Black lives matter. Whether it was at the height of Jim Crow in 1963 Alabama, or in 2013 when a 17-year-old boy was murdered on his walk home, or now in 2020 when a Black man was pinned beneath three police officers until he lost consciousness and ultimately, his life, Black lives have always mattered. And they will continue to matter.
While tensions and outrage are currently high, we must harness the pain and injustice we are feeling into productivity. The aftermath of George Floyd’s murder has the entire world spinning on its axis, but there’s a renewed call for change and action. Protests have popped up all over the country and the world. Thousands have marched in the streets of Minneapolis, New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston, Washington, D.C., and more. The list goes on and the fight for Black lives continues.
Many of us sit at home and watch the protests on the major news networks. We catch a glimpse of it on our social media feeds. And if you’ve ever felt ashamed about your inaction in regards to protesting, don’t. Protesting is a great way to further the cause but it isn’t the only way.
There are multiple outlets and avenues that we can use to show our support to end racial injustice. Here are resources you can look into to help support the movement.
If you would like to donate, consider:
George Floyd Memorial Fund: Set up by the Floyd family, this fund will help cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and any further assistance the family might need in the aftermath of George’s death. To donate to the families of more victims of racial injustice and police brutality, you can find a list here.
Black Lives Matter: Amid the outrage over the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer in 2013, #BlackLivesMatter was founded. Since then, it has become a global movement for freedom, liberation, and justice for Black people.
Reclaim The Block: In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, there have been cries to defund the Minneapolis Police Department. Founded in 2018, Reclaim the Block is an organization of Minneapolis community and city council members who work to move money from the police department and use it to establish community-led safety initiatives.
Campaign Zero: A police reform campaign, Campaign Zero was launched in 2015. They work to make others aware of the problems of police intervention and proposed solutions to ending police violence in America through policy solutions including ending broken windows policing, limiting the use of force, and more.
Your name can go a long way. To show your support for the recent victims of racial injustice, consider signing the following petitions:
Color of Change #JusticeforFloyd
To further educate yourself on racial injustice and white privilege, consider the following books:
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson
American Lynching by Ashraf H.A. Rushdy
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad
Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America by Michael Eric Dyson
For more information and resources, visit:
Our work isn’t done, and the fight against racial injustice and police brutality continues with everyone.
“Our grandfathers had to run, run, run. My generation’s out of breath. We ain’t running no more.”
-Stokely Carmichael
