We’re living in challenging times.
I have been wondering whether and how to address the Black Lives Matter movement via LaLa Lunchbox beyond my Instagram. When I remembered that communication is the best tool we have for progress, I knew what I had to do.
As a kid, my parents regularly talked about politics with us around the dinner table. Civil rights, justice, mercy, freedom, hunger, and more. We were never considered too young to learn about the world and its issues. My friends knew to expect a full on conversation when they’d stay for dinner. Many of them loved it. Some of them feared it and didn’t stay, despite wanting my mom’s delicious cooking. Some friends endured what they considered “grilling,” and would later chuckle about it. It’s all fine. Above all, my parents wanted to connect and to educate. These conversations emphasized dignity, humanity and justice as essential to our lives and our futures. I’m grateful for them.
Today, as I am actively learning how to be antiracist, I am humbled. While I understand how white privilege has impacted my life in broad terms, I am becoming more aware of how systemic racism has a pernicious impact on society. (If you haven’t yet seen 13th on Netflix, I highly recommend it.) The work that needs to be done for the purpose of equal justice has no end date.
LaLa Lunchbox — the meal planning apps, this blog, and all associated social media channels — has always centered around food and family. Some may say that politics don’t belong here. That food creatives should ‘stay in their lane.’ I strongly disagree. The issues and values of equality and justice that the Black Lives Matter movement stands for are about humanity and dignity. Those values span every lane. I am committed to raising my family with an open dialogue about racism and prejudice and with the simple truth that all lives can’t matter until black lives and the lives of all people of color matter. There is absolutely no room for racism, hateful rhetoric or division here at LaLa Lunchbox. Full stop.
Below is a small sampling of some of the organizations, books and accounts that I am following, reading, reading to my children and looking to for inspiration. Many of the books are available via @hereweeread here. I hope you’ll join me in supporting these creators. If you have others to share, please add them below in the comments, and thank you in advance.
Children’s Books
A Kids Book about Racism, by Jelani Memory
Ruby Head High, by Irène Cohen-Janca
Let’s Talk About Race, by Julius Lester
We Are the Change
Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions, by Chris Barton
Books for Me
How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi
White Fragility, by Robin Diangelo
Food Accounts
Foodie in New York
The Hungry Hutch
A Classic Twist Blog
Mash and Spread
Feed the Malik
Baked by Benji
Marisa Moore
Supper with Michelle