By: Christine Platt
IMU Rated: Life-Changing
We have too much. Deep down inside us, on some conscious or unconscious level, we know this is a true statement. Some of us, like author and the Afrominimalist herself, Christine Platt, want to help change our behavior. Living in the capitalistic society of the U.S.A. means living under a constant and persistent barrage of advertisements to buy stuff. Not out of need but simply for the sake of economic growth and greed.
Don’t worry, this isn’t one of those preachy blogs where I harp on how we need to change our lives. I’m just letting you know, if you are concerned about how your overconsumption is impacting the environment, have an interest in the minimalist lifestyle or you are African American, you need to get this book. The principles of minimalism are simple. However, as Christine points out, healing from the behaviors that cause us to limitlessly consume is not.
I’ve started my minimalist journey and it’s been going fine. I can hear tips from the book ringing in the back of my mind, pushing me forward. She was right, some of the purging would be easy but other things would cause me emotional distress. She talked about our attachment to the things we buy our kids. I struggled with this while helping my youngest son, just barely a teenager, purge some old toys. When he was younger, he was Sonic, literally. He stopped answering to anything but Sonic for a time. His obsession and our desire to make him happy led to him having enormous amounts of Sonic the Hedgehog action figures, plush dolls, blankets, movies, games, etc.
One year for my birthday, he gifted me his precious Tails doll. I hate stuffed animals, but that Tails doll has sat on my dresser for at least 8 years at this point. My son has kept the Sonic doll for all this time as well. So now we have come to the great purge of 2022, and my heart breaks when my son puts his Sonic doll in the trash bag. I began questioning him, “You don’t want to keep your Sonic doll. I thought you loved Sonic.”
Then I remembered the words of The Afrominimalist, and I pulled myself together. She cautioned about looking at the items your children decide to throw or give away. She warned it would be difficult. She was right and had she not shared her story I would have been truly depressed. In my mind, I know him throwing away the Sonic doll was not him throwing away our friendship and I moved aside to let him decide what things he loves and wants to keep now. I still have the Tails doll. I love being his Tails because even if he’s no longer my Sonic, I’ll always be his best friend.
My favorite part of this book is the research on the pathology of black ownership and consumerism. You gain a sense of the impact of slavery, racism, cultural expectations and capitalism on our buying behaviors. We can’t grow if we don’t heal first. Christine writes, “This is one of the benefits of approaching minimalism through self-discovery: learning to find value not in what you have but, instead, in who you are.” Overall, I highly recommend this book. I feel there is something in it for everyone, even if you are not interested in minimalism.
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