Resources
A compilation of resources for learning about anti-racism & supporting the #BlackLivesMatter movement, both now and in the future.
The time is now to act.
Donate.
The best way to support is to open your pockets & donate to the cause. Below are links a number of different organizations you can donate to and descriptions of what they do.
This is a far from comprehensive compilation of places to donate, and it is highly encouraged that you make your donations recurring!
Black Lives Matter works to eradicate white supremacy and build local power in Black communities.
These links will help you find bail funds for protestors by U.S. state, to help get protestors out of jail. Note that not all states have cash bail & Community Justice Exchange additionally links to pre-trial and immigration resources.
Color of Change leads campaigns that build real power for Black communities such as holding leaders accountable, commissioning research, & advancing solutions.
The Marsha P. Johnson Institute protects & defends the rights of Black transgender people through advocacy, community building, & organizing.
The NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund uses litigation, advocacy, and public education to fight for racial justice.
Reclaim the Block works in Minneapolis to advocate to move money from the police department into areas that truly promote community health and safety.
Black Visions Collective shapes a political home for Black people in Minnesota to lead powerful campaigns.
This thread describes various mutual aid funds in which the money is directly distributed to protestors and people in need. A lot of bail funds currently are very well funded, and this will allow you to help directly before someone gets arrested.
This is just a few links to an individual fundraiser for those/families that have been hurt by police brutality. Many more individuals have been hurt by the police's actions. Seek them out.
Please note that the Minnesota Freedom Fund & North Star Health Collective has had a huge influx of donations recently, and ask that donations be directed to other organizations.
Can't Afford to Donate? Try This.
There are numerous ways to contribute monetarily to the cause if you aren't financially able or don't have access to online forms of money. Here are some examples.
Watch videos that have ad revenue which will be donated. Here's one example and another and another. Check the comments for ways to maximize the revenue.Have a skill? Art commissions or essay critiques or personalized poems can be great incentives. Consider offering your services to those who donate.
Sign Petitions & Contact Officials.
Political change is absolutely necessary to defund the police, end police-brutality, and make widespread change. Below are just a few petitions you can sign to make your voice heard.
Also, don't forget to register to vote or pre-register if you're a U.S. resident of age. Info here.
Please note that it is not encouraged to donate to change.org after signing, but rather look for a specific donation link for the cause.
GENERAL PETITIONS
Classify White Supremacist Groups as Domestic Terrorist Organizations directed to the National Counterterrorism Center.Ban or Restrict Tear Gas to encourage officials to ban the use of tear gas on citizens.Mandate Racial Bias Test directed to Minnesota officials. (Although, please note that this will not solve the deep systemic issues that are present in the Minnesota police force & other police departments.)Additionally, please check in with your local community to identify the best way to advocate for defunding of the police in your area.
INDIVIDUAL PETITIONS
Justice for George Floyd asking Mayor Jacob Frey & DA Michael O. Freeman to bring charges against all the officers involved.Justice for Breonna Taylor asking multiple officials for charges against the officers involved, damages paid to Breonna's family, & more.Justice for Ahmaud Arbery to express concern to DA Tom Durden.
CONTACTING YOUR OFFICIALS
Get involved locally! Find your federal, state, & local officials & call or email them. Here's an easy path to identifying them.
Just a few things to consider writing about:
defunding the police in your area & diverting the money to more important social programsbanning the use of rubber bullets, tear gas, & other weaponryracial injustices that have occurred in your community or area (there is most definitely at least one)
#BIRTHDAY FOR BREONNA
This link summarizes the information far better than I can, so please read up on the best ways to support Breonna Taylor for her birthday (and after)!
There are great resources on what officials to contact & ways you can get in touch about her murder.
CONTACTING MN OFFICIALS
To reach out to DA Michael O. Freeman about the four officers charged in George Floyd's murder: [email protected] To contact the Minneapolis Police Department to express your disapproval: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]To reach out to Minnesota Senators to express concern & disapproval. To reach out to Minnesota House Members to express concern & disapproval.
On Protesting.
Protesting in person is a very powerful action if you are able--although remember to stay safe & wear a mask! Below are a few resources for anyone protesting or sharing protests.
SHARING PROTESTS
Do not share photos where protestors' faces or something easily identifiable to an individual is exposed. This can lead to harm to the protestors.Blurring faces is not always enough. It is recommended to use a black square if possible (ironic) and remove metadata. Here is an image scrubbing tool that blurs & removes metadata.
GOING TO PROTESTS
There are many resources for protestors, such as this, but here are a few tips.
Disable touch and face ID & only use a long password. Find a VPN. Turn off your location services.Remove personal information or you and your family from social media. Write down bail & lawyer numbers on yourself for if you get arrested.Do not RSVP. Check that your protest is legitimate and not staged by white supremacists or other groups intending to hurt protestors. Check curfew times & try and find armband colors of the undercover cops in your area. Avoid those in Hawiian patterned shirts as they are likely white supremacists.Do not wear identifiable clothing. Do not wear contacts or oily substances on your face (i.e. lotion or makeup), as this can react badly to tear gas. Please wear a mask!Bring water, cash, snacks. Consider leaving electronics and cards at home. Consider bringing water+baking soda for tear gas.If you are non-Black, do not participate in violence or looting. This is not your place at a protest & can reflect badly & induce harm Black protestors.Non-Black people should instead put their bodies between Black protestors and the police.Avoid bridges while protesting.
Confronting Friends & Family.
Coming soon with non-English language resources!
Analyzing Anti-Blackness in Our Daily Lives.
Anti-Blackness is very common in a lot of daily interactions. Here are a few common microaggressions non-Black people can reflect on & think more about, but this is far from comprehensive.
Capitalization of "Black." If you are non-Black, always capitalize "Black" when referring to the group of people (and don't capitalize "white"). There are many resources you can reference to why this subtle change is important. Consider bringing this up to your local news sources & places with editorial standards as a new norm.Using African-American Vernacular English (AAVE). There are a lot of words that are written off as "Internet slang" that actually originated from Black or queer & Black communities. Consider the origins of the "slang" you're using. Do some research into "it be like that" (has AAVE grammar patterns) and "ratchet" and "ghetto" and bougie and a lot of other words (more examples). Think about the origins in AAVE, and how many Black people have been discriminated against for the way they speak, despite it being completely valid and a very complex grammatical system. Do research on the origins of the "slang" you use. Digital Blackface. Think about what reaction memes, GIFs, and other images we use online--as well as our language. Is this really 'diversity' or just performative? Are we performing Black identity by predominantly using images of Black people in reactions? Here's a great article from Teen Vogue.
Ultimately, this is a small list in comparison to the microaggressions Black people experience daily. We must continue listening and educating ourselves about these topics to decolonize the way we think.
Your Reading List.
One way to continue to educate ourselves is by reading more non-fiction by Black authors. First, here's a really interesting article about anti-racist reading lists and how one interacts with them.
And below are just a few suggestions, although this is nowhere near all of them.
Text
ANTI-RACISM
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-LodgeHow to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. KendiSo You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
HISTORY
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi (Audiobook available free on Spotify here!)
VARIOUS TOPICS
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
Check out this and this for more recommendations!
Where to get these books? Well, consider purchasing from Black-owned indie bookstores. Here's a Twitter thread of great recommendations.
Bonus! Fiction Recommendations.
Coming soon!
Again, consider purchasing from Black-owned indie bookstores. Here's a Twitter thread of great recommendations.