Full excerpt from our June 10, 2020 Newsletter
Dear Friend,
I have struggled the past week with writing anything to you. Nothing I write captures the heaviness that our country is experiencing since the murder of George Floyd. Then I realized that I couldn’t write because first I needed to listen. Really listen. I spent the week reading about protests, social inequalities and injustices, anti-racism, blatant and subtle forms of racism, police brutalities and other toxic parts of our social systems. I realized that I have so much to learn. One of the biggest messages I heard consistently is that I can’t be silent anymore in order to make a positive change. I have to wake up and take action against the social injustices ingrained in our society. And I have to stay awake.
The Regal Find is a business that stands for equality and respect regardless of race or color. But we can do better. We can be sure that that everyone who walks through our doors will feel this and know this, and that we will not tolerate anything to the contrary.
As a business, I pledge to:
- Seek out, carry, and highlight the work of more BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists, removing any artist-side barriers to sale (for example: printing, marketing and packaging).
- Carry books about anti-racism (for both children and adults) to increase awareness and promote change.
- Carry more Black Lives Matter items from Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health and donate profits to Freedom Inc.
- Pledge profits from the sales of Black Lives Matter pins created at The Regal Find to Urban Triage.
- Dedicate a specific display area within the shop to emphasize Black Lives Matter with available merchandise that supports this initiative.
- Bring these ideas and initiatives to other businesses in Downtown Middleton.
As an individual, I pledge to:
- Listen more. Notice and call attention to racist viewpoints and micro aggressions. Inform others if these are made. Tolerance and/or a silent response to these statements is not an option.
- Pay attention to the ingrained injustices in our political and social systems against BIPOC and work to correct them. Continue to learn and be open to feedback.
- Continue to learn and call myself out on past actions or words that may have caused injury to people of color.
- Be aware of white privilege -- a situation that may have been inconsequential to me because of my white privilege can be extremely different and damaging to or a person of color --emotionally, mentally and or financially.
As the protests become quieter I want my voice to stay loud against our broken system and I want to stay wide awake.
Will you join me?
Warmly,
Jessica Regele
Owner, The Regal Find
theregalfind.com
I invite you to learn more about and donate directly to Freedom Inc. and Urban Triage, Madison-based social justice non-profit organizations.
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Freedom, Inc. engages low- to no-income communities of color in Dane County, WI. Their mission is to achieve social justice through coupling direct services with leadership development and community organizing. |
Urban Triage is on a mission to empower Black families and co-conspirators while mobilizing community resources and distributing them to those most in need, and at the same time, engaging systems in implementing systematic, sustainable, equitable, and clinically sound approaches to health behavior and prevention. |
