15Applying LORA to Don't Perpetuate
Remember that LORA is my acronym for Listen, Observe, Reflect, and Act, the system I developed as a way to apply every concept I explain; what's shown here is for the Don't Perpetuate framework. As in Chapter 6, what follows is both a summary and an action plan, so take out your journals and make note of all these.
Listen
Listen to the systems around you. What are some of the problematic things you hear being said about people's identities? Make note of them and write out why you believe them to be problematic.
Observe
Observe the agents of oppression around you, moments when people and institutions are othering, the power dynamics around you. How do they contribute to perpetuation of negative narratives? Who are the groups affected by the biases?
Reflect
Reflect on those agents of oppression you observed. Are you one of them? If so, what can you do? What power do you have?
- Reflect on continuous learning. How will you commit to it?
- When pushback happens, and it will, are you willing to deal with the pushback?
- Will you commit to being patient?
- Reflect on the media, literature, and art you consume on a weekly basis. Do they perpetuate negative systems of oppression?
- Reflect on the workplaces you are part of. Are you in a position to create change or call out inequalities, inequities, and injustices?
- Reflect on the education systems you are part of. Are there opportunities to create belonging for different types of people?
- Reflect on the ...