Anti-racism Resources & Ways to Take Action - Black Lives Matter

Hello friends, whoever you are and wherever you come from - you are welcome here.

TGB is committed to stand, and be vocal, against racial profiling and police brutality. It is long past time to dismantle the systemic racism that has been rampant in this country (and many others) for far too long. I know this is long overdue, and it’s horrific that our black brothers and sisters still have to deal with this injustice (and that they’ve had to deal with it at all), but this is the reality right now and I want to be by their side to stand and fight.

Social media has brought a lot of attention to the horrific and infuriating events of the last few months - the modern-day lynching of George Floyd, the murder of Breonna Taylor, the slaughter of Ahmaud Arbery. These unjust horrors are not new; they have been happening for centuries. They are having a lot more exposure now thanks to modern-day technology and our forms of communication and advocacy. I look back at what I was taught in my each of my very white schools, and the reality of this country is so contrary to what I read in my neat and tidy U.S. History textbooks - America was built for white people, by white people, to keep white people in power.

This post is a starting point for my actions to stay informed, learn as much as I can, listen, and try to understand the pain, suffering, and discrimination that our black communities undergo every single day. I understand that I will never fully understand, but it is my absolute responsibility as a white person to speak up and help other white people to learn, take action, and stand with black people so we can live in a world where black people are no longer ruthlessly killed by white people. Again, I wish I’d done all of this sooner, and I’m sad that it’s taken this long for me to speak on this matter. But here I am.

It is time to educate ourselves. It is time for me to look at my own white privilege, which so many of us were born into, whether we asked for it or not, and understand my role and responsibility in society. It is time to update ourselves on current government policies and the criminal justice system. Most importantly, it is time to act.

I’ve come across a lot of truly valuable resources the last week or so, and wanted to compile them here for anyone who is unsure where to start or what to do. Just know that by being here, reading this right now, and being willing to take action, you are helping. Just follow through. Some ideas, explained in greater detail below:

• listen to black communities

• make phone calls, send e-mails

• sign petitions, show up at town halls, protest

• speak up when you see racism in your own home or community

• vote in all state and federal elections

• support black-owned businesses

What is happening is NOT OKAY. Change is NOT OPTIONAL. And change starts with each and every single one of us, right here, right now. Have the hard conversations. Educate yourself. Listen. Start in your heart, and in your own home. Talk to people. Don’t turn a blind eye to racism and discrimination. These are BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.

And this may be just a start. But again - CHANGE IS NOT OPTIONAL. It starts with a willingness to use our voice and our bodies for action. And while all of these actions are about being anti-racist, most of them are simply about being a decent human being.

To our BIPOC communities, I stand with you and I will listen. I am so, so deeply sorry we have failed you for so long. I will do all I can to become a better ally.

first step - dedicate 10, 25, 45 minutes a day to learn

Here is an excellent Google doc called "Justice in June" created by Bryanna Wallace and Autumn Gupta that compiles different ways to learn, inform, and act to support our black communities - and you choose if you’d like to dedicate 10, 25, or 45 minutes a day to learning. Every day is broken down by which actions to take and which materials to consult, so it provides some very clear and purposeful guidance.

videos to watch

Systemic racism explained

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Robin D’Angelo, author of White Fragility, shares why “I’m not racist” is only half the story

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Surfrider Foundation ambassador Sal Masekela: "I hope that you guys will be here tomorrow... and the next day... and the next day, and continue to stand for this thing that we call unity. And tell racism that it can go and kick rocks — because that is not what surfing is about."

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Words by Trevor Noah, sharing his thoughts on the killing of George Floyd, the protests in Minneapolis, the dominos of racial injustice and police brutality, and how the contract between society and black Americans has been broken time and time again.

Books to Read

• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

• So you Want to Talk about Race by Ijeoma Oluo

• Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi

• How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi 

• Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad

• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

• Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

• The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton

• The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward E. Baptist

• The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

• Road Map for Revolutionaries: Resistance, Activism, and Advocacy for All by Elisa Camahort Page

• I’m Still Here – Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Brown Channing

• Here is an anti-racist reading list

Actions and Additional Resources

• Get out there and take part in peaceful protests, or start one of your own.

• Get involved in the NAACP’s fight for Civil Rights

• Support black-owned businesses - here’s a list of black-owned bookstores

• Watch some of these TED talks

• Resources for Accountability and Actions for Black Lives

• Make sure you are registered to vote: our ELECTED officials are in charge of determining codes of conduct for our police force. Stay in the know about who is serving in your district, what their stance is on how justice is served, and when their elections are held. And then, most importantly, VOTE with your values.

And one of the most important things you can do is reach out to your local leaders through the phone, email, or in writing - these include your mayor, governor, Senators, and Representatives. If it seems a bit daunting to do this, know that it’s not - it’s super straightforward and one of the quickest and most effective ways to use your voice. Chances are the phone will go straight to voicemail, or you’ll speak with an assistant, but just know that all of your requests are tracked and recorded. The main thing is to let them know what is important to you and why.

Congress has a  Find Your Representative page where you can look up your local elected officials. Below are a few scripts on what to say/write. Also my bro and sis recommended this app, which makes it super simple to find your Reps based on your zip code and provides templates of what to say right in front of your face when you’re making the call. This is a good app for other issues you’re passionate about as well.

Phone Script:

Hello, my name is ______ and I am a constituent from the ____ District. I am contacting you because I want to know what you will do to protect black lives and prevent further instances of police brutality. I am calling to urge you to condemn police brutality, racial profiling, and the use of excessive force by police.

Email Script:

Dear [Representative]

My name is [Your Name] and I am constituent from the [District Name] District. I am contacting you because I want to know what you will do to protect black lives and prevent further instances of police brutality. I am calling to urge you to condemn police brutality, racial profiling, and the use of excessive force by police. 

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

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Congress will be holding hearings in the coming weeks on racial violence and the use of excessive force by police, so please, please speak up now.

Use your voice for our black brothers and sisters, recognize what you can do, and take responsibility I am open to continuous learning and know I am so far from having all the available resources on this topic, so if you have ideas to share about actions to take/additional resources to look at, comment below. I’d like to know what you’re doing to fight for justice! #BlackLivesMatter

- Lozza

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