Economic crisis produced spiraling inflation, speculation, hoarding, and shortages of basic necessities. Industrial production dropped, unemployment increased, and sales of consumer goods shark, resulting in demonstrations and strikes that by July culminated in a forty-eight-hour general strike by over seven million workers throughout the country. In response, the congress passed legislation legitimizing repression of the opposition.
Love in a time of Hate – Liberation Psychology in Latin America by Nancy Caro Hollander – an interviewees awareness of the rise of the 1974 authoritarian regime in Argentina
How do we know if this moment is a complete collapse of American democracy as we know it? If we are in a transitionary era of authoritarianism? Dictatorship? A period of revenge by the grandsons of those who lost both the American Revolution and the Civil War determined to eliminate everyone who is not White, male, cis-gender, able, Christian, rich, conservative, and heterosexual?
I believe we are. I don’t know the days ahead. The emergence through rupture and pain, can be rich, dark, nourished, and evolves from the collective visioning and manifestation of our cultural psyche. And, for peace of mind and grounding – here is my safety plan for the chaos. COVID was a dress rehearsal for these times. Are we ready?
This plan comes out of lessons learned from living through 9/11, COVID, and active shooter defense training; studying liberation psychologists like Franz Fanon, Nancy Caro Hollander, Orlando Bishop, Mary Watkins, and Ignacio Martín-Baŕo; and too many wildfire/earthquake warnings.
It is not exhausted and may it provide inspiration to you and your family to create your own plan:
1) Retain the will the live. No matter how tense areas of life may become, always, even force yourself to see yourself alive on the other side of the current situation. Many survivors of street violence, torture, mass-shootings, and social violence survived by believing that they would.
2) Know your surroundings at all times. Unsettling times brings out the worst in many people. Recall the junior high school yard where insecurities ranged high as people struggled to understand who they were as they sought to fit in. In these times, small runs to the coffee shop or gas station can become hostile with folks emboldened in white supremacy thinking, regardless of ethnicity and skin color. Make sure your cell phone is charged and you have a portable charged charger in case you need to call for help. Identify exits as soon as you enter a room and if cornered, what can be used as a weapon to block and/or protect yourself.
3) Manage anxiety. All of our emotions are high, even frayed. Yet, when we are hurting, fearful, angry, or however we are in our feelings – we can escalate violence and further threatened the wellbeing of ourselves or those we love. Practice meditations to control the breath or keep some sort of fidget toy or smooth stone in your pocket to play with to bring you back into your power stance – a place of coolness, steadfastness, nimbleness, and agility so that you can respond in the best way possible to whatever comes your way.
4) Limit watching the news/social media. Understand that the bombardment of activities, actions, ‘executive orders’ is a strategy to overwhelm the senses and push the psyche into a state of fear and confusion for social control. Resist the temptation to be plugged in at all times. This is a fear response that somehow you will miss something of importance or waiting on pins and needles for something evil to happen. Instead, pick a time of day to check in on the news and pin SM sites that bring you joy (e.g. your favorite YouTube video).
5) Strengthen trusted social bonds (e.g. family and friends). We need small, safe, supportive, and trusted circles of friends and colleagues to help us move through this moment. Even with suffering around – don’t self-isolate or isolate others. Instead make time to check-in, text someone a funny Gif, host a small gathering on your front porch or back-yard scratch pad, enjoy the parks and botanical gardens, enjoy a coffee at a local coffee shop. In these spaces, honor your feelings, share, allow your tears to fall. At the end of the time together, collectively find a pathway towards hope and hold each other accountable.
6) Fight for joy. Joy affirms our right to be. It is not happiness, it is the emotional substance that emerges after or risk of suffering that reminds us we are still alive. It could be – saying no to a meeting you do not have the emotional capacity to participate in, sleeping in, or dancing in the rain with a loved one.
7) Keep cash on hand. Keep at least 2 to 3 months of expenses in cash in a safe, accessible place. We never know if there will be disruptions in the banking system or you have to move around and it may not be safe to go to the bank. Also keep various money apps like CashApp, Venmo, Zelle too as not everyone will take cash at all times.
8) Identify safe meeting places and have an evacuation plan. There may be events that make getting home delayed or hindered. Have a few rendezvous places to go temporarily until safe to get back home. In L.A. – have someone in each direction. In addition to private homes, also think of parking lots, parks, parking lots, libraries, schools, etc. Also, be sure to plan for Elders and others with limited mobility to help them evacuate. As the Eaton fire was starting to burn and we heard an increase in fire truck sirens, my partner and I made a concerted effort to go get his Mom. We were afraid that by time she was told to evacuate – it would be too congested to pick her up. Trusting your gut will go a long way.
9) Create a family communication plan. During emergencies and periods of system-level stress, we may experience more frequent power outages which knock out wi-fi and cordless phone systems. Have a back-up way to communicate including use of apps like Whats App, reddit, etc. Ensure you have a portable charger for cell phones and keep it charged. Have a transistor radio with plenty of batteries or solar charged. Also, create a distress word in case a loved one is detained and may not be able to go into details on their situation. Identify an advocate or lawyer who will take your call if needed. Identify someone out of state. Finally, make sure you and your loved ones tell each other where you are going and a reasonable time that you will be back. No more, “I’ll be right back,” especially if curfews are put into place.
10) Identify/create safe food/water supplies and other infrastructure. During COVID when supply chains were interrupted – many people returned to gardening to create a stable food supply, even if just creating a potted porch garden or joining a local community garden. Keep bottled water and if safe and feasible, collect rain water. Also acquire a range of tools that can also be weaponized if needed, but mostly to be used to fill in the gap if government services collapse. Check flashlights, lanterns, and other items every six-months to update batteries.
11) Keep your car gassed up and supplied. Rapid mobility is key is times of disasters. Keep your car gassed up with at least a half tank at all times. Keep a small suitcase in your trunk or rear that includes a change of clothes, underwear, sneakers, snacks, blanket, flashlight, and emergency kit. Have a battery charger and jumper cables and emergency utility tool that you can use to break windows and cut seatbelt in case you are in an accident and need to quickly evacuate the car.
12) Protect and copy key documents and passwords. Make and keep copies of birth certificates, passports, DL and keep up with renewals.
13) Double down on reaffirming self. Re-read your favorite books that uplifted social identities important to you or a biography of someone you admire. Write, dance, paint, create music. Watch life-affirming movies. Cook your grandma’s favorite recipe. Find one action a day to reaffirm the divine human being of who you and/or your loved ones are.
14) Have faith – Dream. Be true to yourself. Try to stay present in healthy ways and not escape to denial. Be self-reflective with grace. Take time to imagine or reimagine the world you want for yourself and future generations. Remember nothing is permanent. Even rain is never the same.
May everyone be safe. Know you are loved. Time keeps going forward and we will to carry us to the other side.
Alisa's thoughts on Beloved Communities 