"Don't You Get Angry?" - SARN Minis #8

Hello friends, in this episode I talk about anger. Ironically, since I recorded this, there’s been an incident that has caused me to feel more anger. If you’ve been paying attention, you probably spotted me talking about it in the newsletter earlier this week.

Podcast audio is temporarily broken after my move to beehiiv (because of this issue). Please bear with me as I get it up and running again. In the meantime, please enjoy this episode transcript.

Don't You Get Angry?" - SARN Minis #8 Transcript

Hi, and welcome to Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter, The Mini Podcast. I'm Sharon Hurley Hall, and I'm glad you're here with me.

So today I want to talk a little bit about anger. A lot of people ask me how I can write the articles and the posts that I do, run courses about racism and anti racism, and talk about racism, without feeling angry. They don't understand how I can smile and even laugh at some of the most egregious offenses.

And the truth is that I do get angry at the injustice of it all. But I also have the long term view in mind. And, you know, I also bear in mind that there are a lot of us fighting this fight, and we all have our different voices and approaches. For every Malcolm, there is a Martin - both angry, but showing it in different ways.

I believe that people have to be true to themselves. I have never been a ranter. Though, of course, I have ranted. My voice has always been more measured. Depending on what you believe, that's either my personality, or my star sign, or both. I also come from a journalism background where the message is more important than inserting my own feelings into it. I write as I've been trained to write. basically.

Despite that, I'm sure that people can tell when I'm particularly upset or passionate about an incident or event. There'll be that one phrase that makes the point and people can usually pick that one out. I channel my feelings about the issues I cover about racism, about discrimination, into my writing, and into the events that I take part in and speak at.

And I hope that by doing so, more people will understand how it feels to walk in this skin, how people who are affected by racism and discrimination feel. And I also hope that they will be moved to do something about it, to stop it from happening where they are, to interrupt racism, to act as allies and take action.

To me, that long term goal is more important than a short term rant. And so, yes, I get angry. But I put it into my writing. And I hope that as you read it, and as others read it, you will be moved to do something to get us all closer to the goal of ending racism.

Thank you so much for listening, and I'll catch you on the next episode.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2022. All Rights Reserved.

I am an anti-racism writer, a professional B2B writer and blogger, and co-host of The Introvert Sisters podcast.