It is always important to be engaged in conscious anti-racism. It is not enough not to be racist when discrimination and oppression costs lives. To say this has gone on too long is not enough, because it never should have happened.
White, Asian, or those of us who have to check that ‘other’ box, we all have a responsibility to stand with our black brothers and sisters. When some of us are not equal, all of us are not equal.
Desmond Tutu, Human Rights Activist, said:
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality”
Here’s how you can help.
How to better educate yourself:
No matter how you learn best, there are countless resources available to help educate about race and oppression.
Here are some incredible resources for self-education, including a lesson plan.
Here is an excellent visual guide to allyship from Instagram:
For the poets out there, or just those who enjoy it, The Feminist Bookshop shared this incredible poem on their Instagram page:
If you want to dig deeper, there are also some books that you can read, like Reni Eddo-Lodge’s WHY I’M NO LONGER TALKING TO WHITE PEOPLE ABOUT RACE, for which she recently posted this information on how to get hold of the book:
This article also provides suggestions for other books that you can read.
Petitions you can sign:
Here is a great list of petitions you can sign for the US.
Here are some petitions you can sign in the UK.
Here are some further petitions and international resources.
Where to donate:
Donate to Black Lives Matter here.
Protests:
Protesting has throughout history been one of the most effective ways to make change in our society. Black Lives Matter protests have swept the world, and can be found in most major cities. With COVID 19 very much still a huge risk in many countries, please make sure it is safe for you to protest.
Weigh your choice to protest heavily with the risk that you may put yourself in especially if you, or someone you live with, is vulnerable. If you do choose to protest, make sure you do so safely. Star Wars actor and activist, John Boyega, shared this handy guide on how to be as safe as possible while protesting by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’ team:
Use your vote:
In a democracy, one of the greatest powers we wield is that of our vote. Consider whether politicians who make racist statements can be trusted with power over us, and research their voting records online if they are publicly available. We choose who runs our democracies, so make that choice count. Register to vote.
By Kahina Bouhassane
