The power of us

摘要

Though we've called it the "Change" issue, this edition of the magazine is really about two things: reflection and empowerment. For far too many of us, the pandemic has been a study in feeling powerless, and we've had little time to reflect as we focus on keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe, employed, and as mentally sound as possible. We've been forced to cope almost constantly with the twisting, morphing uncertainties that life has thrown at us.And yet in this unprecedented environment incredible stories of hope and empowerment have emerged. We see people finding ways to respond to suffering and injustice with positive change. Take the stories Abby Ohlheiser has collected (page 9), including those of Carlisa Johnson, who turned a Google Doc into a nexus of power for the Black Lives Matter movement, and Fiona Lowenstein, who nurtured an online community of thousands into a place where those suffering from covid-19 can get vital information. Sarah Jaffe writes (page 74) that a failed vote to unionize Amazon workers at a facility in Alabama may be discouraging, but around the US, workers in the increasingly expansive tech sector are waking up to their power to organize, and to demand dignity.