You might be feeling overwhelmed on social media over the last few days you may be feeling overwhelmed with the amount of news and content out there about George Floyd, police brutality, as well as wider conversations around structural racism against the Black community both in the US and here in the UK.
This is to provide those who want to actively support the Black community with practical tips to move forward and make structural change in our society. This is primarily aimed to serve white and non black people of colour in the UK to deepen our anti-racism understanding and work. If you haven’t already engaged in this type of work, now is the time. This is by no way an exhaustive list of people we’ve learned from. Do not demand education from black people, learn from what they have already publicly provided. It is not their responsibility, it’s yours.
As Brittany N. Packnett Cunnigham, American activist and co-founder of Campaign Zero said “WORK. Don’t just post about it. Be about it.” If you are white, be an accomplice to lift people of colour up with your privilege they will never have, wherever you are in the world.
SIGN A PETITION
If you demand sustainable solutions that affirms the prosperity of Black lives around the world, take a look at some of the petitions below, see their demands and get involved.
For Belly Mujinga: http://tiny.cc/60u3pz
For George Floyd: http://tiny.cc/u0u3pz
For Shukri Abdi: http://tiny.cc/tzu3pz
For Tony McDade: http://tiny.cc/oyu3pz
More petitions: http://tiny.cc/exu3pz
WRITE TO YOUR MP
Write to your local MP to demand radical change. There have been templates written already so it’s really very easy.
Find your local MP here
Template for Belly Mujinga: http://tiny.cc/ydw3pz
Template for George Floyd: http://tiny.cc/0lw3pz
READ AND READ SOME MORE
It might not be easy to come to terms with your white privilege but it is necessary to feel guilt and shame during the process. Note that you should not centre this narrative around yourself.
Shorter reads:
Allyship (& Accomplice): The What, Why, and How, Michelle Kim
Black Lives Matter and so does our Political Participation, Ree Ree
How to be actively anti-racist, Almaz Ohene
Racism Scale – How Racist Are you?, C. Demnowicz
How to overhaul the creative industry, Almaz Ohene
Black Radical Reading List, Verso Books
For more, try Shades of Noir
Longer reads:
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexande
Brit(ish), Alfua Hirsh
Why I’m not longer talking to white people about race, Reni Eddo-Lodge
The Good Immigrant, Nikesh Shukla
Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire, Akala
When They Call You A Terrorist, Patrice Khan-Cullors
Hostile Environment, Maya Goodfellow
For more authors we love, try: James Baldwin, bell hooks, Toni Morrison, W.E.B Du Bois
For publishers, try: Jacaranda, New Beacon Books and Hope Road Publishing
WATCH THESE TV SHOWS AND FILMS
Why not get off social media for a while and watch some powerful content which will educate you further?
Small Axe (BBC)
13th (Netflix)
When They See Us (Netflix)
The Hard Stop
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
I am not your Negro – James Baldwin Documentary (2016)
LISTEN TO THESE PODCASTS
Listen to something new and keep up to date with the latest conversations and developments.
PRIORITISE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
FOLLOW THESE ORGANISATIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIAL
Simple, powerful, informative content can be found on the following channels.
Black Pound Day | @BlackPoundDay | /blackpoundday
Vintage Black Britain | @vintageblackbritain
Ubele Initiative | @ubeleinitiative | ubeleinitiative | /ubeleinitiative/
Gal-dem | @galdemzine | galdemzine | /galdemzine/
#CharitySoWhite | @CharitySoWhite
Runnymede Trust | @RunnymedeTrust | runnymedeTrust | /runnymedetrust/
DONATE TO THESE CAUSES
Put your money where your mouth is – if you’re able to donate, please support by clicking one of the below. If you can’t decide, why not split your donation to 40 community bail funds using Act Blue.
Runnymede Trust work tirelessly to tackle structural racism in the UK
The Black Curriculum is a social enterprise aiming to deliver Black British history across the UK
UK QTIBIPOC Relief Fund, for those going through hardship
Pink Protest, to pay racial justice organisers, activists, artists and caregivers
VOTE
You have a voice, use it at the polls. We must elect candidates who will act on reform. Here’s how you can register to vote in both the UK and the US.
Register to vote in the UK: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Register to vote in the US: https://vote.gov/
Shape History is a social impact communications agency. We nurture purpose-led institutions, charities, campaigning groups and social impact leaders with strategic design and communication to accelerate social impact.
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