Prelude: Revolutionary Love is How to Citizen (with Valarie Kaur)

Aug 27, 2020

In this engaging conversation, Valarie Kaur, a civil rights activist and author of 'See No Stranger,' explores the transformative power of love and joy in citizenship. She shares her poignant perspective on viewing America’s challenges as a birthing process rather than a tomb. Valarie reflects on her roots, the impact of 9/11, and emphasizes revolutionary love as a means of combating racism. She calls for a reimagining of power and underscores the importance of community grief in activism, encouraging listeners to reclaim citizenship as a verb and protect joy as a form of resistance.

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INSIGHT

Citizenship Starts Inside

Revolutionary citizenship requires inner change as well as external action.
Valarie Kaur frames 'how to citizen' as a spiritual practice rooted in relationships and self-work.

ANECDOTE

Raised On California Farmland

Valarie Kaur describes growing up on family farmland and being raised by her grandparents.
She links that upbringing to a deep orientation to land, faith, and returning to feeling at home in her body.

INSIGHT

See No Stranger As Practice

'See no stranger' is a practice, not just an idea, that requires letting others' grief into our hearts.
Revolutionary love binds personal courage to political solidarity and sustained movement-building.

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Baratunde lays the spiritual foundation for the show. His first guest, Valarie Kaur, activist and author of See no Stranger, helps us go inward to ready our hearts and minds for How To Citizen. Welcome to the show!

In December 2016, activist, lawyer, and Sikh faith leader Valarie Kaur, asked this question in her Prayer for America: “What if this darkness is not the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb? What if our America is not dead but a country still waiting to be born? What if the story of America is one long labor?” Nearly four years later, Baratunde could think of no better spiritual invocation for this show than a conversation with Valarie, the author of See No Stranger. In the premiere episode of this podcast, Baratunde and Valarie discuss the role of love, joy and relationships in reimagining and reclaiming the act of being a citizen.

Show Notes

We are grateful to Valarie Kaur for helping us give birth to this show.

Buy her book See No Stranger here at our online bookshop for the show that supports local bookstores.

Check out her Revolutionary Love Project; Dive into her curriculum at SeeNoStranger.com and follow @valariekaur on Twitter.

We will post this episode, a transcript, show notes and more at howtocitizen.com.

ACTION FOR THIS EPISODE, HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO

Take 10-15 minutes to think about the questions below - ideal is to let yourself write down any thoughts that come to mind. It’s not about putting down a single word answer for each. Laying this internal foundation will be important as we start to take actions outward in relationship with others.

Number 1: What is your super power in our fight to make society better for us all? (voice, pen, bank account)

Number 2: What protects you, and who has your back when things get tough? (law degree, social media feed)

Number 3: Who is your beloved community, the group of people you connect with most deeply? (show up with you when things get hard)

Number 4: What object or activity will ground and center you, reminding you who you are?

Number 5: Where do you find joy, and how will you protect your joy every day?

We’d love to hear your reflections to one or all of these questions - email us action@howtocitizen.com. Mention Episode 1 in the subject line.

We love feedback - comments@howtocitizen.com.

Visit Baratunde's website to sign up for his newsletter to learn about upcoming guests and live tapings, and more. Follow him on Instagram or join his Patreon. You can even text him, like right now at 202-894-8844.

How To Citizen with Baratunde is a production of I Heart Radio Podcasts. executive produced by Miles Gray, Nick Stumpf, Elizabeth Stewart, and Baratunde Thurston. Produced by Joelle Smith, edited by Justin Smith. Powered by you.

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