The Justice Walk Newsletter - September 2024

Leadership support rooted in equity and justice

A momma terrapin, having just laid her eggs, covers up the hole she dug. 

Photo credit: Me

Who is the turtle?

Folks, I am not a turtle. 

Earlier this summer a turtle was in the road, crossing from a marsh to the forest. Was it confused? Why was it crossing the road? I stopped, made sure there were no cars coming, and put that turtle back near the edge of the marsh, where turtles belong. 

(I will pause for you to shake your head in appreciation for what a good, turtle-saving person I am)

Later that night I was googling about turtles in the road. Every site said the same thing:  “Always be sure to take the turtle to the side of the road it was headed for. It knows where it is going and why.”Oops! 

It turns out that I am not a turtle.

I learned that it was egg-laying time for female turtles. They head out of the marsh to lay and bury their eggs on dry land. That turtle wanted - needed - to get to the forest. When I took her back to the marsh I forced her to retrace her steps, causing her to use energy that she needed for burying her eggs deeply and securely enough to keep predators away.  

I acted upon that turtle based on my confidence that I was a “good helper” who knew better than the turtle what that turtle needed.Those of us who are white are often socialized into the “white savior” mentality. We are told we always know best and that there is not only no need to ask the turtle what it needs, but that we should disregard whatever the turtle might tell us about its needs because “it’s just a turtle.”This “savior” socialization happens across dominant culture groups - men, cisgendered folks, able-bodied/minded folks, hetero folks, documented folks, wealthy folks, etc. 

In reality, the turtle was the only, best expert on what turtles experience and need. Can folks with different, academic experience (i.e. environmental scientists, biologists, veterinarians) serve as turtle allies? Sure.Those folks can provide context and knowledge about things the turtle does not know that impacts them. However, they must remember that their second-hand knowledge can only enhance the turtle’s expertise, not replace it.  

I also fell into the trap of individualism. I felt that I alone stood between this turtle and its being crushed.  It never crossed my mind to trust that I could help her get to the forest side of the road and then, when she was ready to cross back to the marsh side, another person would stop to help her.   

In both of the above ways I centered myself, not the turtle.  

The turtle knows best.I am not a turtle. 

I KNOW how important it is to recognize what we do know and what we don’t know and to not assume our academic knowledge and other privileges make us better suited to know “what’s right” to address situations we’ve never lived through. Part of my job is consulting and coaching with folks about how to center the needs of directly impacted people in their work.What does that look like? Its organizations that work with youth having those youth on their boards and staff; those who want to increase housing stock having folks who have experienced homelessness on their boards and staff; legal system policy organizations having formerly incarcerated folks on their staff and boards, etc..

I forgot. I screwed up.Not because I’m a horrible person.Because our socialization and training to assume we know best is deep. When I learned I’d done the wrong thing I recognized my mistake. I realized why I’d screwed up. I committed to doing better.Ten days later, driving near a different marsh, there were two turtles in the road in front of me. I took them both to the side of the road they were headed for. 

Already, I have internalized this question: “Who is the turtle?” When I am In situations and conversations, I pause before I assert my strong opinions or position.  If I am directly-impacted by the issue, perhaps during a conversation about the needs of perimenopausal women in the workforce, I can say with confidence, “I am the turtle!” It’s appropriate for me to ensure my needs and experiences are heard.  

More often, though, I am not the directly-impacted person. Perhaps I’m invited into a conversation about the needs of Black, formerly-incarcerated women. In that case, I need to hold back, listen to, and when appropriate, amplify the voices of those who do know best.  

I should ask, “Who’s the turtle? Am I the turtle?” When I’m not, I’ve got to look at where the turtle is headed and question my assumptions. Because the turtle knows best where it’s going, what it wants, why it wants to cross the road, and what it needs. How about you?When are you the turtle?Who are the turtles you need to listen to?

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