With so much information being shared on social media at the moment, it feels overwhelming, which is concerning because I tend to find in my own life, overwhelm can result in inaction or giving up. To prevent this, I’ve put together a plan for my own learning and action with short term, medium term and long term work, using resources that resonate with me most: via artists and creators, books and social media accounts all listed below as a starting point. It’s not an exhaustive list, this is just the beginning of a long-term commitment to educate myself, to listen, to have challenging conversations, to act with empathy and in solidarity with people of colour and the black community.
If you are white, I encourage you to make this a priority in your own life too and to continue to engage with this long after the social media hype has faded. I recognise it is a privilege in itself that I can take the time to learn about racism, rather than experiencing it every day of my life.
My voice in this conversation is not needed, but sharing the voices of others, by using the influence I have, that we all have, amongst friends, family and colleagues, is essential and a good place to begin doing the work.
― Angela Y. Davis
Above: @ohhappydani | Danielle Coke
Artists to follow and support:
Reyna Noriega | @reynanoriega | www.reynanoriega.com/
Danielle Coke | @ohhappydani | www.ohhappydani.com
Shirien | @shirien.creates
Sacree Frangine (Aline and Celia) | @sacree_frangine | www.sacreefrangine.com
Kenesha Sneed | @tactilematter | www.tactilematter.com
Willian Santiago | @willian_santiago
Loveis Wise | @loveiswiseillu | www.loveiswise.com
Morgan Harper Nichols | @morganharpernichols | www.morganharpernichols.com
Above: @reynanoriega_ | Reyna Noriega
Above: @sacree_frangine | Sacrée Frangine
Above: @tactilematter | Kenesha Sneed
Social Media Accounts to Follow
The Conscious Kid @theconsciouskid
Rachel Cargle @rachel.cargle
Black Lives Matter @blklivesmatter
BLMUK @blmuk
Ibram X. Kendi @ibramxk
Check Your Privilege @ckyourprivilege
Mikaela Loach @mikaelaloach
No White Saviours @nowhitesaviours
The Great Unlearn @thegreatunlearn
Books (Consider buying these from local bookshops to support small businesses)
Why I Am No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
I Am Not Your Baby Mother by Candice Brathwaite
How To Be Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
Women Race and Class by Angela Davis
Don’t Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri
The New Jim Crow, Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
All Our Relations: Indigenous trauma in the shadow of colonialism by Tanya Talaga
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
How We Fight White Supremacy by Akiba Solomon and Kenrya Rankin
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad
They Can’t Kill us All: The Story of Black Lives Matter by Wesley Lowery
Above: @loveiswiseillu | Loveis Wise
Places to Donate to if you can afford it:
The Minnesota Freedom Fund (donations paused but other Minnesota-based causes listed on their site)
Support The People Who Support Their Communities
The Love Land Foundation (A therapy fund for black women and girls)
Above: @morganharpernichols | Morgan Harper Nichols
Take Action Now
We have a lot of work to do.