In August, Sharon’s Anti-Racism Newsletter will have its fifth birthday, and I’ve already started reflecting:
What does almost 5 years of a newsletter LOOK like?
Here are some numbers:
Content: 280+ personal essays and 68 podcast episodes sharing experiences of racism and hot takes on the news.
Platforming others: 600+ personally curated articles by other writers shared via reading lists and 96 people lifted up via interviews.
Impact: thousands of conversations in homes and workplaces about the experiences and content I’ve shared.
Reach: 5700+ people reading.
Finance: 220 or so people supporting my work – thank you!
Prep time: 16 hours per month on writing and scheduling and more on sharing and responding to comments.
Emotional labour: endless over the years.
What does almost 5 years of a newsletter FEEL like?
Satisfaction when a reader gets an insight from my content.
Joy when I’m able to give someone a boost through an interview, a published article, or inclusion in a reading list edition.
Pain, when I get a nasty comment from someone trying to undermine me.
Weariness when I realise that the maths still isn’t mathing and newsletter income isn’t yet enough to live on. (It’s not too late to lend your support – there’s a link in my profile.)
Determination to keep going because of the impact I know I’m making, for those who share my identity, for others facing oppression and for those wanting to learn and do better.
The work isn’t always easy but it remains necessary.
My next step: using the content in the newsletter to create learning journeys to support those ready to engage more deeply. This will be a great for ERGs, L&D folx, educational programmes and more. If you know someone who’s a good fit, please send them my way.