Thank you for doing the work

Doing The Work is a reader-supported publication for people who are doing the work of anti-racism, equity and anti-oppression. It’s written by Collette Philip Founder of Brand by Me, THE anti-racist brand agency.

I want to start this with a big THANK YOU. I so appreciate this community we’re building. I love the fact that there are people out there, people like you, who have actually signed up to read a newsletter about doing the work of anti-racism and anti-oppression - and that you’re not shying away from the reality of it, but seeking to learn more and take action. I LOVE this for us. So I recorded a quick video message for all of us doing this work. If you don’t have time to watch, here’s what I’ve said:

[VIDEO TRANSCRIPT]

I was moved to send you a little message today, because it feels like a lot right now.
I was saying to

Ettie Bailey-King

and Sulaiman (from

Disability, daringly – A Newsletter by ThisAbility® Limited

), two of my brilliant colleagues that 2024 has is doing a real number on all of us, many of us, more than others. People are experiencing and living through genocides, being genocides, plural, being brought to us in real time, and our governments and companies just seem to be doing very little, and It can feel like you're alone and powerless. And that's a really tough place to be, and it's a really tough place to keep doing this work from. So I was moved to say this.

First of all, it's not you, it's the system. Secondly, I know that it feels like a lot, too much, not enough, all the things at once, but thank you for doing the work and showing up and being here. I appreciate you. You are incredibly powerful and awesome, and you're the fact you are here doing the work is making a difference.

The reason we know it's making a difference is exactly because the violence of the system in reacting to and just pushing back, because this system is dying, and it's definitely losing its stronghold, and power is shifting, and what we're seeing is a really violent reaction to that. So it's a sign that actually what we're doing here, the work we are doing, the work of anti oppression and anti racism and dismantling these systems of oppression and harm and inequity - it's working.

So collectively together, let's keep going. You haven't heard from me in a while because it's been the summer, but I'm here to say, keep doing the work. Imma keep doing the work with you, because not in this terrible politics way, but in a genuine way, we are here and in it together. And I am super excited for this new quarter of this year, last quarter, if your year's a calendar, Q, what are we in? Two or three? If your year is financial, I think q3, if your year is financial.

Either way, we've got some really exciting stuff coming from me and also from Brand by me, and it's all just about dismantling the system and Doing The Work, and I can't wait to bring you it.

Thank you so much for being here. Wherever you are, have a peaceful, restful and regenerative rest of your day.

PS Paid subscriptions keep this newsletter going. Right now, anti-racism and anti-oppression work is being underfunded and undervalued. So if you value this content and want to see more, do upgrade to a paid subscription!