Showing up for Racial Justice, Dismantling Racism, and Embracing Allyship
Image courtesy of WHNT.com.
I’ve been talking about the world experiencing a global reset since January 2020 when COVID-19 reared its ugly head. I’ve spoken about the spiritual effects of quarantine on social media, and even continue to define planetary activity for my members and illustrate all of the avenues of opportunity that we’re given to heal our relationships – our relationships with the people, things, and mindsets that make our lives, but especially our relationship with ourselves.
Five months into 2020 and disease is still killing people all over the world, but Americans are facing a far worse disease thats yearning to be healed; one that spreads with each generation and seemingly kills black people for sport – white supremacy.
Black bodies are being lynched for simply existing, and guns aren’t the only deadly weapons. White bodies, hands, legs, knees are killing machines now too.
Eric Garner had just broken up a fight.
Ezell Ford was walking in his neighborhood.
Michelle Cusseaux was changing the lock on her home's door when police arrived to take her to a mental health facility.
Tanisha Anderson was having a bad mental health episode, and her brother called 911.
Tamir Rice was playing in a park.
Natasha McKenna was having a schizophrenic episode when she was tazed.
Walter Scott was going to an auto-parts store.
Bettie Jones answered the door to let Chicago police officers in to help her upstairs neighbor, who had called 911 in order to resolve a domestic dispute.
Philando Castile was driving home from dinner with his girlfriend.
Botham Jean was eating ice cream in his living room.
Atatiana Jefferson was babysitting her nephew at home.
Eric Reason was pulling into a parking spot at a local chicken and fish shop.
Dominique Clayton was sleeping in her bed.
Breonna Taylor was also asleep in her bed.
Ahmaud Arbery was jogging.
And George Floyd was at the grocery store.
These are only some of the names of the black men and women that were killed by police officers in the recent past. According to mappingviolence.org, police killed 1,099 people in 2019, and 24% of those victims were black.
I say that to say this:
My mission is to educate, advocate for, and provide safe spaces for dialogue about wellness. I have never done so without acknowledging that wellness is political, and is partially defined by identity and race.
Dismantling racism and learning how to be an ally to the black community has always been critical, but never more critical than right now. Non-black people have to commit to unlearning and using our privilege to speak out against injustice.
Black people do not owe us an explanation for how to care for them – we need to do this for ourselves. Your non-black silence complies with racist rhetoric. Your non-black silence kills.
I write this from the position of a human being that cares for other humans, but it’s valuable to mention that I am also coming forward as a Latina who had to learn to unlearn generationally-engrained racism on her own. As the wife of a black Latinx man who not only does the work beside me but who I’ve also had the privilege to witness dismantle colorism every chance he gets. And as the mother of a black Latinx girl – a beautiful black little girl who realized the color of her skin was different all on her own at just 2-years-old.
I have addressed my personal thoughts on all the action and inaction on social media, but I wanted to create a resource hub on my own platform to mitigate repost fatigue. Please forward and repost this as you see fit. And if you have any resources to add, please message me.
I’ve compiled the following books listed as required reading for non-black people through my own research and via beautiful humans doing the work online like Denisse Myrick and Rachel Cargle (more on social media accounts to follow below).
Articles to Read
“75 Things White People Can do for Racial Justice” | Medium
“How to Talk to Your Family About Racism on Thanksgiving” | Harper’s Bazaar
“America’s Racial Contract Is Killing Us” by Adam Serwer | Atlantic (May 8, 2020)
Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement (Mentoring a New Generation of Activists)
The 1619 Project (all the articles) | The New York Times Magazine
“The Intersectionality Wars” by Jane Coaston | Vox (May 28, 2019)
Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups developed by Craig Elliott PhD
“White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Knapsack Peggy McIntosh
“Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi | Atlantic (May 12, 2020)
What to Watch
As a parent, I know firsthand the importance of raising our children to see and acknowledge color, and teach them about white privilege, its effects on society, and how to respond to racism. Here are some helpful resources for parents of black and non-black children.
Image courtesy of prettygooddesign.org.
The official fund for George Floyd’s funeral and burial costs, counseling services, legal fees, and continued care for his children.
The official memorial fund for Breonna Taylor, her family, and their legal battle.
The official fund for Ahmaud Arbery’s family’s legal battle.
The official fund for Elijah McClain’s family’s legal battle.
A global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.
A Minneapolis organization devoted to reallocating the city’s money away from the police department and toward community-led safety initiatives.
As a New York State-chartered charitable bail fund since 2015, BCBF has paid bail for nearly 5,000 presumptively innocent New Yorkers.
Pays criminal bail and immigration bond for those who cannot afford to while working to end discriminatory, coercive, and oppressive jailing.
Supports racial justice through advocacy, litigation, and education.
Provides legal services and support for a broad range of people with civil rights complaints.
A black, trans, and queer-led social justice organization and legal fund based in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Click below for contact information for state legislators and scripts to aid in demanding justice for victims and accountability for police brutality. Under sustained pressure, elected officials have begun to enact legislation to address police violence.
People and accounts that have helped me and are rooted in educating, healing, and evolving past racial injustice. In no particular order.
@blklivesmatter
@thegreatunlearn
@ckyourprivilege
@rachel.cargle
@theconsciouskid
@chasingdenisse
@joelakamag
@speakingofracism
@latinarebels
@theafrolatindiaspora
@iamrachelricketts
@austinchanning
@ogorchukwuu
You can follow me here:
*Some of the links provided are affiliate links which means I make a very small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.