If You Are Silent, You Are Complicit
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| @punkamuse on Instagram |
A week ago, the world witnessed the brutal murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police. In the days to follow, the Twin Cities would erupt into protests and riots demanding justice and change. Some of those riots became violent when police escalated. Some of us watched as our favorite shops and restaurants burned to their foundation.
But lives are always more important than property and merchandise. These businesses can rebuild, with help from their communities, and they will. But those killed by police brutality and systemic racism will not rise from the ashes, and it is this injustice that we must all stand firmly against.
I know that most of you reading this are white. And here's my message to you: fellow white person, we need to get our shit together and learn how to truly be anti-racist. It's not enough to sit idly by and claim that we aren't racist because we've never dropped the n-word or crossed the street to avoid a Black man. It's not enough to have Black friends we claim to support, but remain silent when we witness microaggressions against them and others.
We have a unique privilege and that can be used for immense good. We have the power to lift up Black voices and call out our white friends and family members when they're not doing their part. We have the responsibility to speak up. It is our duty to learn to be anti-racist and to hold ourselves and those around us accountable for what we say, don't say, do, or don't do in the face of racism.
A lot of great resources and books have been making the rounds as places to start for white people who want to challenge their own feelings and understandings on race. A lot of these can be found with a quick Google search, but there are some important publications to also consider. These are: White Fragility:Why It’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo; How to be Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi; and Fatal Invention by Dorothy Roberts
Reading and learning is only part of the equation. Direct action and solidarity makes the boldest impact. If you're able to joint a protest in or near your city, keep these things in mind to stay safe from both police action and possible transmission of COVID-19. If protesting and showing up in person isn't feasible for you right now, linked below are a TON of resources and links to places needing donations, assistance, or support.
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| Newsweek Photo |
Links and Resources
Bail Funds
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Minnesota Freedom Fund
Chicago Bond
Philly Bail Fund
Action Network - Atlanta
Liberty Fund NYC
....more Bail Fund links here.
Helping The Community
GoFundMe - George Floyd
Black Visions Collective
Reclaim The Block
Medical Supply Fund
Twin City Recovery Project
Native Archive/MIGIZI
Autistic People of Color Fund
- make sure to Add The Note "APOC" to your donation
Black Businesses/Artists
Uncle Bobbies - Philly
Mahogany Books - DC
Semicolon Bookstore - Chicago
Ashay By The Bay - Oakland
...more bookstores here.
People of Color in Publishing
C.R. Photography - Minneapolis
Culture Brokers LLC - Minneapolis
Junita's Jar - Minneapolis
One21 Barbershop - Minneapolis
Optimism IC - Minneapolis
Scores Sports Bar - Minneapolis
...more Minneapolis businesses.
~ A lot of small businesses in Minneapolis were destroyed or damaged - here's a list of places that could use your donation and assistance!
#BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloyd #BreonnaTaylor #TonyMcDade #AhmaudArbery #DavidMcAtee
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