If You Want to Take Action… Journaling Questions

Reflect on moments when you have witnessed or benefited from the myth of meritocracy or stereotypes. How did these beliefs shape your understanding of success and fairness?

Consider examples from history or current events that illustrate institutional inertia reinforcing systemic inequality. How do these examples affect different communities?

Think about the legal and extra-legal violence described. How has violence been used historically or today to maintain power structures? How does this impact your community or sphere of influence?

Reflect on feelings of apathy or distraction in relation to social justice issues. What survival strategies have you or others used that might unintentionally sustain systemic injustice?

Identify one or more ways you might move beyond avoidance and discomfort to engage more actively with history, facts, and contexts of systemic inequity.

Consider the “ladder of privilege” and ways to step beyond performative allyship. What concrete actions can you take that move you closer to ally, advocate, or co-conspirator status?

Reflect on the phrase: “What kind of ancestor do I want to be?” How does this shape your commitments to justice now and into the future?

Explore how moral rationalizations or status quo preservation appear in conversations or policies you encounter. How can you challenge these constructs constructively?

What unjust policies or practices regarding power hoarding or resource scarcity resonate most with you? How can awareness of these lead to advocacy or change?

In what ways can collective transformation and building a culture of empathy and active involvement be nurtured in your community or networks?