Anti-Racism: Activism Resources, Education, and Stories.
This coronavirus pandemic may have snuck up on us to explode into the largest public health crisis in our lives, but there is another deadly, silenced pandemic that has existed since the start of American history that very much lives on and we are living in a time where it is more evident than ever— yet, not as addressed as it needs to be on a higher level. As many on social media have been saying, racism is not new— it’s just now being recorded on video, giving millions of people the ability to see what has been happening all over our country all along; the lives lost, the unjust treatment endured, the painful evidence of privilege affecting an outcome of life vs. death.
If you’re seeing these videos and are aghast in novelty in the sense that this feels unimaginable, that is your privilege ringing a bell. Black men and women everywhere GROW UP being told by their parents how to live, behave, dress, and act in a manner to help keep them safe from what is an unjustly common experience in their lives— yet, these murders and inhumane treatment caught on video are often shocking to those who haven’t walked in their shoes. It is important to consider this when being introspective of how all of this tragedy makes you feel, and what your emotional reactions are to this. You don’t need to judge yourself for feeling helpless, sad, or guilty— but you are responsible for being curious and willing to learn— and for recognizing that feeling guilt for your privilege is quite normal.
We are past the point where it’s acceptable for people with platforms to bypass this very real issue by not mentioning it altogether, or worse, posting a simple repost (usually from a POC’s account) with a “💔” and zero pointing to action items, resources, or reflection. Of course it’s uncomfortable and effortful to do the WORK— work being: educating yourself on systematic racism with buying and searching for already-existing resources made by Black creatives (and not lazily just asking more friends that are POC to educate you, as you’re doubling their burden), to examine how you might be unaware of how you might be participating in the perpetuation of a broken system and societal dynamics that either further or preserve racism, and to learn and then act on how to not only be not racist but ANTI-racist.
I, too, am saddened and furious. And we need to see change in our lifetime. I’m also still learning— while I may be a POC, my experience in this country is not like those of Black or Brown Americans. My “model minority” status gives me some privileges and I also grew up with the narrative of staying complacent for safety (similar to many immigrants children). It was only during this pandemic did I see a sliver of the experience of walking around my home city, being viewed as a “threat” by some— yet this is the experience for too many POC on a daily basis for as long as they have lived here.
And I sincerely hope we all pursue learning and doing everything we can with whatever level of privilege each of us have and not let this pursuit wane when the initial rage / pain wears off.
Below, I’ve put together the most helpful information I’ve found on how you can support organizations working to fight against this injustice and for equality, education on white privilege, resources for unlearning + learning, and more sources of perspective to fill our brains with.
I sincerely hope we all pursue learning and doing everything we can with whatever level of privilege each of us have and not let this pursuit wane when the initial rage / pain wears off.
Organizations Fighting for Justice to Donate to
Campaign Zero— Fighting police brutality through policy reform.
Color of Change— The largest online racial justice organization that challenges injustice, holds corporate and political leaders accountable, commissions research on systems of inequality, and advances solutions for racial justice.
NAACP— Legal fund for civil rights and racial injustice.
SPLC— Law center that seeks justice for hate and bigotry.
Equal Justice Initiative— An organization committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
Gathering for Justice— Movement to end child incarceration and working to eliminate racial inequalities that permeate the justice system.
Innocence Project— They exonerate the innocent through DNA testing and reform the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.
Black Visions Collective— A Black-led, Queer and Trans centering organization whose mission is to organize powerful, connected Black communities and dismantle systems of violence.
Reclaim the Block— Petitioning for Minneapolis to move money from the police force to invest in real safety solutions like violence prevention, housing, responses to mental health and opioid crises, and protections for workers.
Minnesota Freedom Fund— Nonprofit that fights harms of incarceration and providing bail payments for low-income. individuals.
The Loveland Foundation— Founded by Rachel Cargle, this foundation raises money to support access to therapy for communities of color, with a focus on Black women and girls.
Specific Fundraisers for Justice to Donate to / Petitions to Sign
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund— supporting George Floyd’s family for the wrongful murder at the hands of the Minnesota police.
I Run with Maud— supporting Ahmaud Arbery’s family for the murder of Ahmaud at the hands of two white men while Ahmaud was simply out for a run.
Justice for Breonna Taylor— a petition that still needs 35k more signatures to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, who was killed during an illegal, unannounced drug raid IN HER HOME.
Lists of Resources / Posts to Read on Recent Events
20+ Allyship Actions for Asians to Show Up for the Black Community Right Now
31 Children's books to Support Conversations on Race, Resistance, and Racism
Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners— Black authors of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values
White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh
Resources for White People to Learn and Talk About Race and Racism
Why sharing these videos of violence against Black people can provoke Secondary PTSD for POC
Amandla Stenberg’s Critical Thoughts on Privilege (and I recommend reading the comments too)
Jen Winston’s “8 Lessons About Racism that were helpful to Me as a White Person.”
The Coronavirus Was an Emergency Until Trump Found Out Who Was Dying
If Someone Doesn’t Understand Privilege, Show Them This Video
Tarana Burke’s personal share on everyday examples of how Black men experience this world
Books to Educate Yourself
*all books here are linked using affiliate links— all small commissions I receive from any book purchases made, I will directly donate to one of the organizations listed earlier of my choosing *
White Fragility— Robin DiAngelo
I’m Still Here— Austin Channing Brown
When They Call You a Terrorist— Patrisse Khan-Cullors
An African American and Latinx History of the United States— Paul Ortiz
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States— Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Citizen— Claudia Rankine
The Bluest Eye— Toni Morrison
Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out— Ruth King
Just Mercy— Bryan Stevenson
Tears We Cannot Stop— Michael Eric Dyson
The Fire This Time— Jesmyn Ward
How Does it Feel to be a Problem?—Moustafa Bayoumi
Sister Outsider— Audra Lorde
Between the World and Me— Ta-Nehisi Coates
How to Be Anti-Racist— Ibram X. Kendi
So You Want to Talk About Race— Ijeoma Oluo
Me and White Supremacy— Layla F. Saad
Multiplication is for White People— Lisa Delpit
Blind Spot: Hidden Biases of Good People— Mahzarin R. Banaji
Good Talk— Mira Jacob
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race— Reni Eddo-Lodge
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness— Michelle Alexander
America’s Original Sin— Jim Wallace
The Hate U Give— Angie Thomas
Minor Feelings— Cathy Park Hong
The Fire Next Time— James Baldwin
Stamped from the Beginning— Ibram X. Kendi
Stamped— Ibram X. Kendi + Jason Reynolds
The Color of Law— James McBride
Have Black Lives Ever Mattered?— Mumia Abu-Jamal
The Warmth of Other Suns— Isabel Wilkerson
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?— Beverly Daniel Tatum
This Book is Anti-Racist— Tiffany Jewell
Waking Up White— Debby Irving
My Grandmother’s Hands— Resmaa Menakem
The Next American Revolution: Activism for the 21st Century— Grace Lee Boggs
Films / Shows to Watch to Better Understand Racism
13th— Ava Duvernay
When They See Us— Ava Duvernay
Selma— Ava Duvernay
If Beale Street Could Talk— Barry Jenkins
12 Years a Slave— Steve McQueen
American Violet— Tim Disney
Blood Done Sign My Name— Jeb Stuart
Fruitvale Station— Ryan Coogler
The Hate U Give— George Tillman Jr.
American Son— Kenny Leon
Dear White People— Justin Simien
Mississippi Burning— Alan Parker
Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975
Clemency— Chinonye Chukwu
I am Not Your Negro— James Baldwin
Just Mercy— Destin Daniel Gretton
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
King in the Wilderness— HBO Documentary
See You Yesterday— Stefon Bristol
Podcasts / Videos to Subscribe to / Listen
1619— NYT
About Race— Reni Eddo Lodge
Code Switch— NPR
Momentum— Race Forward
Raising Free People— Akilah S. Richards
Ted Talks to Help You Understand Racism in America