1:12: Ancestors I: Examining yesterday's actions to understand today's reality

In episode twelve, Tim and Tuesday talk about how we honour and interpret our ancestors’ actions, roles, and impacts — think reverberations of colonialism and class — to grasp the underpinnings of our current world.1.12 —— SHOW NOTESTim: I’ve been doing a lot of work around what it means to have been raised and educated within my class. I realized the need to own the impacts of my ancestry on me and my life, my brother, my sister, parents and friends. This provided a new invitation to see it and take it in—not only how I’m often approached which is colonizer-based. Tues: We are talking about ancestors on two levels: our direct ancestors and their impact on our families and ancestors at large (our people and their impacts). That’s not always a straight line. Tim: We are already ancestors by virtue of being alive. We need to begin to think of ourselves as ancestors.Tues: For me it’s the whole view that says, ‘can I soften my heart to let in that whole view; while very much holding that right now our pasts, our presents and our future is absolutely impacted by our positioning related to that colonialism.’Tim: This is about analyzing our own society with the same rigor we apply to other areas of our society. What is the emotional and psychological state of the people in senior leadership positions? How is that playing out?Tues: The systems aren’t broken. They are doing what they were designed to do.Tim: This ends with how I raise my own children. The power to change is in my house. And something else also starts here, which is what so much of our work and friendship is—the ability to be in whatever happens next and knowing what has come before.POEM: ‘The Boxer’ by Tim MerryThey abandoned meThey should have been thereI was leftBereftAloneCurled up under a duvet cover from homeWishing to not be seenHeart beating, scared“Why did you leave me here?”Fear PulsingRed, jagged and spiralling From solar plexus outRunning frantic energy through my bodyAll the way to my fingers and toesBut nowhere to run, nobody I knowTo run to“Where were you?”This was meant to be grand adventureNot traumaNot weeping at 43Only feeling meWhen the tears flowHand on heartWe never should have been apartOur familyYou and meIn the empty spaceStepped the boxer, bracedFor any attackCome one, come allI am ready, poised, watchfulWeavingFists up, back to the wall, there is no leavingSadness turned to angerReading to explodeUnloadWhen things get beyond controlProtecting my soulWhen you did notI surrounded myself with a team of defendersBoxerCharmerActorFixerWorkerJokerLoverAngerServerConnectorAll to keep the world at bayBecause it was not safe To come out and playNow slowly I am peeping outMy blurry eyed headOver parapet wallsThere is me Looking inTo the place I protectedWhere I am not longer connected Meeting eye to eyeStarting to cryMore tears to flowMore of myself to knowIf I dare go slowWith the flowOf what the wisdom of my psycheIs unveiling to me nowAt 43I am coming back home, to meSong of the day: Oppression, Ben HarperSubscribe to the podcast now—in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or anywhere else you find podcasts. New episodes will be available every second Tuesday. If you’d like to get in touch with us about something you heard on the show, reach us at [email protected] the song we played in today’s show—and every song we’ve played in previous shows—on the playlist. Just search ‘Find the Outside’ on Spotify.Duration: 38:24Produced by: Mark Coffin @ Sound Good StudiosTheme music: Gary BlakemoreEpisode cover image: source Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.