Hello.
If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know I'm angry.
Black Lives Matter is not a trend. It is essential.
I remember shouting NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE at a march in 2016, 5 years after Mark Duggan had been shot and killed by police in 2011.
I remember protesting the state visit of Donald Trump in 2018.
What has changed for the better in recent years?! Enough is enough.
I can't protest this year, as I have lupus (an autoimmune disease) and it's not safe for me as a disabled person during this pandemic. I wish I could be there. My disease disproportionally affects minorities. Read the graphic below from LupusUK.
Instead of protesting, I've been avidly signing petitions, donating, and sharing black voices on Twitter + Facebook, alongside educational resources. Today I'm aiming to do the same on my blog, because I know lots of people follow me via Bloglovin', WordPress, or Pinterest and not on Twitter. Plus I think it will be useful to compile everything in one place.
Anti-Racism. What To Do As a White Person.
As a white person, you cannot simply post a black square on Instagram, then go back to 'life as normal'.
This is what you should be doing.
In Real Life
- Hold others accountable. It can be as simple as saying 'please don't use that word to describe a takeaway, it's racist towards Chinese or Pakistani people'. Educate. Explain why something they've said or done is either straight-up racist, a microaggression, or discriminatory / based on racial bias.
- Make an effort to read more books written by BIPOC. I'm not just talking about non-fiction. Black people write across all genres, but are drastically under-represented.
- Consider the brands you support, and whether you should boycott them. Personally, I hate fast fashion, as it exploits workers and damages the environment. Don't buy a t-shirt with the words 'Black Lives Matter' on from a company run by rich white men! Do your research. Are they helping minorities? Do they employ minorities in leadership positions? Are they paid equally?
- Support Black-owned businesses.
- Listen. As a disabled bisexual woman, I wouldn't want an able-bodied straight white man to speak over me! So don't do it for people of colour. Use your voice, but LISTEN and amplify BIPOC voices. White people do need to speak out about racism and white privilege, but remember that you do not understand what racial discrimination feels like. You haven't experienced it, and this is not about you.
- Peaceful Protest. As we're still in a global pandemic, you need to take extra precaution to stay safe. Make sure you have a face-mask, practice social-distancing as much as you can, and wear gloves. Carry hand sanitizer and water. If you feel unwell, GO HOME. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, or someone you live with does, do not put others at risk by protesting.
Online Petitions to Sign
Change.org is the main place to sign petitions. Make sure to verify your email address after signing. Share petitions, but I wouldn't recommend donating directly through Change.org. It's better to donate directly to organisations that need the funding, to be sure that 100% of the money is going to them.
There are so many more petitions, with new ones created every day. I'd recommend regularly browsing Change.org, and keeping an eye out for more petitions on Twitter.
Where to Donate
How To Donate For Free
If you can't afford to donate, there are several streams and videos on YouTube to watch, where the ad revenue generated is donated to Black Lives Matter charities and bail funds. Don't skip the ads!
I've been watching this stream, featuring some incredibly talented Black musicians and artists.
For more 'stream-to-donate' videos, check this Youtube playlist of 49 videos.
Educational Resources
Some Books About Racism + White Privilege.
Videos
Writers, Bloggers + Influencers.
- MALORIE BLACKMAN OBE. Read her books. Follow her on Twitter.
- Myonna spoke about her experience on Booktube + Book Twitter as a Black woman. Watch her video.
- Bri Cuz I Said So has written a blog post featuring more resources and petitions supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.
- Laila Woozeer has written many pieces about race, cultural appropriation, ethnicity, and not being white in the UK. Laila is writing a book titled 'Not Quite White'. You can find their work here and on their blog, TapeParade.
- Michelle Chai from DaisyButter has written about her experiences as a British-Chinese woman.
- Ghenet from Ghenet Actually has written about her experience living in the UK as an African-American woman from New York, on why representation is important, and mental health.
- Stephanie Yeboah is amazing. She writes about plus-size style as a woman of colour, and is definitely someone you need on your feed. I've learned a lot from her over the years. Stephanie's Book 'Fattily Ever After' comes out in September 2020. Twitter: @StephanieYeboah.
- Grace F Victory is another Black woman who should be on your timeline. Her blog, Gracie Francesca, has the tagline of 'Style and Substance', and I can't think of a better way to describe her writing. Twitter: @GraceFVictory.
- Francisca Rockey is a blogger, activist, and geographer. She founded BlackGeographers, launching in July 2020. Twitter: @FranciscaRockey.
- Eboni Dixon wrote about her experience growing up mixed-race.
- 75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice. Written in 2017 by Corinne Shutack. Still relevant.
- NoWhiteSaviours on Instagram.
I'll leave you with the above graphic by Boise State Writing Center, to emphasise what white privilege is.
Black Lives Matter.
