Pride, in the shadows of grief

Kristen's Gentrification Defying Front Porch for June 2, 2024

Welcome to Kristen’s Gentrification Defying Front Porch, the Sunday newsletter where I talk about what’s really on my mind and share some of my crafting and adventures from throughout the week. While I’ll be taking a summer vacation from the livestreams after tomorrow, and doing a season podcast episode on Friday, I’ll still be writing these quick notes from vacation!

This morning I did something child me was ashamed to do. I put on farm-appropriate clothing, including protecting my hair with a headscarf, and did some serious strawberry picking. That’s me in the field above.

I needed to do something to physically ground myself to the Earth and Les and I have come to enjoy what has been a semi-annual tradition we always hope to make annual.

I’ve been sitting over the past week with a boatload of grief. 

I had a wonderful time last weekend connecting with people who actually care about humanity, many whom I share a craft space with and others who are fellow Black queers from southern states making a way in the DC area.

But by Friday, I decided to record a bonus episode of the podcast to help me anchor my grief boat and express lament that so many folks aren’t doing right by themselves and each other. You can listen here on YouTube (along with all the other platforms that Defying Gentrification is on)

The last week of May symbolizes a lot of death in my life and the June 1 sighting of the Pride rainbow doesn’t always signal the end of the storm, especially not in a year when we continue to choose genocides, both loud and quiet over and over again.

In addition, more of that grief surfaced when I took what could be one of my last DC Circulator rides and wrote the following on my Instagram about it while having some fun in editing speeding up the 15-minute ride from Eastern Market to the stop closest to our home at the Wharf.

blackurbanist

A post shared by @blackurbanist

I had read an article about its demise from my prior client/organization and it reminded me of so much of what I was starting to feel when working there and being out of alignment with the mission.

However, like always, I’ve had my craft.

I’m piecing together this outfit for my 20th high school reunion, and getting excited for this hybrid event where I get to connect with people who knew me then, and know how far I’ve come and also whom I have done the same and want to support as we all grow into the next elders.

Next week, the tiles will be an actual shirt and maybe I might extend it into an entire dress!

I’m dedicating this email, not to those who won’t listen,  but to everyone who also grieves, who captures that righteous anger, and fuels a true path to liberation and revolution.

After all, in addition to my reunion and Pride events and crafting, I have a new job contract starting Monday 6/10. 

I hope I can channel some of that income into (FINALLY) hiring the right assistance and creating the fort and magic I need to resist this wave of Earthly destruction.

I hope to see you at 11 am Eastern tomorrow on the livestream, but if not, until next time…

Kristen