"How can we help?"
My brilliant friend Jessica Robinson, the CEO of PurePoint International, put together this incredible resource for us to share with you. Jessica wanted to share resources to help her friends and allies access information so they could learn the history of this country that includes the Black experience. "In many ways, the school system has failed many people by deliberately keeping Black history out of American history."
I hope this time finds you safe, empowered, and encouraged that change is really finally happening.
Angela Davis, American political activist, philosopher, academic, and author said:
“In a racist society, it is not enough to be nonracist. We must be Anti-racist.”
And here is our song about intersectionality to help everyone get it!
The resources provided are a mix of educational tools (books, podcasts, videos, etc.) to learn more about racism and white privilege in the United States, as well as actionable items (places to donate, and petitions to sign).
Where to Donate:
Official GoFundMe to support the Floyd Family.
Support the Black Lives Matter movement and their ongoing fight to end state-sanctioned violence, liberate Black people, and end white supremacy forever.
A black, trans, and queer-led organization that is committed to dismantling systems of oppression and violence, and shifting the public narrative to create transformative long-term change.
Justice for Amaud Arbery Fundraiser. This fundraiser was designed to assist Ahmaud's mother; Ms. Wanda Cooper-Jones and her immediate family with financial support during this extreme difficult time and in their struggle for justice for the murder of Ahmaud Marquez Arbery.
This is a petition, and a fundraiser. Breonna Taylor was an award-winning EMT and model citizen. She loved her family and community. She worked at two hospitals as an essential worker during the pandemic. On March 13th, a division of the Louisville Police Department performed an illegal, unannounced drug raid on her home. Not a single officer announced themselves before ramming down her door and firing 22 shots, shooting Breonna 8 times, killing her.
Resources on Race:
Children/Parents:
Your Kids Aren’t Too Young To Talk About Race
How Do I Make sure I am Mot Raising an Amy Cooper
Workplace:
How to Manage Your Teams in Time of Political Trauma
Maintaining Professionalism in the Age of Black Death
What CEOs and Managers Should be Doing for Black Employees
Policing:
Defund the Police? Here’s What That Rally Means
Anti-Racism Resource Lists, Articles, & Stories:
Anti-Racism Resources for White People - Google Doc
“True Allyship” Article with Tamika D. Mallory
White Superiority and Its Impact on Black Trauma
What I Said When My White Friend Asked for My Black Opinion on White Privilege
Videos / Documentaries / Movies
A limited four-episode series by Ava DuVernay, When They See Us the story of The Exonerated Five, also known as The Central Park Five. It’s based on a 1989 case where five seventh- and eighth-grade students of color from Harlem were falsely accused of a brutal attack of a white woman in Central Park. They all served time for a crime they didn’t commit.
Freedom Riders is a documentary that tells the story of over 400 Black and white Americans who risked their lives to challenge the segregated interstate travel system.
Directed by Ava DuVernay. The documentary 13th analyzes the criminalization of African Americans and the prison boom in the United States. The title is derived from the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as a punishment for a crime.
Podcasts:
Code Switch
Website - Apple Podcasts - Spotify
On NPR’s podcast Code Switch, hosts Shereen Marisol Meraji and Gene Demby discuss how race impacts everything from politics and pop culture to history and sports. A recent episode explored how two Los Angeles-based Capoeira instructors are staying afloat after COVID-19 forced them to close their gym.
1619
Website - Apple Podcasts - Spotify
1619 is a New York Times audio series, hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, that examines the long shadow of American slavery.
Books to Read:
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Barnes & Noble - Amazon - Kindle - Audible
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Barnes & Noble - Amazon - Kindle - Audible
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Barnes & Noble - Amazon - Kindle - Audible
Petitions to Sign:
Justice for George Floyd - Change.org
The officers involved have been fired and the FBI has been called for an independent investigation. We must do our part to ensure that George Floyd receives the justice he deserves. Please sign this petition addressed to the FBI, The President, The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Mayor Jacob Frey, & Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (formerly: DA Mike Freeman). An email on your behalf will be sent to all of the above upon signing.
#JusticeforFloyd - Colorofchange.org
Demand the officers who killed George Floyd are charged with murder.
Demand Racial Data on Coronavirus
In order to protect ourselves and those we love, we need the government to collect and release demographic data on the coronavirus. Also, the CDC must aggregate and release data to provide the Black community with information and resources targeted to our needs.
Buy from Black-Owned Businesses:
https://officialblackwallstreet.com/directory/
Other Actions:
Call your state and US representatives.
Attend local community council meetings.
Engage in the tough conversations with friends and family
How to Check in with your black friends (if you’re white):
The first thing to remember is that this is not about you. Don’t center the narrative around yourself, and don’t defend your own actions or your story. Leave your pride and your ego at the door, and open up your heart to listen and support.
When checking in with your black friends, try to refrain from asking “how are you doing?” That’s an incredibly difficult question to answer right now, and your friends might honestly not know how to respond. Here are some other ways to check in:
Tell your friends how you’ve been feeling first, and how this has been affecting you. Then open the door to ask how they’re feeling. Example: “I’ve been feeling so hurt, and all of this is weighing so heavy on my heart. I’ve been having trouble focusing on work lately. How have you been feeling?”
Ask about something specific like, “what have you been thinking about,” “How has your day been,” “How does it feel to be you right now?”
Offer support without asking questions, and hold space for them. “I love you, and am just checking in because I’ve been thinking about you. I hope you’re doing OK. There’s no need to answer if you don’t feel up to it, but know I’m here for you if you’re struggling or want to talk.”
Be curious. Ask, “what’s helping you cope right now,” or “are there particular resources - books, podcasts, or shows - you’d recommend right now?”
Offer to do an activity together. You can offer to watch a movie together over Zoom, have a vent session over drinks, plan a socially distant picnic in the park, etc. If they say yes, follow up to actually make it happen.
Resources:
These are some of the people, places, and websites I used to compile these resources.
@ellamosco - Where to donate
@revelatori - How to check in with your black friends
@beescolnick - Where to donate and Accounts to Follow
@mireillecharper - Accounts to Follow, How to check in with your black friends