Doing the Work

Today I am sharing a compilation of resources regarding race and racism education and action items. I plan to add to this list as I find more resources. Similar to how I compiled a list of useful COVID-19 resources when we all started staying home, this post serves as a resource to educate. The goal is not to shame people into publicly declaring that they are taking a stand, but to get people to listen. To think and educate themselves Then they can do the work in whichever lane that choose to occupy.

Resistance is NOT a one lane highway. Maybe your lane is protesting, maybe your lane is organizing, maybe your lane is counseling, maybe your lane is art activism, maybe your lane is surviving the day.

Do NOT feel guilty for not occupying every lane. We need all of them.
— ✨Order 'In Your Absence'✨ (@Lindss_tastic) May 30, 2020

While many people are coming to terms with their privilege this week, many of us having been dealing with negative impacts of privilege our entire lives. As a young Black woman, I cannot count the number of times where my race played a major role in negative experiences I have had. I have listened to friends and family recount their experiences in other countries, states, or time periods. I have had older individuals sit me down and try to prepare me for the experiences I would inevitably face.

While it is currently a trending topic, change will require everyone to do the work long after this news cycle ends. I, of course, appreciate the work people have been putting in, whether they have been for years or are just starting. But I hope that the conversation and calls for change does not stop here.

I hope these resources can help you to understand and educate yourself on matters of race and bias, help you get involved, and see that this is not a political issue but a social issue that harms our society.

While this post focuses on resources connected to Black experiences and current events, systemic oppression impacts many communities due to race, ethnicity, religion, class, and more. While it may be difficult to think about and discuss it is important to understand whether you are impacted by some form of systemic oppression or not. By understanding the impact of this oppression you are better equipped to take action.

First, let’s start black lives matter versus all lives matter.

When people say Black Lives Matter they are not saying the other lives do not matter. The issue is that for many people and systems all lives do not matter. Therefore, the statement needs to be made to reiterate that Black Lives Matter too.

Here are some other ways to understand the implications of these statements. This article discusses the implications of each statement. And here are even more analogies.

Mental Health

It is important to remember that it is just as important to take care of yourself during this time as it is to stay informed. Taking time off from your newsfeed and engaging in activities that help you help you to relax is vital. We are in the middle of a pandemic and dealing with many issues. You cannot work through these issues if you do not take care your yourself.