Black Lives Matter: 8 Ways to Support the Revolution

The recent tragedy of George Floyd’s death brought to light my own white privilege, that I was blissfully unaware of. Of course I had heard of the Black Lives Matter movement, but I never understood it until now.

I have been taking time to learn and listen over the past couple of days. I know the work only starts here, and there is so much more to be done.

Below is a curated list of resources that I have found to be valuable to share, so that we can continue to work towards equality and anti-racism.

 

1. Amplify black voices

Follow and share information from the following IG accounts:

 

@mspackyetti

@jamilareddy

@morganharpernichols

@melarieodelusi

@ginaatinukeknight

@littlemissflint

@nowhitesaviors

@jitterbug_art

@theconsciouskid

@bcmorrow

@mireillecharper

@laylafsaad

@ckyourprivilege

@iamrachelricketts

@thegreatunlearn

@ijeomaoluo

@tamikadmallory

@adwoaaboah

@revjacquilewis

@authenticfrani

@minaa_b

@sophie_roe

 

2. Donate

• NAACP
• Color of Change
• Campaign Zero
• Reclaim the Block
• National Bail Fund Network
• George Floyd Memorial Fund

 

3. Peacefully protest

 

• Text Floyd to 55156
• Text Justice to 668366
• Text Enough to 55156
• Call/Send a message to your congressional representative
• Get in contact with the district attorney (612) 348-5550 and Minneapolis mayor (612) 673-2100

 

4. Sign these petitions

• Justice for George Floyd
• Color of Change
• Arrest the three other officers involved in the death of George Floyd
• Raise the degree

 

5. Educate yourself

 

Films/TV Series

• 13^th – Netflix
• American Son – Netflix
• Celemency – Available to rent
• Dear White People – Netflix
• Fruitvale Station – Available to rent
• Queen and Sum – Available to rent
• LA 92 – Netflix

 

Podcasts

• 1619 (New York Times)
• Code Switch (NPR)
• Pod Save the People (Crooked Media)

 

Books

• Their eyes were watching God – Zora Neale Hurston
• How we fight about white supremacy – by Akiba Solomon
• Heavy: An American Memoir – by Kiese Laymon
• White Fragility – by Robin Diangelo
• How to be Anti-racist – by Ibram X. Kendi

 

6. Support black run businesses

 

You can find black run businesses by area, listed here.

 

Marie Claire also published a roundup of black run beauty and lifestyle brands to support, which you can find here.

 

Black Run Bookstores to Buy From in the US:

Source from IG @belletrist

 

• Semicolon – Chicago, IL
• Brain Lair Books – South Bend, IN
• Afriware Books (Maywood, IL)
• Brave and Kind Books – Decatur, GA
• Detroit Book City – Detroit, MI
• Mahogany Books – Washington, DC
• Uncle Bobbie’s – Philadelphia, PA
• Hakim’s Bookstore – Philadelphia, PA
• Harriott’s Bookshop – Philadelphia, PA
• Ashay By the Bay – Bay Area, CA
• Eso Won Books – Los Angeles, CA
• The Lit Bar – The Bronx, NY
• Café con Libros – Brooklyn, NY
• Frugal Bookstore – Roxbury, MA

 

7. Educate others

 

Silence is the problem. We need to speak up and share what we know with our friends and family.

Don’t stop at posting a black square or following the Black Lives Matter hashtag on Instagram.

Don’t stop when the “trend” dies. We have the power to change the world if we share what we learn.

 

8. Show up at the polls

 

• Register to vote
• Sign up for election reminders
• Find your polling place
• Vote in local elections
• Mark your calendar for the presidential election: Tuesday, November 3^rd

 

This is bigger than just not being racist. This is about becoming an anti-racist, and steps we need to take before we can get there. Humanity depends on us.