Sup?
I took time to write this because there’s so much happening in Philly, in America and across the world. I actually started on June 2nd, and now on the 8th it’s getting published. It’s so wild that my last 2 posts have been on digital wellness because this week I’ve reduced my time on social media…definitely a good move for my mental health. At the same time, I felt I needed updates and twitter was the quickest and most up to date method to know what was happening! It’s an insane balancing act one has to do: to get on or not to get on. Speaking of mental health, here are some resources for the the Black community during this time.
Black Lives Matter.
Remember when Trayvon Martin was murdered? It was in 2012. I do. I remember the news & the following weeks very clearly. I remember the Back Lives Matter protests then.
Remember when Mike Brown was killed? I remember. I viscerally remember how I felt when the officer that shot Mike Brown in Ferguson wasn’t indicted. I was in Columbia, South Carolina ( a few months before Bree Newsome) and I was SURE he’d be indicted. My roommate, another young Black woman getting her masters in public health, and I watched the news and we were speechless. Pain all throughout our apartment. One of our roommates, an international student, was trying to sort through everything (this type of violence was new to her), but we had no energy to explain. That was when I realized, truly realized…America & its systems + institutions ain’t for us and we need to stop trying to make them change for us.
I remember Sandra Bland. Rekia Boyd. Aiyana Stanley-Jones. Breonna Taylor. #sayhername. Tamir Rice. Eric Garner. Sean Bell and HUNDREDS more. Their lives were taken unjustly and without case and more often than not, the perpetrator(s) aren’t found guilty (if they even are arrested or indicted.)
For years, Black lives have been taken. The biggest difference is that now, it is being filmed. AND although murders have been filmed for years, currently:
Over 100,000 Americans have died due to COVID-19 and disproportionately, Black and Brown people are dying.
40 million Americans have filed for unemployed and disproportionately, Black and Brown people are suffering without jobs
Micro-aggressions, stereotyping and implicit/explicit biases are hurting us. Wait wut? BBQ Becky-2018. Amy Cooper- 2020. And MANY others.
There are several things you can do regardless of where you live:
Donate to a city’s bail funds. A list can be found here.
Learn about the Black Lives Matter movement and support your local chapter.
Support black owned business & restaurants in your city. Simultaneously, do research to learn about which companies support Trump and have racists work policies so you can stop patronizing them. There are tons of lists online, check them out. Research.
Research local non-profits and grassroots organizations and donate to them because bail funds and BLM are being flooded with $$. What’s happening in your community? Give to your CDC or civic associations. Once again…research!
Get involved in local politics. Testify at city council hearings. Tweet and call your city council members.
Philly: our Mayor is planning to increase the police department budget while cutting others.
Here’s a script for when you reach out to council. The budget hearing in Philly is 6/9 .
for your city, learn about what’s being funding and speak up about it. Budgets hearing are open to the public.
If you are looking to get involved, learning about what’s being funded, the platforms of local politicians vs what they do in office and attending city council meeting are some of the ways you can become more informed and advocate for issues important to you.
Non Black people: Educate yourself. Become a better ally. SPEAK TF UP! Below are some resources, but there are so many more floating on the web now. It’s not the job of your Black friends or coworkers to teach you.
Black people, take care of yourselves. Remember that not everyone needs to be on the front line, there are so many ways that we can support the movement and support organizers. Check in on your peoples. Carve out moments for joy in this time and take care of yourself. Also, listen and learn. I have been learning so much these days.
**LASTLY** My friend Judy is an organizer and will be creating a newsletter about organizing. It will include theories of change, organizing principles, resources and ways to take action. I HIGHLY suggest you sign-up for this newsletter. Who should sign up? Everyone from anywhere. Sign-up sheet found here!
xo-Jordan
