Advocates Lives Matter –
June 15, 2020 – I’ve been a sober woman and outspoken recovery advocate since I quit drinking in 2015. Though I’m Mexican, Jewish, and bisexual, the world sees me as a straight, white woman and I acknowledge my vast amount of privilege in that. I also acknowledge that my life could have taken a very different route if I had a more traditional Mexican last name due to the historic, systemic racism of the United States. A significant part of my recovery is waking up to the injustices of the world — the injustices that I couldn’t see or didn’t care to see, when active in my substance abuse.
The best way to wake up is to start with ourselves — to bring in other perspectives and consume diverse content. It’s hard to stay in our comfortable echo chambers when we actively seek out and learn about different life experiences.
Representation is also important. Addiction does not discriminate, and yet, recovery spaces — social media spaces included — are overwhelmingly white. It’s important for Black folks and other POC to see themselves in recovery and be represented in the recovery movement. Below, we’ve highlighted a handful of Black recovery advocates and pages to check out.
