’ve had the pdf open since the day it was released and featured in … Continue reading MLK’s inner circle and sexism
Change, hope, and santolina
President* Trump, So many of us are yearning for change, deep systemic change that both meets us where we really are and that will pull us forward into possibilities for thriving that we haven’t yet been able to imagine. I know I can’t actually speak for others, but it seems clear that many of us … Continue reading Change, hope, and santolina
Looks like maybe the Democratic big tent is real and not a mirage
President* Trump, Oh me of little faith! Last night when we’d gotten past the wonderful and wonderfully brief speeches nominating Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden and Tracee Ellis Ross told us that we’d be hearing from all 50 states and the 7 territories, districts, and delegations (not sure this last one is correct – I … Continue reading Looks like maybe the Democratic big tent is real and not a mirage
A big tent made of an awesome patchwork quilt
President* Trump, It wasn’t just the direct references and the montage of images honoring those who were among us who are no longer among us because of your nihilistic responses to COVID-19 and systemic racism that tethered last night’s Democratic convention content to sober, painful here and now realities. It was the whole, whole thing, … Continue reading A big tent made of an awesome patchwork quilt
Daily Trump Letters 