Tuesday, May 27, 2025
A small group gathered for Anti-Racism Reads to discuss the selected memoir for Asian Heritage Month: See No Stranger by Valarie Kaur, a Sikh activist, lawyer and author. The strength of the book is Kaur鈥檚 unapologetic nature in which she shares her personal stories of discrimination and violence that Sikh Americans faced post 9/11, encounters with sexual violence, and the power and wisdom from her Sikh religion.听听听
鈥淩evolutionary Love鈥� is the framework that Kaur invites us to grapple with and apply in a time where the world feels like it is in turmoil, and perceived binaries pit 鈥榰s鈥� against 鈥榯hem.鈥� At its core, Revolutionary Love is a choice we make over and over again to labour in three directions: love for others, love for opponents and love for ourselves. The inner rings, including rage, wonder, breathe, push etc., are practices that we use in our daily lives to stay curious and see the other as a part of me which I do not know yet鈥攁 mantra to stay grounded.听听
As Kaur writes:听
鈥淟ove is a form of sweet labor: fierce, bloody, imperfect, and life giving鈥攁 choice we make over and over again. Love can be taught, modeled, and practiced... 鈥淩evolutionary love鈥� is the choice to enter into labor for others, for our opponents, and for ourselves in order to transform the world around us. It is not a formal code or prescription but an orientation to life that is personal and political, rooted in joy.鈥� (Kaur, 2020, p. 310)听
Our group reflected on the tension that it is not easy to aspire to love and protect those who harm us as there can be too much at stake at times, yet we can turn to the wisdom of Black and Indigenous movements (as Kaur does), and Revolutionary Love, grounded in the Sikh tradition, to do as Kaur says and push to reflect upon our own processes of accountability and responsibility when we commit harm.听听
These discussions are never easy, but necessary to continue our push towards justice. One participant shared after the session 鈥淚 was really nervous about showing up. But the space you created felt safe, grounded, and open. I鈥檓 genuinely grateful for that. I鈥檓 looking forward to joining more sessions in the future.鈥澨�
Whether you have read all, some, none of the book and are curious about attending Anti-Racism Reads, know that you are welcomed to the space. We hope to see you at our next event as we continue learning and growing together听
