When the tragic killing of George Floyd gained national attention, support for the Black community and the Black Lives Matter movement reached unprecedented levels. Tens of thousands took to the streets in protest as the country felt the anger, grief, and resolve of everyday Americans. Upon these uprisings, media coverage of race-related issues soared, and conversation on the issue of racism grew exponentially.
Many white and other non-Black folks from across the country are asking themselves how they can be true allies, educating ourselves on the ingrained, insidious structure of systemic racism and confronting white supremacy and our own privilege. To be an ally means more than just posting a black square to your grid. Actions like those, when not followed by additional steps, barely scratch the surface of the true work that needs to be done.
For the Black community, the fight against racism is nothing new. It isn’t something that can be casted aside once media attention dies down, because for Black people, racism affects every aspect of their everyday life. The sad truth is that in the next few months, news organizations, big corporations, and the general public will lose interest. The performative allyship and self-serving social media posts will fade away and anti-racist agendas will be forgotten as easily as they were begun.
But vitally, this cannot be just about a moment; it must become a movement that continues to stand once the news cycle moves on. It is everyone’s responsibility to keep the momentum going. So far, we have only scratched the surface of the long fight to dismantle the deeply rooted, complex systems of racism within our country. It won’t be an overnight fix, but through authentic, continuous allyship and relentless pressuring of U.S. systems, progress is possible. Here are some ways you can help keep the momentum going.
Attend a Peaceful Protest
The history of peaceful protests in America has revealed it to be a key part in the push for structural change. Gathering with people to collectively speak out against wrongdoings is a fundamental right and powerful way to get your voice heard. If you decide to attend a peaceful protest here are some resources to read before attending.
How to protest safely & what to bring
Amnesty International provides information on actions to take before attending protests, a guide on how to stay safe while protesting, and proper protocol if you encounter teargas.
Harper’s Bazaar provides additional information on safety precautions, and how you can protect yourself and others in the event that things turn violent.
Know your rights
ACLU lists your rights for organizing, attending, and documenting protests.
How to be a white ally during a protest
This source provides some notes for white people who chose to attend BLM protests.
How to find a protest near you
CNet has provided a useful resource for the best ways to find protests near you. Another really good way is to simply search up "Black Lives Matter Protest" on Facebook.
Sign Petitions
Signing petitions is one of the easiest steps you can take as an ally. Petitions, when signed in great numbers, are a powerful signal to leaders that action needs to be taken. Here are several petitions to sign and share.
Petitions that have not reached their goal (Updated Regularly)
This source keeps an updated list of petitions that have not yet reached their goal.
Current Petitions as of June 28th
NATIONAL ACTION AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY
Ban the use of rubber bullets for crowd control
Dismiss the charges on Marshae Jones and charge the one who shot her and her unborn baby
Julius Jones is innocent. Don’t let him be executed by the state of Oklahoma.
Pardon Black Woman Imprisoned for Voting
Justice For Alejandro Vargas Martinez
Willie Simmons has served 38 years for a $9 robbery
JUSTICE FOR REGIS KORCHINSKI-PAQUET
Drop All Charges Against Incarcerated Trafficking Survivor Chrystul Kizer!
Consequences for excessive force used on Quentin Suttles
TELL MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL TO DEFUND THE POLICE
Search for local petitions
Dismantling racist systems on a local level is equally as important. You can search up petitions Change.org to find petitions on local issues of race.
Educate yourself
Racism is a complex, multi-sided issue. Learning about and confronting racism and the systems behind it is the first step to overcoming it. It is important to commit to challenging your biases and acknowledging where you can learn from your mistakes. There will always be more to learn. However please know that is not the job of your Black friends and family to educate you and or walk you through their experiences. Make sure you take responsibility of your own education. There are plenty of podcasts, books, documentaries, and articles that Black people have put their thought, effort, and voices behind that can help you educate yourself.
Articles
Articles published on racism by Redefy can be found through this link.
Other articles compiled from Swaay:
Recognizing and Dismantling Your Anti-Blackness
George Floyd’s Death Is a Failure of Generational Leadership
Don’t Fall for the ‘Chaos’ Theory of the Protests
Talking to Kids About Racism, Early and Often
How Organizations Are Failing Black Workers -- And How to Do Better
The Price We Have Paid for Not Confronting Racism
Black Journalists Are Exhausted
USC Professor On How Protests Have Changed Since LA Riots in 1992
Why Feeling Uncomfortable Is So Important
How to Actually Fix America’s Police
Racial Inequality, in College and in the Workplace
Five Charts That Will Change The Way You Think About Racial Inequality
How to Avoid Racism While Traveling
Books
While looking to buy any of these books, think about purchasing from a Black owned bookstore if there is one in your area. You can look up local stores at African American Literature Book Club’s List.
- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Olou
- Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together In the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
- Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
- This Bridge Called My Back by Radical Feminists of Color
- We are Not Yet Equal: Understanding Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson and Tonya Bolden
- White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
Documentaries + Films
- Race - The Power of An Illusion (PBS series)
- 13th (documentary)
- Freedom Riders (documentary)
- Whose Streets? (documentary)
- Strong Island (documentary)
- LA 92 (documentary)
- The Hate U Give (Hulu film + Angie Thomas novel)
- The Skin We’re In (CBC)
- Dear White People (Netflix)
- If Beale Street Could Talk (Hulu)
- Selma (Amazon Prime)
Podcasts
About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge
Engage in Difficult Conversations
Whether it is through social media or face to face, having conversations on race can be a difficult but important step. For many white people talking about race can be scary. Whether it be because of a fear of misspeaking or the guilt that comes with the topic of racism, white people often avoid talking about these crucial issues; however discussing racism is a crucial part combatting the systems that perpetuate it. Here are some resources on how to talk about race and how to acknowledge you implicit bias.
How to talk about race
Getting Over Your Fear of Talking About Diversity
Guide: How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race
Eight Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism, and Racial Justice
Understanding your implicit bias
Trayvon Martin and Implicit Bias
Test your implicit bias through a test developed by Harvard researchers.
Strategies to Reduce the Influence of Implicit Bias
Recognizing and Dismantling your Anti-Blackness
Donate
Donating money, if you have the ability to, is a great way to show your support. Especially during an economic crisis, Black organizations need financial support more than ever. Here are some suggested places to donate.
Black Lives Matter (extensive list on where to donate)
Communities United Against Police Brutality
