UAF grantees are seizing the idea of radical love; They are leading countless efforts to combat anti-Asian Xenophobia and anti-Black racism. They are providing women of color and trans activists who were receiving hate mail and threats online with access to psychosocial support, to tools that build up collective organizing, to movements rooted in feminisms of inclusivity and care.
When governments blatantly targeted and slandered minorities, activists rose up with messages of love to drown out the hate speech. They reimagined activism and called for connection when COVID-19 restrictions strengthened and some leaders attempted to use physical distance to attack human rights. They showed us that leading with inclusive and radical love is how we will move toward an equitable feminist future.
It is this fierce love that calls on each of us to stand up to insipid and pernicious hateful rhetoric, to take to the streets in protest, and to transform the language of intimidation and fear into one of hope, courage, and safety.
Love is embodied in the desire to seek connection and meaning with those around us and across the globe. This is, at the core, all philanthropy is. Love of humanity. Just as you are connected to your family, friends, and neighbors; you are also connected to a larger global community of love.
|