First of all, sorry I missed making both the graphics and Word Salad this past week. I have 14 graphics in the can, but it's writing these comments that take so much time. I had to write a grant, something I never did before and my wife was sick. At the end of it, I was fighting off her cold and was absolutely exhausted. However, that is done. Related to this grant, I have several announcements.
First up, in one week, a graphic novel is coming out called APB: Artists against Police Brutality, which I am a part of. I did a 7-page comic called "Problematic White Liberal" with TWiB's own Aaron Rand Freeman. Also, the extremely talented Ashley A. Woods, David Brame, and Melanie Stevens are doing art and comics in it. Please go and support your local book store or use that Amazon link above and that will help me out, it's an affiliate link. The proceeds from this project will go to the Innocence Project.
Related to this and the grant, on April 9th at Comics N' More in Easthampton, Massachusetts, there will be a show featuring the art from APB. Bill Campbell and Jason Rodriguez, editors of this project, Aaron Rand Freeman and many more people involved will be there. It will also be Easthampton Bookfest that day, so come on out, spend the day and meet us.
This will be huge, so please stay tuned for details, because I will have many, many more announcements.
With this out of the way, onto Lauren Chief Elk.
Like Elizabeth Warren, I have Native American heritage. In fact, my grandmother came from Oklahoma, back when it was still called "Indian Territory." On my grandfather's side, his great-grandmother was a Native American from the Dakotas. However, beyond family stories, I am divorced from my heritage.
When Imani Gandy said on TWiB Prime that Lauren Chief Elk was a good follow to learn issue facing Native Americans, I jumped at the chance.
I have learned how racism and colonialism have nearly eradicated the people who lived in this land for thousands of years. It also made me question my grandmother (Who sadly is no longer with us, she passed away before my children were born.) and wonder if the racism and hate she expressed to people who were different wasn't a part of the colonialism that was driven into her when she grew up in Oklahoma.
As you can see again, I am avoiding the issue of domestic violence because that is not an issue I feel confident in writing about. Unfortunately, it's an issue that affects Native Americans and First Nations people across North America.
#NativeLivesMatter
Like Black lives, they too are degraded in society. Add the indignity of our Reservation system, which was Hitler's inspiration for his "Final Solution," and we have generations of damaged humans. Native women are the most vulnerable in our society.
To be aware of domestic violence is to be aware of those who are most vulnerable. Lauren Chief Elk's organization Save Wįyąbi Project is a great organization and a great tool to learn more and read better written articles than what I just wrote.
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