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

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 *

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

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Well-BeingMinna LeeMind