Artwork by @sacree_frangine
Below you can find the petitions, organizations, Black leaders and organizations that I am learning from and supporting. I hope you'll join me in taking the time to read, learn, listen, sign, and donate money where you can.
* Denotes where I have personally invested
SIGN A PETITION
DONATE
Protestor Relief
Community organizations are raising money to support those who have joined the protests in cities across the US. Use this directory to find your city and check their sites and socials for the latest information.
You can also donate to The Bail Project, which is a jail fund that fights racial and economic inequalities in the jail system at a national level.
Police Funding and Accountability
The Black Lives Matter Global Network is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. They are calling to re-appropriate funds from police departments to communities and resources that ensure Black people not only survive, but thrive through their #DefundThePolice petition.*
Campaign Zero was developed with contributions from activists, protesters and researchers across the nation. This data-informed platform presents comprehensive solutions to end police violence in America.
Reclaim the Block organizes Minneapolis community and city council members to move money from the police department into other areas of the city’s budget that truly promote community health and safety.
Political and Legal Action
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans.
Black Visions Collective* is a black, trans, and queer led organization committed to dismantling systems of oppression and violence and shifting the narrative to create transformative, long term change.
LEARN
There are plenty of informative, and thorough places to begin the work of becoming anti-racist. Here are some places to start:
Read
For an anti-racism reading list, please check out this community created list by the Chicago Public Library. Some that I’ve added to my bookshelf include:
If fiction is more your style, here are a couple of other books I’ve read in the past and loved:
If you’re interested in reading these books, I encourage you to check with your local library first and if you wish to purchase, choose a black-owned bookseller. The titles linked in this newsletter will direct you to Mahogany Book, a black-owned book store dedicated to meeting the literary needs of readers in search of books written for, by, or about people of the African Diaspora.
Listen
1619: An audio series on how slavery has transformed America, connecting past and present through the oldest form of storytelling.
Intersectionality Matters: A podcast bringing intersectionality to life. Learn from the Black scholar and activist who coined the term about what intersectionality looks like in practice and how to continue the fight for justice for Black women.
Radical Imagination: A podcast that is not only talking about big issues like inequality, racism, housing insecurity, but meeting the people creating bold, inspiring solutions.
Follow
These are some of the accounts on Instagram I continue to learn from, listen to and be inspired by: @laylafsaad*, @theconsciouskid (an especially good resource for parents), @rachel.cargle*, @aja.barber*, @queerbrownvegan, @wastefreemarie, @mikaelaloach, @greengirlleah, @dominiquedrakeford, @melaninass, @buyfrombipoc, @plantkween.
If you head to any of the accounts above, please don’t forget that it is the responsibility of non-black people to educate themselves—which can be done in part by using the many incredible resources many of them have produced already. If you can, support their work by contributing monthly recurring donations.
Study
There are many courses and workbooks you can take as you begin your work towards becoming anti-racist. Here are two for a start:
- The Great Unlearn: A Patreon page where Rachel Cargles is creating resources and critical discourse to aid in unlearning.
- Me and White Supremacy: Layla Saad offers her readers a 28-Day Challenge to Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor. Her NYT Bestselling book leads readers through a journey of understanding their white privilege and participation in white supremacy, so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on black, indigenous and people of color, and in turn, help other white people do better, too. The book goes beyond the original workbook by adding more historical and cultural contexts, sharing moving stories and anecdotes, and includes expanded definitions, examples, and further resources.
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES
Black-owned businesses are a critical part of our local economies. Supporting them and building community is a cornerstone of sustainable living. If you live in Cincinnati, please check out the Voice of Black Cincinnati for a directory of black-owned businesses you can support. If you live beyond Cincinnati, check out the following resources:
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