#BlackLivesMatter

I have A LOT of learning to do.

I’m embarrassed to tell you that this year is the first time I truly understood the magnitude of my white privilege. (If you’re still unsure what exactly white privilege is – this breaks it down for you) But now that I do, and I know better, I will do better. 

As a white person, it is MY responsibility to educate myself. No one else’s. And I am taking that responsibility very seriously.

The first step is to speak up – if you’ve been following me on Instagram stories I’ve made it quite clear the past few weeks that #BlackLivesMatter.

If you’re remaining silent, I pose this simple question to you…WHY? 

I’m making it clear right here and right now that you should. Black lives matter, and you should be beyond outraged at what is still happening in our communities in 2020 to black people. 

It has to stop. And we have a role to play. But that role is NOT to lead. That role is to do the work. 

We need to follow the activists in the Black Community to ensure that this does not continue. 

Step two is taking action. 

I spent time this weekend reading and listening because I have a lot to learn and a long way to go. Here are some black writers, educators, speakers and activists to follow, listen to, learn from and support. 

@rachel.cargle
@moemotivate
@ckyourprivilege
@myishathill
@ijeomaoluo
@laylafsaad
@theconsciouskid
@ibramxk

Below are small lists of places to begin with donations, reading and listening/watching: (this is in no way comprehensive, but rather a potential starting point). These are the resources I am planning to start with.

Places you can donate to:

Color of Change
NAACP
George Floyd Memorial Fund 
I Run with Maud
Minnesota Freedom Fund 
Be the Bridge
Reclaim the Block
The Loveland Foundation

Books to read: 

Me and White Supremacy – Layla F. Saad
So You Want to Talk about Race – Ijeoma Oluo
How to be an Anti-Racist – Ibram X. Kendi
Stamped from the Beginning – The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America – Ibram X. Kendi
White Fragility – Robin Diangelo

Buzzfeed also release THIS article with books to start with.

Listen/watch: 

@ohhappydani is doing a 3 days series on Instagram live about turning awareness into action. It runs June 1-3. Learn more here.
When They See Us – Ava DuVernay – on Netflix
13th – Ava Duvernay – on Netflix 

VOTE. Vote our racist ass president out of office. Please. Pretty effing please. 

I am starting Rachel Cargle’s 30 day free course entitled #Dothework – I encourage you to sign up, then donate to Rachel herself. She has started The Loveland Foundation and The Great Unlearn. 

Moving forward from me you can expect this conversation to continue, as I share what I learn, like I do with most things that show up on this blog. I want us to learn and do better together. 

I believe that majority of this work needs to be done OFFLINE. In our hearts, in our minds, in our homes, in our communities. Because of that I will be staying off social media for the next week to begin the learning that I need to do.