Black Lives Matter. We have so much work to do.

Dear Friends,

I had planned to start this Journal to share various sources of inspiration, work in progress or Stitch and Tickle news, but it now seems that it is going to have to be more than that. 

Like many of you, I’ve been shell shocked these last few weeks by the killing of George Floyd and the brutal turn of events in its aftermath. I am horrified and angered by the crime itself, of course, but George Floyd’s death was not an isolated incident.

As I start to open my eyes to the foundational role of racism in this country, I am as disgusted and shocked by the death and brutality as by the realization that I am personally part of the problem and bear responsibility for it.   

Reckoning with my own ignorance and white privilege has been paralyzing, which I realize is not acceptable. I am slowly trying to get up, roll up my sleeves, and start tackling the work it will take to create long-lasting change. I know that I must and want to do my part and will commit myself wholly to it. 

While I’m not totally sure at this moment what all of this work will entail, I know my first responsibility is to educate myself about the true nature of racism in this country, including the white privilege I live in. Moving forward, I will dedicate myself, as well as some of this space, to continue on this path and share my progress regularly.

I will have more details to share in the near future as this takes shape and I hope you will join me on this journey.

In the meantime, please stay safe and healthy.

Sophie