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From serving as a passionate advocate for policy reform to using the power of storytelling as a tool for social change, everything author and activist Christine Platt does is a reflection of her vision for intentional living. Also known as the Afrominimalist, Christine has worked at the intersection of racial, social, and environmental justice since 2005, and her literature is focused on African diasporic experiences and teaching people of all ages about race, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Her book, The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less, challenges the barren, white-on-white aesthetics of mainstream minimalism and offers a brighter and more richly textured alternative to living with less; one that celebrates the importance of heritage. Today, we discuss the role that the psychology of ownership plays in our attachment to things, why Christine felt the need to highlight BIPOC experiences in her book, and how scarcity, race, and cultural expectations inform our choices. Christine also offers insight into her four-step process for acknowledging that we have more than we need, identifying the things we “need, use, and love,” and getting rid of the rest responsibly.
This conversation is a testament to the idea that anyone can be a minimalist and an invitation to make space for the things that truly matter and liberate yourself from the narratives that no longer serve you. To find out why Christine believes that “less is liberation” and minimalism is the gateway to living with intention, be sure to tune in today!
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Key Points From This Episode:
• The interwoven stories that led Christine to the work she does today. [0:01:17]
• Insight into her maximalist-to-minimalist journey and what it means to “live with less.” [0:06:25]
• Four steps to become a minimalist and make space for the things that really matter. [0:13:03]
• Why Christine felt called to reclaim her narrative and highlight BIPOC experiences. [0:17:06]
• Reasons that conspicuous consumption is more complicated than it seems. [0:19:53]
• Why Christine believes that the true battleground for liberation is less about what we have and more about who we are. [0:28:55]
• Life experiences and influential people that have brought her to where she is today. [0:32:15]
• The power of understanding the value of your time and overcoming time optimism. [0:35:48]
• What’s next for Christine, and how you can support her work. [0:38:50]
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Quotes:
“People challenge minimalism all the time: it’s seen as elitist. It’s seen as very white, literally and figuratively. People had challenged it, but no one had shown an alternative that was open and accessible to everyone.” — Christine Platt [0:11:30]
“There are pages in The Afrominimalist’s Guide that speak specifically to BIPOC experiences because that was and continues to be [a perspective] that is left out of a lot of wellness and lifestyle work.” — Christine Platt [0:18:23]
“All of these stories and narratives that we have to identify and dismantle for ourselves are a lot [more weighted] in BIPOC communities. We don’t come from spaces where ‘letting go’ or throwing out something that is totally useable and functional is a way of life.” — Christine Platt [0:22:40]
“[BIPOC experiences] are intricately intertwined with so many different narratives. When we talk about intersections, that’s what we mean. It’s so layered and complex. It isn’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all. It most certainly doesn’t fit into the mainstream minimalism narrative.” — Christine Platt [0:25:53]
“The true battleground for our liberation is not with the things that we have or what we do. It is rooted in learning how to organize and prioritize ourselves. Is less [about] the stuff and more [about] us.” — Christine Platt [0:30:16]
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Christine Platt — https://www.christineplatt.com/
The Afrominimalist — https://www.afrominimalist.com/
Christine Platt on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/iamchristineplatt/
Christine Platt on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-platt-ma-jd-a94b212a/
The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less — https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-afrominimalist-s-guide-to-living-with-less-christine-platt/17554591
‘You Can Be a Minimalist. Yes, You!’ (TEDx) — https://www.ted.com/talks/christine_platt_you_can_be_a_minimalist_yes_you
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) — https://nanowrimo.org/
Habitat for Humanity ReStore – https://www.habitat.org/restores
Baldwin for the Arts — https://baldwinforthearts.org/
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