Radical Self-Acceptance as Activism: Guest Curator Olaiya Land Curates Virtual Series for The Seattle Public Library Starting Sept. 29
release date: September 22, 2021
Can meaningful self-care lead to equity, justice and liberation? In a five-part series of virtual events hosted by The Seattle Public Library, guest curator Olaiya Land will explore this question in conversation with authors and activists of diverse backgrounds. The series runs from Wednesday, Sept. 29 to Thursday, Dec. 9 and is titled “Radical Self-Acceptance as Activism.”
“The past year and a half have highlighted how much work is still required to create a just, equitable world,” Land said about the series. “But the extremely high level of burnout we’re experiencing prevents people from carrying out that activism. These conversations will look at why radical self-acceptance is so important, not only so you can show up for yourself, your family and your community, but also as an important form of activism in itself, especially for people who have traditionally been marginalized.”
The series will focus on reclaiming the concepts of self-care and self-acceptance from capitalism and mass marketing and highlight the experiences of marginalized groups as they push back against Western beauty standards, patriarchy and white supremacy and carve out spaces to feel accepted and whole.
EVENT SCHEDULE
- The Laziness Lie with Dr. Devon Price: From 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 29, Land will talk with Dr. Devon Price about their book “Laziness Does Not Exist,” which explores the psychological and historical underpinnings of the “laziness lie.” Filled with practical and accessible advice for overcoming society’s pressure to do more, and featuring interviews with researchers, consultants, and experiences from real people, “Laziness Does Not Exist” “is the book we all need right now.”
- Body Resiliency with Dr. Lindsey Kite: From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 13, Land will talk with Dr. Lindsey Kite about our beauty-obsessed world and how it perpetuates the idea that happiness, health, and our ability to be loved are dependent on how we look. Authors and identical twin sisters Lindsay and Lexie Kite offer an alternative vision. In “More Than a Body,” Kite share an action plan that arms you with the skills you need to reconnect with your whole self and free yourself from the constraints of self-objectification.
- BIPOC Access to Travel and the Outdoors with Amanda Machado: From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 28, writer and facilitator Amanda Machado will explore how race, gender, power and identity affect the way we travel and experience the outdoors. Machado has written for magazines including The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Slate, Harper’s Bazaar, and Outside, and has worked as a social justice editor for Matador Network, the world’s largest independent travel magazine. Check back at spl.org/calendar for event details and a registration link.
- Go On an Anti-Diet with Caroline Dooner: From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 15, the author of “The F*ck It Diet,” Caroline Dooner, will explore the inherent flaws of dieting and diet culture, and ways to heal our physical, emotional, and mental relationship with food. Check back at spl.org/calendar for event details and a registration link.
- The Sensual Self With Ev’Yan Whitney: From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 9, join author Ev’Yan to discuss “The Sensual Self.” For over a decade, Ev’Yan has dedicated themselves to sex education and sexual activism, helping folks reclaim their unique expressions and reconnect to their sensual bodies. This conversation will discuss Ev’Yan’s work on decolonizing, unshaming, and liberating sexuality at the intersection of identity, pleasure, and embodiment. Check back at spl.org/calendar for event details and a registration link.
This series is supported by The Seattle Public Library Foundation and the Gary and Connie Kunis Foundation. Thanks to media sponsor The Seattle Times. This event will be recorded, captioned and then posted on SPL's YouTube channel after the event. Library events are free and everyone is welcome. Registration is required. Events are recorded, captioned and posted to the Library’s YouTube channel after the event. Find out more at www.spl.org/calendar.
ABOUT GUEST CURATOR OLAIYA LAND
Olaiya Land is the founder and editor of Lionesse, an online journal and community promoting connection, confidence, sisterhood and self-love. She is the host of the Lionesse podcast. Land also leads retreats and workshops all over the world that help people feel empowered and connect to their creativity.
PREVIOUS GUEST CURATORS
During the summer of 2021, inaugural guest curator D.A. Navoti curated a series for the Library exploring the idea of growing up. He invited an intergenerational group of local writers to consider the topic and pulled together five events on themes like “Motherhood” and “The Teen Years.” Navoti's completed events are now available online at The Seattle Public Library’s YouTube channel.
MORE INFORMATION
This series is supported by The Seattle Public Library Foundation, with the Seattle Times as a media sponsor.
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