This article is a culmination of several online resources found that can better educate, support and understand the current peaceful protests that are happening all over the world in response to police brutality to people of color after a graphic video of George Floyd dying under police custody was shared.
Educate Yourself
What is happening right now? George Floyd’s killing has brought to light (once again) the intense police brutality that exists today. Moreover, focused on black lives and minorities. This has ignited protests all over the world from Minneapolis where the incident happened to Toronto, London and Canada. Racism at its core has sadly been around for ages, and seems to be at a loss of change year after year where policemen murder without any seen real reason black men and women. The United States has had an ugly and long history of abuse of power with over 7,600 deaths in the hands of the police force since 2013, and its youngest victim a sweet 12 year-old girl. This is everyone’s fight.
“Racism Is Not Getting Worse, It’s Getting Filmed.”
Will Smith
The age in which we live in, cameras at the ready and recent generations growing in their activism and fight for equality has pushed barriers and made changes – but not enough. The anger is different this time. After years of Americans being killed by the police — more than 1,000 per year, for as long as statistics exist — something has changed over the past week. This time they are here to stay, to be heard and to make a change. What they want is for police, government, and the world to understand is that this time they will not go away and washed with the news as another month goes by and another person dies.
“The anger is different this time. After years of Americans being killed by the police — more than 1,000 per year, for as long as statistics exist — something has changed over the past week.”
It starts with, educating ourselves on the struggles, the history and accepting we are still learning. Learning about racism in your country towards minorities has never been more important, See below a list of resources to start understanding and educate yourself:
- “America’s Racial Contract Is Killing Us”
- An Antiracist Reading List
- The Case for Reparations
- No More Money for the Police
- Racial Gaslighting 101
- A short thread of long reads about British history, empire and colonialism
- LAPD, FBI collecting protest, looting footage as evidence for future arrests
- Francesca Sobande on the Digital Lives of Black Women in Britain
Plus some books, movies and documentaries:
- Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
- Me and White Supremacy: How to Recognise Your Privilege, Combat Racism and Change the World by Layla F. Saad
- White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
- I Am Not Your Baby Mother by Candice Braithwaite
- So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
- Race Matters by Cornel West
- I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a world made for whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
- “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
- “Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire” by Akala
- “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Alex Haley and Malcom X
- “Sister Outsider” by Audre Lorde
- “Killing Rage: Ending Racism” by bell hooks
- “The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin
- “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X Kendi
- “Me and White Supremacy: How to Recognise Your Privilege, Combat Racism and Change” by Layla Saad
- “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colourblindness” by Michelle Alexander
- “White Tears, Brown Scars” by Ruby Hamad
- PDF of free books written by black activists
- Children’s book that discuss race & racism
- An Antiracist Reading List
- Gwendolyn Brooks: Riot (1969)
- When They See Us – Netflix
- I Am Not Your Negro – Documentary Amazon
- Dear White People – Netflix
- The Hate U Give -Hulu
- What happens when I try to talk race with white people – YouTube
- White People, Enough: A Look at Power and Control | Jaelyn Coates | TEDxCSU
- Let’s get to the root of racial injustice | Megan Ming Francis | TEDxRainier
- Not all Superheros wear capes-how you have the power to change the world | Nova Reid | TEDxFrankfurt
Act and Show Your Support
If you have the chance to show up to a peaceful protest near you – do so. It is not enough to share in social media and ‘support’ the movement in spirit. In order to be the change we want to see, we all need to come together in numbers and be part of the conversation.
However, if you are planning to join a protest take extra precautions due to the ongoing pandemic as well has how violence has escalated in some of these demonstrations with the usage of tear gas and rubber bullets by the police. Assess your risk and the risk of the people you live with before deciding whether to join in-person action. Protesting gear list should include: face mask, gloves, googles and appropriate clothes. Others might include duck tape, laser pointer (this confuses the police and makes it harder for them to aim tear gas), and some bandages.
- What should we do with videos of police brutality?
- 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
- Why you should stop saying “all lives matter,” explained in 9 different ways
You can also donate and support on-going organizations that are funding and helping the movement as well as call your legislators and demand police accountability. Some quick links for more can be found below:
- Black Lives Matter
- Black Visions Collective
- American Civil Liberties Union
- NAAPC Legal Defense and Education Fund
- George Floyd Memorial Fund
- Justice for George Floyd
- Black Visions Collective
- Antiracist Research & Policy Center
- The Bail Project
- Know Your Rights Camp
Moving Forward
Racial injustice doesn’t disappear when the topic isn’t ‘trending’. Keep learning about what impact that has and how you can be better every day. It starts with you, today, tomorrow, forever. The conversation has expanded to the abuse of power, police brutality, and the dismantlement of power structures of oppression.
“In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be antiracist.”
Angela Davis
Unikorn.org stands in solidarity with protestors and understands that it is not enough to not be racist as we have to actively be antiracist – it is our responsibility to listen, learn, take action, fail, repeat till needed.
There are always more, this list is non-exhaustive. Research in your local community how to help and comment more resources you find along.