| Hi , This #thankyouthursday, I am grateful for The Marshall Project. It’s that time of year when it feels like most people I know are looking forward to time off from work, relaxing in cozy homes, seeing family, exchanging gifts. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are facing the holidays with no prospect of quality time with their loved ones. And I need to remember that, because although I don’t feel guilty about my privileged place in the world, I’m well aware that I didn’t earn it. I believe it’s my responsibility to make good use of my unearned advantages, particularly when it comes to the area of racial justice (which is effectively synonymous with criminal justice). Given that the United States became a prosperous nation due largely to slave labor, yet the descendants of those laborers remain among the most oppressed and devalued citizens in our country, I think the most patriotic thing I can do is to take action toward justice—to do my part in making the best aspects of the American Dream a reality for all citizens, not just for those who won the lottery by birth. And I believe that, to quote the founder of The Marshall Project, “journalism, done honestly and well, has infinite power to drive change.” That’s why today I’m grateful for “a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system.” I get a free email newsletter from The New York Times called Race/Related, and this week they’ve partnered with The Marshall Project to present a daily series on families of the incarcerated. When I got the first installation, I thought, “Huh. Odd timing.” After all, reading about the struggles of innocent people does not exactly inspire holiday cheer. But it does inspire awareness! And awareness is a gift, any time of the year. Love > fear, |
