Not looking back

I was sick of being shielded. I wanted to shed my privilege like a molted exoskeleton.

For five months, I had allowed myself to be insulated in a bubble of wealthy, college-educated liberals. In this bubble, it was fashionable to pay lip service to social justice. We talked endlessly about giving voice to women on the margins and empowering them to find solutions. But when put to the test, we didn't recognize injustice on our doorstep. Hell, we didn't recognize it in ourselves.

I wanted out. I wanted air. I wanted to rub shoulders with humanity in all its shame and glory. I came to this city to serve peace and justice with my hands and my heart. I devoted this year to burning down the walls between my work and the world's suffering, not erecting new ones.

So I quit my job. I'm unemployed and starting fresh.