Black Lives Matter

by | Jun 13, 2020

Lots of conversations are happening since the murder of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020.

Lots of indignation, sadness and anger.

Lots of us white folks are very confronted by the concept that if we are not “anti-racist” we are, by default, pandering to systemic racism.

This is a hard truth to swallow and an even harder one to address in our daily lives both personal and professional…and yet, we must address it if our world is ever going to change.

Now is the time.

What does this mean?

First, to all of our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) friends, and the Black Community specifically, it means we see you and we are listening. We are getting educated by reading, watching and getting educated.

To all of our white friends, we invite you to come alongside us and get educated yourself. Give up the idea that “you have black friends”, “you raised your kids to be color-blind”, “you’re not racist”.

These ideas have actually allowed systemic racism to persist, fester and expand it’s reach. We feel that if we don’t have a personal experience of negative feelings toward black and brown people, then it just isn’t happening…right? Wrong!

We must become students of learning how to undo the injustice that pervades our systems: education, law enforcement, housing, access to health care and proper nutrition, career advancement…you name it…systemic racism exists in all of our institutions.

I’m sharing some ideas that I have picked up over the past week from other entrepreneurs, companies and organizations looking to be part of the solution. 

Here are some things I’ve picked up: 

Take responsibility to educate yourself, no matter if you’re just curious or even if you consider yourself a “non-racist.” Do not expect (or ask) Black people to teach you. They have carried the burden of racism for long enough; it’s our turn to do the work. All of these things are free.

  1. This link is a phenomenal place to start. Do not skip any sections because they seem inconvenient. If you’ve ever had thoughts like “but I’m not racist” or “all lives matter” or “can’t we all just love one another,” or if you’re simply just not sure where to start, start by reading Antiracismforbeginners.com in detail.
  2. The next article you should read is this one: Five Racist Anti-Racism Responses “Good” White Women Give to Viral Posts (I know this one will make many of you feel uncomfortable. Lean into this discomfort.)
  3. This new podcast episode with Brené Brown (a White woman) interviewing Professor Ibram X. Kendi (a Black man and author of How to Be an Antiracist) is deeply insightful and one of the best interviews I’ve heard; I highly recommend listening to it. You can find it in any podcast app, or simply click here for a 1-click play button to listen online.

READ

  • Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Monique W. Morris
  • Not Quite Not White: Losing and Finding Race in America by Sharmila Sen
  • Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
  • On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope by DeRay Mckesson
  • I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
  • Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America by Ari Berman
  • When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Asha Bandele, Angela Y. Davis (Foreword)
  • This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America by Morgan Jerkins 
  • We Gon’ Be Alright: Notes on Race and Resegregation by Jeff Chang
  • Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
  • Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad
  • White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
  • The End of Policing by Alex S. Vitale
  • Who Do You Serve, Who Do You Protect? Police Violence and Resistance in the United States, edited by Joe Macaré, Maya Schenwar, and Alana Yu-lan Price
  • How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
  • Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America by Michael Eric Dyson
  • Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde
  • Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates 
  • How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community by Mia Birdsong
  • Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
  • The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
  • The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Articles and blog posts

Films and TV shows

  • 13th
  • When They See Us
  • Just Mercy 
  • Dear White People (Netflix series)
  • If Beale Street Could Talk
  • Clemency
  • Fruitvale Station
  • I Am Not Your Negro

Instagram accounts to follow

Black-owned businesses to support

Resources for parents

Miscellaneous Resources

AT HOME:

  1. Start conversations with friends and family (and kids if you have them) about race and justice. Point out examples of racism and injustice when they show up in your world, on television, in the media, etc.  You do not have to (and cannot) solve the world’s problems in one conversation. The goal isn’t to walk away like you solved something or wrapped it in a bow. The goal is to open the conversation so you can continue heartfelt discussions. Openly discuss what’s happening in the world.
  2. Self-reflect and identify your own blind spots. We all have them, and this is what doing “the work” is all about.
  3. If someone in your circle makes a racist comment, tell them it’s racist. You don’t have to be defensive or yell. You can’t control what other people do and say but call people out on racist jokes and comments.
  4. Ask your Black friends how they’re doing. Check-in on them and ask if they need anything; they may be suffering in silence right now. Do not ask them to educate you. Listen to them.


DONATE:

I realize we live in challenging times right now and this may or may not be an option right now. If you have room to donate, consider donating to support organizations on the front lines of anti-racism work. 

Here are some suggestions if you need them: 

  • Black Lives Matter
  •  NAACP
  • Color of Change
  • The ACLU
  • Southern Poverty Law Center


If financial support isn’t an option right now, consider supporting organizations in other ways.

VOTE:

This is an election year in the US. Please, please, please vote and encourage your friends and family to vote, too, for candidates supporting anti-racist platforms. Every election counts, every vote counts.

Please don’t give up, don’t despair and don’t trivialize. Together, we can usher in a new era.

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