Black Lives Matter.

Last week I did what basically every other Instagram user did and posted a black square. I’m going to be honest, I struggled with whether or not to do it. What is effective or performative? I don’t really have an answer for the entire #blackoutTuesday movement, but for me, I refuse to let it be performative. So before I return to posting my own content, I wanted to explicitly state my heart and my commitment for my platform moving forward.

First. Black Lives Matter. Full stop.

If you have been around awhile, you know how much my faith affects what I do here. And it is a core belief of my faith that we are ALL created in the image of God. When the Black community is oppressed, the image of God is oppressed and that is sin. When we ignore the humanity and dignity of others, that is sin. I am committed to repenting of my racial biases and any racism that is in my head or heart, educating myself, and raising my children to be anti-racist. In the name of Jesus, I am committed to loving my Black and Brown neighbors well.

Second. My Hopes for Salt+Rye.

There are some things that I have always felt about my blog and platform, but never explicitly said. I can’t assume that you know these things about me, so I’m going to lay it all out there.

1. My slogan for this site has been “simple + delicious for every table”. I am very aware that not “every table” looks like my table. It has always been a dream of mine to grow my platform to the point that I have the opportunity to share what other’s tables look like. Not my version of their tables, but their literal tables. I want to share how other families set their tables and feed their people. I’m not totally clear on what that will look like, but I am excited to get there. Maybe I’ll even change the slogan.
2. I try to be mindful of not appropriating other culture’s food and I realize that when I am recreating a meal with flavors from other cuisines, it does not make it Chinese, Thai, Mexican, etc. but a white person’s take on that food. While I want to incorporate flavors and techniques from other cultures, I will be careful not to claim them as my own or disrespect their origins.

Third. Commitments to Change.

I realize that I have room to grow in the area of anti-racism, both personally and on this site. Here are some steps I commit to taking:

1. Upon investigation, my Instagram feed was embarrassingly white. I will diversify my feed.
2. I don’t often share other bloggers’ work, but when I do it tends to be bloggers who look like me and cook like me. I will share more content created by BIPOC.
3. I commit to moving forward with humility. If, or rather when, I make a mistake I will learn and repent. I will make the changes necessary to no longer inflict harm.
4. It is my privilege that allows me to stay home with my kids, cook, and share recipes on the internet. I know that much of that privilege is comes from my whiteness. I commit to recognize my privilege and use it for the good of those around my table (both my literal table and my online table) and the Glory of God.