Lately I’ve been reflecting on allyship. For me it is an active state, not a passive one, and it requires constant vigilance, learning, and re-learning. This month I am reading “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander to learn not just how but why more African American men are in prison or jail, on probation or parole, than were enslaved in 1850, before the Civil War began. The short answer is: The War on Drugs.
Unfortunately, we have not made much progress since Alexander’s book debuted in 2012; except, perhaps, that social media and cell phones allow us to witness the potentially violent and deadly results when police use no-knock warrants, traffic stops, and choke holds to search our Black and Brown neighbors for drugs.
Understanding the history of the War on Drugs is important, but what we do with that knowledge is what really matters.
The questions I’m asking myself include:
- Will we use the knowledge we have about structural racism to end the War on Drugs that targets our Black and Brown communities?
- Will we use the data to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive cannabis industry?
- Will we fund the BIPOC cannabis companies we say we support?
- Will be purchase cannabis products from BIPOC companies and dispensaries?
- Will we finally federally legalize (de-schedule or de-criminalize) cannabis so we can focus on healing and repairing our country?
- And if so, how?
As we look ahead to the multiple challenges we must solve, I am encouraged by the visionary womxn we interviewed for MARY JANES: THE WOMEN OF WEED who know progress happens through dedication and conversation.
We’ve curated a YouTube playlist of the Black womxn featured in our film. Watch now
If you are ready to spark a conversation about equity and inclusion in your community, sign up to host a virtual screening of the award-winning documentary, MARY JANES: THE WOMEN OF WEED.
A virtual screening is a great way to commemorate:
- Black History/Present/Future Month
- Women’s History Month
- International Women’s Day (March 8th)
- 4/20 (April 20th)
- Earth Day (April 22nd)
- Mother’s Day (May 9th)
- and more!
Our team is ready to help you create a powerful virtual screening event to inspire, educate, and enlighten your audience.
Contact us to Book Your Screening TODAY!
In solidarity,
Windy Borman
Director/Producer, “Mary Janes: The Women of Weed”
