BLM

Anti-Racist Steps You Can Take Immediately

Today’s post will be a little different than usual. I’m going to highlight some resources by people of color that will provide us all with some direction in the midst of these crucial protests to save Black lives. I encourage you to join the Facebook group Unlearning Racism (may be archived temporarily to give the BIPOC moderators a break) as your first step.

Ijeoma Oluo @IjeomaOluo The beauty of anti-racism is that you don't have to pretend to be free of racism to be an anti-racist. Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it's the only way forward.

First, Understand This

The problem is that white people see racism as conscious hate, when racism is bigger than that. Racism is a complex system of social and political levers and pulleys set up generations ago to continue working on the behalf of whites at other people's expense, whether whites know/like it or not. Racism is an insidious cultural disease. It is so insidious that it doesn't care if you are a white person who likes Black people; it's still going to find a way to infect how you deal with people who don't look like you. Yes, racism looks like hate, but hate is just one manifestation. Privilege is another. Access is another. Ignorance is another. Apathy is another, and so on. So while I agree with people who say no one is born racist, it remains a powerful system that we're immediately born into. It's like being born into air: you take it in as soon as you breathe. It's not a cold that you can get over. There is no anti-racist certification class. It's a set of socioeconomic traps and cultural values that are fired up every time we interact with the world. It is a thing you have to keep scooping out of the boat of your life to keep from drowning in it. I know it's hard work, but it's the price you pay for owning everything. -Scott Woods

Tips for White People and Non-Black People of Color

Whitney Alexus What I want from White people and non-Black people of color: 1) Do not tell Black people how to protest (and be able to make the discernment between the majority and extremists/unaffiliated/the police). 2) Amplify, highlight, and share what we are saying and doing, instead of inserting your own narrative. 3) Understand that our actions are consciously planned, organized, and executed. If they didn't work, we wouldn't do it. 4) Confront your own internal racism/anti-blackness, and unpack that (you can be marginalized in other ways, and still be racist/anti-black). 5) If you have questions, look it up instead of expecting us to educate you while we are grieving and surviving. 6) As you learn about the system of oppression that is racism/anti-blackness, move past your guilt and turn that into action (silence and inaction is a privilege we don't have). 7) Actions you can do include donating, marching, rebelling, intervening/recording injustice, calling/emailing, signing petitions, educating and correcting those around you, and experiencing/supporting/funding our work, well-being, and dreams without gentrifying our neighborhoods. 8) Do the work online AND in real life. If we, the oppressed group can, you can. 9) Recognize you can't call yourself an ally until we decide that you are. 10) Be consistent. Stop waiting until another injustice happens to show up for us. You can and should be an "ally" all day every day. *Honorable mentions - Stop being culture vultures (y'all look and sound ridiculous), saying ni**a/ni**er, and expecting us to show up for you while your community perpetuates racism/anti-blackness #BlackLivesMatter
Tessa DeMarais This will be long and controversial, but right now, these conversations are so important to have. I implore my family and friends to take a moment to step back and reflect on your own internalized anti-Blackness and racism. You may hear that and immediately think “I’m not racist, that doesn’t apply to me. I voted for Obama, I support BLM, *continue inserting justifications here*. However, acknowledging these feelings also include recognizing the microaggressive feelings and behavior that you may have. It also includes acknowledging your different levels of privilege. There is privilege in the ability to feel like these protests aren’t important, that Black people’s feelings aren’t valid and that they’re overreacting. Peaceful protesting hasn’t gotten the rights of BIPOC (Black/Indigenous people of color) anywhere for centuries. Even MLK Jr. himself accepted that violence and action is inevitable if voices are ignored. There are so many POC, especially in the Black community, who have suffered at the hands of SPD and MPD. Both departments have a long history of racism and I’m actually happy that they’re being held accountable, especially since it is at a national level. However, please understand and acknowledge that the people perpetuating a large portion of the violence have been ⚪️ supremacists from here and out of state who don’t care that they’re harming POC and historically Black neighborhoods. They’re here cause harm and to derail the original message to draw negative focus on the community that we need to be supporting and uplifting. With all of that being said, I don’t support the recent actions that have been used for harm rather than good. This isn’t the time for anarchy and to push irrelevant agendas. I hope that this is under control soon, that the cries for justice against police brutality are heard, and that all of you stay safe and healthy. 💕 PS: COVID-19 hasn’t gone anywhere and cases in MN have picked up again. Please wear masks and avoid going out if possible!
Contact Peaceful Mom for verbal explanation of image
Contact Peaceful Mom for verbal explanation of image
Contact Peaceful Mom for verbal explanation of image
Contact Peaceful Mom for verbal explanation of image
Ionah Dance White folks-pls don’t cancel your white friends too quickly. I get it. You’re angry. But Black & Native folks have been trying to reason with white folks since 1619 & 1492 so your anger & our anger isn’t quite the same. Instead of canceling people quickly, use that anger to educate. This gives us a little more space to be mad. To feel. To just be. ‪Racism is institutional. But it’s sustained by individuals-by people-who give it power. So don’t let those individuals run rampant & become Amy Coopers and genocidal police. Stop them. Yes, you need to know when to quit. It’s not worth your time if someone is truly not listening. So for starters, don’t poke the KKK, alt-right, MAGA, Nazi trolls. That should be obvious. But maybe start with the “all cops aren’t bad” or the “well looting isn’t the answer” folks. I’ve been all over chasing these folks today & have seen far too many Black womxn having to do this labor too while mourning, working, and simultaneously being silenced for the violence THEY experience. If you hate the rhetoric as much as we do, interrupt it because unchecked rhetoric like that gets Black & Native womxn & other folks killed. #minneapolisprotest #justiceforblackwomen #justiceforgeorgefloyd #justiceforbreonnataylor #justiceforahmaud #blacklivesmatter #indigenoussolidarity #nativesforblacklivesmatter #decolonize #nowhitesaviors #cancelculture
Ionah Dance @IonahDance White folks-pls don't cancel your white friends TOO quickly. I get it. You're angry. But Black & Native folks have been trying to reason with white folks since 1619 & 1492. Instead of canceling people outright, use your anger to do the labor we are tired of doing.
Ionah Dance @IonahDance Racism is institutional. But it's sustained by individuals-by people-who give it power. So don't let those individuals run rampant & become Amy Coopers and genocidal police. Stop them.
Ionah Dance @IonahDance Yes, you need to know when to quite. It's not worth your time if someone is truly not listening. So for starters, don't poke the KKK, alt-right, MAGA, Nazi trolls. That should be obvious. But maybe start with the "all cops aren't bad" or the "well looting isn't the answer" folks.
Ionah Dance @Ionah Dance I've been chasing these folks & have seen FAR too many Black womxn having to do this labor while mourning AND being silenced for the violence THEY experience. So help interrupt that white moderate/white liberal rhetoric because unchecked it's what kills Black & Native folks.

National Resource List #GeorgeFloyd+

Click to Open

Image of first page of National Resource List. Click to open Google document.

If You Can’t Get to a Protest

Credit to Danyelle ‘Nippy’ Thomas via Facebook

elletheartist We can't all be on the frontline But we can all be apart of the revolution. Here are some alternatives for everyone who wants to get involved!
elletheartist Sign Makers For those of us who have a way with words and a steady hand - sign making is your calling. The message needs to be loud and clear.
elletheartist Eyes & Ears Organizers and researchers are the heart of any movement. Keeping up with the latest updates and developments is imperative.
elletheartist The Care-Takers Food, water and medical supplies are necessities for every demonstration. If you can cook rice and apply a band aid - you can be a part of the movement.
elletheartist The Donators Supplies and bail money won't fall from the sky. Every march is fueled by donations by supporters who understand the cause.

Atlanta Solidarity Fund

Bail Funds/Legal Help by City

BlackLivesMatter.carrd.co

Brooklyn Community Bail Fund

Memphis Community Bail Fund

Mid-South Peace & Justice Center Bail Fund

Minnesota Bail Fund and Support List

Minnesota Freedom Fund

One Struggle Kansas City

Philadelphia Bail Fund

The Bail Project Louisville

Until Freedom Speech

Venmo: @untilfreedom

Cash app: cash.me/untilfreedom

Her IG: @tamikadmallory

Until Freedom’s IG: @untilfreedom

Trevor Noah on Racial Injustice