What to Do After Posting a Black Square for The Black Lives Movement
All Slides by @themaneartistry
From June 1st through the 7th I muted my regularly scheduled content on all social channels to #amplifymelanatedvoices with love and support for my BIPOC community. As I slowly ease into sharing my day-to-day again, I’m committed to continue learning, sharing, and creating a space to amplify those who have not been heard.
I’ve been trying to find my words and truly catch my breath on how to best use my voice during this time of change in our countries history. To be honest I’m still not sure I have the right words but it’s clear that for my conscience I need to do what I can to support my fellow black and brown brothers and sisters. There is so much information right now that my hope is not to clog you with more but to be an additional resource and because the internet has power; to amplify and give traction to the below resources and inspiring accounts!
I hope to do more and have some exciting ways I want to support but to begin, I’d like to share a roundup of BIPOC accounts, businesses, and art that I’ve discovered and love.
And truly a deep thank you to my Lucy’s Whims community for being here to listen! For having compassion and for every kind messages sent voicing your support of this cause. Yes there was also some not so nice messages and I lost some followers but most importantly if you aren’t open to change, to conversation, to human rights then this is not the space for you.
Ways To Take Action:
Text FLOYD to 55156
Text ENOUGH to 55156
Sign the Color Of Change petition
Donate & Sign Petitions
George Floyd Memorial Fund
Established to cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist Floyd’s family in the days to come as they continue to seek justice for George. To Donate
Minnesota Freedom Fund
The Minnesota Freedom Fund is a community based nonprofit that combats the harms of incarceration by paying bail for low-income individuals who cannot. The Minnesota Freedom Fund has raised $20m and is asking that future donations be routed to Black Visions Collective and Reclaim The Block. Donate here.
Black Visions Collective
BLVC aims to create the conditions for long term success and transformation for all Black People. They believe in a future where all Black people have autonomy and where safety is community-led. Donate here.
Reclaim The Block
Reclaim the Block organizes Minneapolis community and city council members to move money from the police department into other areas of the city’s budget that truly promote community health and safety. Donate here.
National Bail Out
National Bail Out is a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers and activists building a community-based movement to support and end systems of pretrial detention and ultimately mass incarceration. Donate here.
Black Lives Matter
BLM is a movement and ongoing fight to end state-sanctioned violence, liberate Black people, and end white supremacy forever. Donate here.
Support BIPOC Businesses:
FASHION
TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS
The Conscious Kid: I’ve loved following this account and found so many resources there.
Bumo: How to Talk to your Kids About Racism. Bumo has a lot of parenting resources and this guide has a ton of great info from books for them and education for us parents and even an age by age conversation starters!
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Campaign Zero is a police reform campaign which proposes research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America.
There is SO much information out there but I thought this UC Berkley Publication The Greater Good compiled so many insightful journals, articles and resources! It speaks to the roots of racism, how to overcome, confronting it, the criminal justice piece of it!
WHATCH FILMS
I know this might sounds trivial but it is such an engaging way to learn and build empathy! The last week we have watched so may great documentaries and films with and without our kids that truly made such an imprint in all our hearts. Here is a short list to get you started.
13th:
The Love We Give
Harriet
When They See Us
See You Yesterday
If Beale Street Could Talk
The Hate You Give
I Am Not Your Negro
Selma
We will have to start having difficult conversations wether it’s on the internet with strangers, with family members, and with ourselves! I found these slides from @dwardslife “What to Say When People Deny the Reality of What’s Happening Now” and honestly I found it so insightful and just gave me the words to have calm discourse. I’m super visual so these felt really clear for me. Def check them out!
Fill out your Census; this is so vital to ensure you are counted! It will also help determine your government representation! I just did mine and it took me less then 10 min. Fill out Census here.
REGISTER to VOTE! How ever disillusioned you are with elections we cannot give up and it is so important more then ever for us to participate in not only presidential but also mid term elections!
We can all learn and improve our knowledge on this topic and we should want to. There’s no shame in learning and doing things differently in your life. In acknowledging that we as a nation have a REAL problem and need to improve things. Only when we face our opportunities can we learn and create a better world.
Thank you for taking the time to read and to listen and truly I am so grateful for your time with me.
Sincerely, Lucy
Thank you @themaneartistry for letting me use your well thought-out slides.