Right now, we have the least to share about being co-conspirators because it's still a fresh concept to most of us. In our discussion and reading, the jump from accomplice to co-conspirator seems to exist in the intersection of initiative and risk. Being an accomplice means taking some form of risk, but being a co-conspirator is actively and intentionally using your position to take risks and act on behalf of traditionally marginalized people and groups. As we work through the next three months of discussion, we'll come back to all three concepts - ally, accomplice, and co-conspirator - to talk about what these can look like in our work and wider, library communities. A note on "tiers"It feels natural to us to want to tier the concepts of ally, accomplice, and co-conspirator, but we want to be clear that this isn't something you can level up like a video game or ace like a class. It's also not our place to claim any of these labels for ourselves; we demonstrate our commitment to these concepts through our actions. Focus on the work - growth, learning, humility - rather than the optics.
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When we talk about accomplices, we move from passive voice into the active voice. We start to take risks and put ourselves out there on behalf of others. Think of it as getting into Good Trouble!
Protests/vigils are frequently one of the first things that pops to mind when considering about how to be an accomplice. That intentional, shared risk-taking is key. Protests are inherently risky, whether it is (real or perceived) threat to our social standing, mental health, physical well-being, etc. Protesting is not the only way to be an accomplice, though, and not everyone is in a position to protest. Using our positions in society, in our social circles, our families, politically, and at work, to advocate and work on behalf of others is great accomplic-ity. Often, these risks might feel even more intimidating than gearing up for a march! A note on restEspecially when we start looking at being an accomplice and co-conspirator, it's important to acknowledge a few things.
First, most folks have some amount of intersectionality in marginalized groups. Gender, ability, sexuality, religious views, race...all these things have and are weaponized by people in positions of power. Being a white, able-bodied, middle class, cis-gender queer person does not minimize our queer identity. It does, however, mean that we will typically have more pull in a conversation than a white, disabled, middle class, non-binary person. Second, caring for ourselves enables us to help others. If we are exhausted and haven't dealt with any of our own Stuff, how can we effectively advocate for someone else? We'll get so tangled up that we won't be able to help ourselves or others. Rest and self-care might be buzzwords, but they are also vital. Take care of yourself so you can help take care of others. |
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