Trying to gather my thoughts into words
I am struggling to organize the thoughts, ideas, irritations, and fears in my mind to write a semi-coherent newsletter. There is a “should” weighing me down to write something thoughtful about archives and libraries and the impact of the current administration. I collect links1 to share about cuts to funding and banned books. I use EveryLibrary.org to write to my congress people to ask them to fight for libraries. I know that learning about our collective past and the attempts to erase history are a central tenant of my life.
I want to be the advocate who is sending out notifications of every executive order that impacts how and what we learn as a people. I want to share information on how to get involved and use your voice. I do understand that the rapid fire approach is meant to silence us and I worry that there will be too many changes for me to be able to respond in time.
Deep breath
With all of this in mind, I have to remember that all of the work I do in archives and writing is about elevating the stories and people who have been forgotten, hidden or lost. I have always actively worked against those experiences being erased from history one post at a time. I am reminded that erasure is not new. I have spent my whole life learning and uplifting the stories of people we were not supposed to know about. I have had many teachers, from college professors to pamphlets I picked up while traveling to conversations with locals. I am drawn to these stories because I, like everyone one else, am trying to find where I belong in the history of the world.
So I will continue to uplift voices in all the places I can and call out injustice when I see it. I don’t have to do it perfectly, even though all of my training as a white woman tells me I do. I just have to stay in the fight using the skills and abilities I possess.
Some of the links I have been collecting:
SAA Statement on Media Reports Concerning Records Destruction
An Open Letter to the Society of American Archivists
FAQ: Executive Order Targeting IMLS
Arlington National Cemetery stops highlighting some historical figures on its website
Defense Department webpage on Jackie Robinson goes down, then returns amid DEI purge
JFK Library in Boston closes abruptly due to Trump executive order
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SUBJECT HEADINGS - Gulf of Mexico
It gives me hope to know there are souls like you, Mary, doing this kind of work. Thank you <3
Whatever you can do, whatever you can share or think about, as long as it takes -- that's the work, reflected beautifully here. Thank you for sharing.