Hello dear friends.
I mean this most sincerely – how are you?
I’m ok. I can tell you, I can’t remember ever feeling the way I’ve felt this week. The best way I can describe it is maybe… soul tired? But I know it’s not permanent because GodAlmighty nothing is.
It feels like this has been the week that non-black people acknowledged systemic racism in our culture and took to both the streets and Instagram about it. Not just individuals but companies too. Look, even Australia is fed up. Everyone is like WOW, WAIT – it’s been this bad forever!? Black folks are like… YEA. Do you finally get it? Moreover, what are you going to do about it!? So ok ok ok… now that we say we see it – we can’t, next week, pretend like we don’t see it. Have we finally had enough? (New York Times)
This weekend in New Orleans we get a visit from tropical storm Cristobal and lol, we’ll either be fine or not fine. Maybe somewhere in between but who knows in this year of our Lord 2020. My friend Scott and I were talking about it. He said that living in New Orleans you’re “committed to impermanence”. We live on soft ground with plenty of reminders that the wind and water can change our course despite our best plans. It’s a good exercise, all of it. I’ll eat my freezer and cook outside on my gas stove if/when the power goes out.
The offering this week is below. You’ll only take what you need, I just know it.
• That black square on Instagram. Why It’s So Hard To Center Black Voices: the pressure around performative internets trends. The (Medium)
• In difficult news that I didn’t know: Alaska has the highest rate of sexual abuse in the nation. These stories are difficult and far too numerous: Unheard (ProPublica)
• I feel like this kind of big, bold and beautiful art reminds us of what it means to be humans on the Earth, the celebrate that in weird and colorful ways. To change how we see things and to feel inspired to do big positive things for each other: Christo’s incredible life work. My family and I went to see the umbrellas in California when I was 10 and I remember rubbing a swatch of the yellow fabric we got as a little sample all the way home. (The Guardian)
• Roxanne Gay on suddenly quarantine living with her long distance fiancé. I very much relate to her ‘I am me – this is it’ stance on love and relationships and this is such a tender share. Feels good. It feels downright holy to be good to each other and seen for the good. Getting To Know You, Getting To Know All About You. (Medium)
• There’s so much human in here: The Remaking of Steve Buschemi ( GQ)
• Listening to only Alice Coltrane (Spotify)
• This week we celebrated Giving Tuesday in New Orleans and I donated to Made in New Orleans, a foundation that supports, mentors, and advocates for people of color in the hospitality industry. If this is something that you connect to, feel free to donate here. (MiNO Foundation)
• This weekend I’m watching our friend Lynn Chen’s new movie: I Will Make You Mine —–> you can rent it here on Amazon. (I Will Make You Mine and Amazon)
• Cherry Bombe has this list of black lady-owned food businesses you can support. I’m happy to be exposed to so many new products! (Instagram because as of Saturday night I couldn’t get the link to work on the Cherry Bombe site, sorry!)
• A new bread book is coming out soon and y’all it’s a good one: New World Sourdough by Bryan Ford. If you’re new to this sourdough starter life it’s a great introduction with lots of hand-holding and really creative recipes. (Indiebound)
• This weekend I’m baking a stash of buttermilk biscuits I’ve had hidden in the freezer from our first Bakehouse Live class in the early weeks of quarantine, and a loaf of banana bread as I’ve been letting my bananas ripen to past their prime all week. Comfort classics – that’s where I’m at. (Joy the Baker)
• There are also two pastas I want to make because IsweartoGod if you try to take carbs away from me right now we’regoingtohaveaproblem: Scott Hocker’s Fideo and Timothy Pakron’s Quick and Dirty Pasta (it’s vegan!). (Taste and Mississippi Vegan)
• In an effort to give my brain a break this week my mind wandered to, of all things, umbrellas. (I was grasping for something – anything.) I googled ‘umbrella hats’ to do a little digging about why they never took off. They seem so much more practical that the handheld version. AANNNYYYWAY, I am not alone: Umbrellas Suck. Consider the Umbrella Hat. Ya know… umbrellas and the ‘arc of the moral universe’. (Vice)
Big love to you today.
xo Joy
Emily
Thank you for this list this week. All the articles you post are my “nap-time treat” as I take part of the time my baby naps to read long articles and feel more connected to the world and the things happening.
I didn’t realize until now how much I have been holding my breath these days. Always holding it and anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop. Anyone else feel that way? I guess take this as a reminder to open your window and take some good deep breaths.
Samantha
Even if I like umbrellas I always forget them anywhere! Umbrella hat could be the solution!!
Susan
Joy, add my name to the list of people who appreciate you.
Addressing the current situation is hard for 100 reasons, you get the tone just right. I love coming here even under normal circumstances, but especially now.
I think you’re great! xox
Dani H
I hope you are safe, Joy.
xo
Jeanne
Definitely soul tired. But in a frustrating conversation with a friend who is not exactly against but more dispassionate, a thought came to me. This event is the Civil Rights Movement of our generation. It’s arguably larger because the entire world is having protests from little cities to huge metropolitans. Our grandchildren will read about this in their history classes. And when they ask “Grandma, what was it like? What did you do?” I don’t want to tell them that I didn’t pay attention or participate because it was mentally tiring.
Alyssa Mikiko
Hi friend
Thanks for this Sunday especially but all of the other 246 Sundays as well
Please know that we appreciate everything you give us
xo
Alyssa
Matthew
They say “Don’t read the comments!” but these comments are made for eyes to peruse. Keep up the faith…we will succeed at 2020!!
Carol Coote
Hello Joy. I love your blog – I”m a relatively new reader. I just wanted to say that as someone married to an Australian man, that seemed like a dig at Australia. Maybe for its past. I’m not sure if it was intended that way, but they have done a better job at dealing with their past than we have. I just thought I’d set that record straight. Also despite the ups and downs of who’s in office, they have been better about accepting immigrants. I think Australia and Canada are the most impressive in this regard.
THanks!
joythebaker
Hi Carol! I didn’t mean it as a dig at all. I think i used the word ‘even’ because of the sheer distance between Australia and the US. I see it as nothing but encouraging!
molly
thanks for another week of good links, Joy! I usually find myself skimming articles but the Roxanne Gay piece had me soaking up every word. And the trailer for I Will Make You Mine!!, cannot wait to watch!
I so appreciate you sharing these things I would never otherwise come across online.
Ellen K
Joy,
I love your heartfelt writing, recommendations and love of New Orleans.
Thanks for the referral on the MINA organization and the Roxanne Gay article is wonderful as always.
You both are true gems!
Ellen
Chelsea
Joy, I’ve been reading you for over 10 years. Love you and stay safe in the storm.
I can’t wait to try out the recipes from New World Sourdough. And bake some biscuits. But maybe I will put strawberries and whipped cream on top of mine.
Jackie
I started talking about soul tired and needing soul care this week too. What a week. What a time we are living in. I’m so glad to hear from you. Thank you for the links.