“Well, if one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country, one does not question the policemen, the lawyers, the judges, or the protected members of the middle class. One goes to the unprotected—those, precisely, who need the law’s protection most!—and listens to their testimony. Ask any Mexican, any Puerto Rican, any black man, any poor person—ask the wretched how they fare in the halls of justice, and then you will know, not whether or not the country is just, but whether or not it has any love for justice, or any concept of it. It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.” —No Name in the Street (1972)
James Baldwin
For the past six years or so, I’ve tried to find the right beat for Friday’s post. Friday feels like a weird day on the internet. And because I spend half of Sunday preparing for work for the week ahead (more on that soon, promise!), it is also a day that I usually want to collect information, and slow completely down. An early start to the weekend, if you will. But having an online space makes it a bit tricky, because Friday is still a work day. It is actually one of the most important days of the week, because it is the first signal for a necessary transition in mind and body.
In keeping with my general need to stay inspired, and with Monday’s collection already a standard practice on Instagram (I screenshot the images I saved in my collection the week before and post it to stories), it seemed as if posting something that has inspired me during the week is the way to also navigate Fridays. And in contrast to Monday’s on Instagram, this will only be one image, or one quote, one thought etc.
I hope you enjoy, and have a beautiful weekend! Happy birthday, James Baldwin.
(Photograph by Allan Warren)
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That quote! It’s easy to say those words apply to what’s happening TODAY in America, but there was never a time they did not apply. They CONTINUE to apply. Thanks for your words.