Paper Babies

From our amazing friends up North- introducing: Jeanette and Tina of SpitFire Press.

Our first two volumes focus on white supremacy culture and aim to create practice space where readers can work on undoing white supremacy culture (WSC) within ourselves and identify it in the world around us. Volume 1 focuses on urgency while Volume 2 reflects on denial, defensiveness, and perfectionism.

What we’ve learned from our own practice of unlearning is that it’s easiest to face internalized whiteness when we don’t feel alone, when we can see whiteness as part of a broader systems that purposefully teach us these world views, and that these thoughts and behaviours aren’t personal failings – but that they are our responsibility to unlearn, undo, and dismantle.

Our deepest unlearning has come when we root in vulnerability and friendship, supporting us so we don’t sink into shame or guilt, but rather move toward action and tenaciously trying; whether it be through listening, learning, and self reflection, or practicing solidarity guided by the people most impacted, making art, hosting events, the possibilities are endless and all are needed.

One of our key bits of learning is that mistakes are part of the process. They are the result of learning in action and we can’t avoid them. What matters is that we make amends and keep on trying. So with that in mind, if you see us making mistakes please let us know. We ask that you give us feedback rooted in a collective desire for growth, friendship, and vulnerability and that you give us the grace of allowing us to make mistakes and try again. We will listen and reflect and maybe/likely contend with defensiveness and denial because they are a WSC characteristic we’re unlearning. We’d like to include feedback and lessons we’ve learned in each edition. If you would like to share your experiences please email us at spitfirepress.contact@gmail.com or fill out the contact form here.

Volume 1: Published November 2023: just gettin started but diving right in. Unlearn with us, it’s kind in here.

Volume 2: Published February 2025: the prettier of the paper babies, bigger and juicer too.

Volume 3:  Volume 3 asks the question “What is violence and who defines it?” and is being made in response to a request from Indigenous land defenders for settlers to learn about – and speak honestly about – state violence.

This volume will look at various aspects of state level violence including:

• What is settler colonialism
• What is violence and who defines it
• The history and current function of the RCMP / police
• What are dog whistles
• Power: what is it and how does it work
• And more from people we are inspired by and want to hear their thoughts about kinds of violence

We’re going to start reaching out to contributors soon. If you know of someone who we should consider working with please email us at spitfirepress.contact@gmail.com or fill out the contact form here.

Jeanette works and takes care of her beloved partner who has a disability and Tina is taking care of our newest family member baby B, so our timeline on getting volume 3 done is unknown. We’re taking things one step at a time. If there is a lot of interest in Volumes 1 + 2, and folks ask for Volume 3, we’ll follow the energy. If you like our work and want to see a third edition let us know.

(un)learning at the intersections of friendship and vulnerability