Category Archives: Social Justice

In re: Sportsball and Charity

… >.> ok so I wrote the below first, but realize MAYYYYBEE there are new people here?

So! In the past I used to do this “Social Media for Social Good” campaign. And there have been various people that participated, various amounts of money raised. Like all social media things it’s changed, and I used to tie it to touchdowns or Ohio State Buckeye wins … and different charities. I think one year I even said every TD I’d donate X amount to a charity of a commenters choice. But with life and such happening, it’s gotten more varied. So now … the below.

~*~*~

Hi friends! Let’s be honest – at the end of the year I’m just going to see how much I can afford and split that amount between World Central Kitchen and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

[Heh unless something totally unforeseen happens?]

But if you’re watching the game right now – and come on. You know the game I’m talking about is The Ohio State University vs Notre Dame. Well. My face is 😐

Anyway this post is to keep me accountable, hope someone else wants to donate, and also send cookies cuz this game is … 😖

 

#GivingTuesday SMSG [Payout]

So remember this? Especially with the newest rankings I cannot imagine the Buckeyes season is anything but over – so they won all but two games in the regular season. For most teams, that’s great. For spoiled Buckeye fans [>.> yes such as myself] … it is disappointing. I think especially because of the way it happened.

But … I know most of you don’t care about sportsball, and that’s cool. So it turns out that the Buckeyes also scored 491 points this season through their winning games. [Didn’t count the scores of the games they lost cuz … duh.] Anyway … I wish I could just be like “cool! I’ll donate $491!” But uh … sadly I am poor. [Like … wow that’s really sad poor] … So … even half that is out of my reach. So I was like <.< ok 1/3 isn’t that pathetic. It’s 163 and 2/3 … and I was like “whatever” so I donated $100 to WCK and $75 to SPLC.

I also definitely have donated every year – but am not so great at posting proof. While I have been absolutely terrible at blogging this year … at least I’m on top of the proof game? :X

I think José Andrés and WCK are absolutely wonderful. It warms my heart to know there are people like him and this organization out there doing work for the world. And SPLC does good work – they’ve renamed/rebranded “Teaching Tolerance” to “Learning for Justice” but if you’re a parent or teacher I highly recommend you look into the resources they have.

I know this is squeaking in but – it is still Giving Tuesday – and a number of charities have generous donors willing to match donations through the day. Also if/when you donate to a non-profit charity, always remember to see if your employer matches donations. Many do. 🙂

Thanks for sticking with me/ALBTALBS! <3

Social Media for Social Good Sportsball Edition v. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Honestly the title there is pretty indicative of my life and how everything is going. If you noticed there haven’t been many posts going live lately. That’s on me. The best of intentions and all – my computer actually can’t handle … like … anything >.< [I REALLY need a new one >.< …] internet issues, power outages – omg. And I even know on the last I’ve been incredibly lucky and spoiled because I absolutely haven’t had to deal with days without power like literally millions of others have had to do.

So. Anyway. SPORTSBALL IS BACK YES IT IS.

🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈

[I actually think this might be the fifth or sixth iteration of SMSG specifically tied to football but … ?]

I have no details or anything again … other than I’m absolutely certain I’m donating to World Central Kitchen. [I still need to decide if I’m donating per game, per score, etc.]

You can check this page periodically to see how things are going.

I will say this though – if the Buckeyes win the national championship I’ll do something extra. And more tangible extra and interactive extra … if the Buckeyes ever win and score more than 70 points that game – come comment and tell me what non-profit charitable organization you’d like me to donate to. I’ll kick in a minimum of $10 to that place to someone who comments for that week.

September 2, 2020 => OSU at Minn

 

*And look. I understand sportsball is and can be deeply problematic. And dangerous. (And possibly/probably I and others still don’t even know many issues.) There is some good that stems from it though – the sense of community, the people who do care and use their platform for good, And *gestures at the above* I have no spoons. This is an easy tangible way to keep myself accountable and donate to charity. It also takes away and and all guesswork as games and scores are set once the clock hits 0:00.

A Pause for Unfortunate Reality

Look. It’s our 10th Blogiversary. I had posts with giveaways scheduled for every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday of the month. I was all set to go. I didn’t have things scheduled out early – I didn’t get posts early (although a few are in now) … and then Wednesday, January 6th happened.

Insurrection at the Capitol. While Congress was trying to essentially (and until now) basically ceremonially certify the electoral votes. A lot of information is still yet to come, and there are many other better, smarter people who have spoken about it.

So I’ll share Michelle Obama’s here.

I really meant to post Friday … Saturday … Sunday … but still. (And also other life things took over …
And if I’m being honest it’s sunday night and I’m distracted by sportsball, and I’ll be distracted Monday too.) But while part of us will be keeping an eye on this … I hope to also get blog posts going again too. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Sportsball Social Media for Social Good

I’m doing this on my phone for the first time ever and hoping it works so this’ll be bare bones and hopefully updated once I can get to my computer (providing it cooperates).

If you’ve been around ALBTALBS you know I also make charitable donations specially based on how the Buckeyes do, so now that the season is here, I wanted to get this post done before the game is over.

I’ll donate to charity each time the Buckeyes win. (This year I don’t have a set number yet – I need to look at my finances as I was again on unpaid medical leave for a period.) Anyway, if the Buckeyes win and break 70 points I’ll probably make a larger donation.

Last year I believe I gave to the ACLU and SPLC. In the past I’ve donated to any non-profit charity the first commenter suggested.

No decisions yet but I’m always looking for worthy causes, so what charities do you think need more love?

Keep this post in mind for updates and interaction, especially if I decide to do game donations by comment. ❤️

Black Lives Matter

I realized a little over a week ago I’d been posting and sharing on various social media platforms – but not here. I then asked the review crew if they had anything to say, and this is what we have.

From Sailorstkwrning, this comic which is a great resource on why saying “All Lives Matter” is just wrong, and illustrates the “house on fire” aspect. I really hope you’ll click over to check it out.

From Aidee: Black lives matter wherever you find yourself reading this. In a genre that is unfriendly to Black authors, I think it is especially important to make an increased sustained effort to read and review Black authors. For me, this has to go beyond this time, or Black History Month, because short-term help doesn’t really help. I particularly want to highlight Black stories of love and joy because, as Tochi Onyebuchi said in a piece earlier this month,” to depict Blackness as existing wholly at the same dolorous register is not only incorrect, it’s boring.” So, highlighting Black voices in romance is one small way I can help. There are many, many other ways to help, now and in the long run, and I strongly encourage you (and myself) to look for those opportunities. Remember, helping is not about you, but about the person(s) you are trying to help.

If more trickle in I’ll add them, but I wanted this posted. So anyway, my thoughts:

Black Lives Matter. Full stop. Nothing else. No ands or buts.  While I was trying to write this post in my drafts google kept giving me the “something’s wrong” message – and obviously it wasn’t related but … it felt too on the nose.

We’ve all seen the protests. Too many times. This time for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and more deaths -mostly at the hands of police – that are emerging. Manuel Ellis. David McAtee. More. The pain, the anger, the work. (I’m not here for detractors.) Everyone knows there’s a deadly pandemic – imagine how much it takes to be out there protesting, in the midst of that, as the most vulnerable population. And don’t come at me or for the protests, haircut Karen. Racism is a public health crisis. In fact various jurisdictions and institutions have come out and declared it as thus. I’ve been vocal on other social media, but then it stuck me – I’d been silent on the blog. The thing that costs me the most, and where things stay. We’re at the point where silence is complicity. In fact, I saw this when posted on NPR: A Decade of Watching Black People Die it doesn’t even list everyone – and it’s so much. I really hope you’ll read it.

I’ve been saying this publicly since at least 2016 (I searched twitter for my handle and “diversify your friend group.”) So. Diversify your friend group. Your actual friends, not just your acquaintances.  Don’t gaslight Black or other people of color about microaggressions or “everyday racism” they experience. A big thing on the internet a while back was sympathy vs empathy. If you’re not Black, you can’t understand how it is. I’m not Black – I’m not a parent. I can never fully understand what it is to live as a Black person in America, and especially not what it’s like to live in constant fear for my child – especially parents of young Black men. 

And understand – that’s a huge issue. Black men are 2.5x more likely to be killed by police than white men. (I believe Black men are incarcerated at 6x the rate white men are.) This happens in jurisdictions where the Black population is much smaller than the white population.

It’s not enough to be “not racist.” We all need to be anti-racist. Voting is the very minimum. Make sure you vote in every election. Not just the big ticket ones. Vote in the primaries. Find out what you can about the candidates – which ones will work to demilitarize police? Which ones will work to actually protect and serve the community when it comes to sheriffs, and anyone else in law enforcement you can elect – prosecutors and such. Is the coroner an elected position where you live? The school board – will they work to end the school to prison pipeline? (The last time I looked at the numbers, a child who is put into juvenile detention has a seventy percent adult recidivism rate.)

Volunteer to be a Guardian Ad Litem. Look into your areas CPS – are mostly white kids being put into foster homes while BlPOC are being sent to institutions or locked facilities? Kids have pretty much been my life work so that’s not just where my focus lies but where my expertise is. Ask the questions. Bring your friends to city council meetings and make them uncomfortable. Hell – run for city council. (Or other office!) Write and/or call your representatives and senators. If they’re shitty – work to get them out of office. 

Confront your racist friends and family when they say “all lives matter” or god forbid “blue lives matter.” (NO LIVES ARE BLUE, OKAY.) You don’t have to be aggressive about it of course, but don’t let it slide. It’s not easy. It’s uncomfortable, awkward, and sometimes awful. Sometimes these are people you dearly love. Sometimes they’re your parents. 

And if you’re not Black, you don’t get to just check out. This systemic racism is on us. Take this heartache, sadness, exhaustion, all that. Imagine living it every day of your life. Through nothing you control. It’s the color of your skin. I’ve been seeing a lot of people sharing clips of Jane Elliott’s interviews and experiments. She’s been doing this since 1968
Also, Consider why you think blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin to be the most beautiful. Why you want to color and lighten your hair, or even skin. If you’re not white – especially – why you want to bleach your hair, put in color contacts to look “more white.” Is it sometimes just purely cosmetic? Sure. But it often also is that white supremacy has brainwashed your standard of beauty. (A few years ago – and it’s come back how many items are “default white.” Bandaids. Tights. “Nude” shoes.) 

I know I’m all over the place but it’s because racism has affected all aspects. I’m not an expert. I’m just trying to learn. I’ve been working with underprivileged at risk kids my entire adult life. Honestly more than 90% of the time (probably even higher) they’ve been not-white. And I’ve learned from kids too – changed my assumptions, learned about entirely different life experiences.

Listen, learn, use your privilege when and where you can. Support Black businesses and creators. It’s time to tear down this racist system. Don’t say “oh I don’t want to get political.” How is it POLITICAL to say “police shouldn’t randomly be murdering people – ESPECIALLY NOT BLACK PEOPLE.” HOW?! And this is why silence is not ok. Not just silence though – slacktivism. If you have kids, talk to them. Teach them about racism and privilege. Especially if you’re white. 

For myself … my work involves social justice. All my non-romance reading, other than laws, is about social justice and the disproportionate affects our ~judicial system has on Black and Brown individuals. I’m known to raise holy hell when kids are treated unfairly and especially  when it’s wite/Black kids being treated differently. For myself, I need to step up my leisure reading of Black romances authors too. I have a few go-to’s and a lot in my TBR, but I need to be more deliberate about it.
I’ve also let the Smithsonian Heritage Month posts slide – but I’m really hoping to bring them back next year. And not haphazardly. All authors and individuals are welcome to guest at ALBTALBS at any time – but I can understand why some people wouldn’t want to participate in SHMs and feel it’s lip service when it’s just X times instead of all times. 

It’s a lot. We’re horrified. We’re heartbroken. And we’ve got work to do. I know I’ll mess up. I’m going to keep trying though, and doing the work, and learning.  Join me.

[And some additions… there’s a lot – a lot more – this could go on for 10x the length… so I encourage you to scope out twitter and such for other resources and voices. Experts. Black writers and activists willing to educate.]

And a few things I wanted to add. This is one reason why Drew Brees is being criticized and why he deserves to be criticized. (Since writing my post he’s said a bit more … but …) I really hope you’ll also watch Malcolm Jenkins’ response – he’s one of Drew’s teammates

This is a good resource for your Christian friends.

ETA!: GAH! I KNEW I’D FORGET THINGS! As I said there’s so much. I meant to add this in the original.

And this. (I’m joking but I’m also not when I say … white people like to listen to [only] white people…)

And then I saw this the day after posting. PLEASE if you watch nothing else… watch this one.

And now this from Sadie:

Black lives in this country are treated as though they matter less than white lives. It has been this way ever since white European colonizers invaded Africa and decided the indigenous peoples were, well, less. This shouldn’t be news to any of us who are white. Our ancestors decided Black people were less and therefore could be owned. Our ancestors used eugenics to “scientifically” confirm that white policies and practices built upon racism made white lives superior to Black lives.

When slavery in the United States was abolished, white supremacy wasn’t about to allow Black people to become equal. Every step of the way, policies and practices and beliefs founded within white supremacy were intentionally employed as a means to subjugate Black lives and remind them over and over that this is a white world and they should feel blessed that they even have any place within it.

Any time Black lives build success, wealth and prosperity white lives continue to violently burn it down. Look up the Black Wall Street massacre in Tulsa, OK, and the burning of Rosewood, FL. Look at how we continue to try to abolish Black lives. The lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Manuel Ellis, David McAtee, and far too many Black lives are mercilessly snuffed out because the systemic racism built from white supremacy leaves no room for them.

The country feels like it’s burning. And may be it should. Maybe it needs to burn so we can to dismantle the systemic racism and white supremacy this country was founded upon. Maybe out of the ashes we will be able to work toward restorative justice. Maybe we should defund the police and narrow the scope of their responsibilities while we build community safety nets and infrastructures necessary to ensure everyone has healthcare, mental health care resources, housing, food, and the security of knowing none of these things can be taken away. Maybe we need to take a hard look at our own belief systems and do the hard work of confronting our inner racists so we can heal and listen and cede space for those who have not been given the time or opportunities to heal from centuries of generational trauma.

Maybe we should dismantle white supremacy and systemic racism because it’s wrong. Black lives matter. They always have.

Continue reading

On Sportsball/Social Media for Social Good, and Latinx Heritage Month

Hi friends! If you’re a longtime reader you might maybe have thought “hey I wonder what’s up with SMSG this year?” Well … it’s like this – if The Ohio State University Buckeyes break 70 points and win their game, I’ll donate $10 to a non-profit charity. (This seemed like something that might happen a few times at the beginning of the season … but so far it’s only happened once. Fingers crossed they do more.)

ANYWAY. I kept meaning to throw this post up, but life and such and ALBTALBS is clearly on a bit of a hiatus, and the only “good kid” of the crowd is Babs – who is the hero of the site. (I’m definitely in the “bad child” camp myself :X) Continue reading

SWHM Guest: Cassandra Carr Gives 8 Reasons Men and Women are Still Not Equal in 2018

Hi friends! As previously stated, March is Women’s History Month, and I’m excited to share our first guest post. Shout out to Cassandra Carr who also provided one of the few Black History Month posts this year too. <3 She makes some excellent points here, with numerous sources and resources, so I hope you’ll check it out!

8 reasons men and women are still not equal in 2018
By Cassandra Carr

It’s 2018. Women are leading the charge all over the world to increase equality, but we’re far from where we should be. We make up a large portion of the American movement called The Resistance, and more women than ever – by a large margin – are running for office. Some inequalities are narrowing, but still present. These are positive steps, but we have so far to go.

As I write this, it’s International Women’s Day, part of Women’s History Month. But instead of talking about women in the past, I want to talk about how today’s women can make history and what they must do to succeed. Continue reading

SBHM: Black Suffragettes Time Has Forgotten

Hi friends! I’ve been putting out the call for months now to have people write guest posts for any of the Smithsonian Heritage Months. I’m very grateful that Cassandra Carr responded, and is sharing this information with us. I’m sorry to say this isn’t something my teachers focused on in school, so my education is sadly lacking.

Black Suffragettes Time Has Forgotten

Black History Month is February, and today I’d like to highlight some of the most important figures in the suffrage movement – Black women.

When people think of the fight to get voting rights for women, you probably focus on the white women – Susan B Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and others. But a lot of Black women fought just as hard. Who were they? Continue reading

Today is Possibly the Last Social Media for Social Good Ever ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

HI FRIENDS!! So it’s been like … I don’t even have words for how painfully low key, but Social Media for Social Good 2017 has been a thing this year, or an attempt, and today is the last day. In fact, the last ~hour. So get on it?

I’ll add more to this post, but I just want to have something for now. You know how to do. You have until kickoff before the Big Ten Championship, but let’s just call it like what, 8:03 PM Eastern Time?