Are you community-taught?
In this day and age, many people label themselves as “self-taught.”
self-taught (adjective) - having acquired knowledge or skill on one’s own initiative rather than through formal instruction or training.
Definition from Marriam-Webster
There is no doubt that there are many alternatives to traditional education.
However, when a person labels themselves as “self-taught” they are discrediting the work of those who have paved the way for them. It is a term that feels a bit egotistical, and ultimately, just isn’t accurate.
Our predecessors have spent countless hours on research, writing, and producing materials — all to make them accessible to their communities. To discount their work would be a calamity.
I can’t count how many times I’ve relied on tutorials, documentation, films or a Medium article to teach me about a certain topic. There is a lot of hard work that goes into these resources, and quite honestly, we’d be lost without them.
We are not alone in our journies. I challenge everyone to begin incorporating community-taught into their vocabulary as a way to acknowledge and thank those that came before us.
Okay, okay. Enough lecturing.
What have you learned from your community?
Works
How Might We T-Shirt by A Color Bright
Last week at A Color Bright we released a t-shirt for our fellow design-thinkers. A unisex softstyle t-shirt in post-it yellow with ‘How Might We’ printed on the left chest. It is available in sizes small to extra-large. Buy it now.
Sounds
Continuing my deep house playlist series, I’ve started building up a Gospel House collection. It’s exactly as good as it sounds. The tracks sample sermons, classic gospel records, and are filled with joy.
Quote
If I do not bring all of who I am to whatever I do, then I bring nothing, or nothing of lasting worth, for I have withheld my essence.
― Audre Lorde, I Am Your Sister
That’s all for now.
As always, feel free to reply ↩ to this email or send me a tweet with your thoughts or feedback.