to be human and real

dear angela,

going to see lisbet's exhibit of your life at the glbt museum in san francisco with my class on sunday was a brilliant experience. to me, it's so interesting how your ideas were so radical, yet you are inexplicably ingrained in the fabric of pop-culture. 

to me, the most interesting thing about you that lisbet told us about was the fact that you prioritized your health and made sure you had a support system and network. in my head, you were always superhuman in a sense because you seemed so strong and resilient in the face of painful trauma and obstacles that seemed impossible to navigate. but talking to lisbet made me realize that you were a 'long-distance runner' because you developed sustainable methods of self-care and a support network that grounded you and supported you. 

lisbet also mentioned that you never wanted the movement to be about you. she also said that it was jarring in a sense and dehumanizing when people wore your face on t-shirts, etc... but that you understood that you were a powerful symbol to the people and were willing to come to terms with that even though it frustrated you. i have a sticker of you on my water bottle and i think i'm going to take it off especially in light of what lisbet said. 

going to the exhibit has changed the way i view you and has made you much more human in a way. also, the dinner (and cookies!) we had afterward were simply delightful, so in many ways i am a much happier human after getting to see your exhibit. 

faatimah