Illustration by Alice Skinner and quote by Desmond Tutu
Not only has this past week been incredibly painful, but it has been completely eye opening. George Floyd was killed by a police officer who kept his knee pinned on Geroge’s neck in Minneapolis, and that comes after the murders of Breonna Taylor in her own apartment, and Ahmaud Arbrey while jogging. The racism happening in this country is despicable, and while I have never used my platform to speak out, I learned this week just how wrong it has been to remain silent. I always had the privileged and incorrect mentality that “I know that I am not racist” so why do I need to prove my beliefs? But the problem, I have since learned, with this mentality is that if we remain silent, we are siding with the racists. If we remain silent, we risk so much more. I know that I am not fully educated on the Black Lives Matter movement, and I know that I have SO MUCH to learn. I also know that I will never understand how it feels to be black, especially in a time of political unrest like the present. I watched a video that was circulating on instagram with black parents teaching their children how to speak to police, and I wept. I could not imagine being a mother to a black son right now. I could not imagine having the conversation where I teach my daughter to say “I am 8 years old, I am unarmed and I have nothing that will hurt you.” I am privileged – I can get pulled over by the police and not feel fear. I can jog, and not feel fear.
If the circumstances were different, and I did not have two young kids at home with me, I would be in Brooklyn marching. My insides are aching to be marching, and to be doing more, reading more, helping more. I stand with my black friends and People of Color, and while I can’t physically show up, I want to show support for black lives and the end of police violence and systematic racism in our country by using this platform to share resources. We start today in making sure that Hudson and Charlie are not just “not racist” but are actively ANTI RACISM. No child is born hating someone for the color of their skin, and it is heartbreaking to me that every violent and racist police officer was taught by someone else to behave this way. I wanted to take this time to share a blog post that I will continue to add to, with books I plan to read for myself, books I plan to read to my children, petitions I have been signing, and black-owned businesses you can support by shopping at. I know that this is only one small way to stand with the black communities now, and every day going forward. and I realize I have a lot to work on myself.
Books You Can Read To Educate Yourself:
Two books I’ve ordered that a lot of you recommended to me in beginning to educate myself are:
Antiracist Baby: This book is on pre-order, and I cannot wait to receive it to read to the boys.
Same, Same but Different: This book is about penpals across the world who have similar interests.
All Are Welcome: This one is about a day at school, where everyone is welcomed and the children learn about each other’s different traditions.
The Skin You Live In: The rhyme in this book is fun and the images are vibrant, and it shares discussions around acceptance, but in a positive light.
a kids book about racism: This one is also on backorder, but it breaks down what racism is in a way that kids can comprehend.
We’re Different, We’re The Same: I love the message that this book shares in showing we may be different on the outside, but inside we are all the same.
Black-Owned Businesses You Can Support:
Motherhood:
Cater To Mom: Martha, the CEO and Founder, created her business after realizing that postpartum care isn’t talked about or focused on. Her Postpartum Recovery Box is an incredible resource to new moms.
The Bom: This incredible market is a shopping destination for people to interact and shop with black business owners. They carry a wide assortment of products from skincare to home goods to cleaning products.
Auctober Love: Created by two sisters, these adorable earrings are fashionable and lightweight. I love this mustard pair.
Back Track: This is the most rad vintage shop created by Eric Brown Jr – He converted an old school bus into his shop, and it focused primarily on 90s vintage.
Grant Blvd: Grant Blvd creates stylish clothing that uses no new fabric and no new water, and focuses on sustainability.
Sacree Fangine: Founded by two childhood friends, their prints are inspired by portraits, still lives and feminine themes. I love this shirt.
Doe and Deer: These custom-made crochet pieces are absolutely stunning, and are all made-to-order by Jackie.
ctwenty-two: An awesome vintage and sustainable clothing brand – their t-shirt collection is amazing, I love this vintage Mickey tee.
Bail Funds: Split your donation across 37 reputable bail funds across America.
Find Your Local Bail Fund: “Every night, almost half a million people—who have not been convicted of anything—go to sleep in jail cells because they cannot afford to pay cash bail.”Source. Read more about the history of bail in America and why it is important to donate to bail funds to support people protesting injustice here.
Stream to Donate: This is a completely free way to contribute to the movement. Turn off your ad blocker, and let the ads roll all the way through. The ad revenue will be donated to the BLM movement.
Rebuilding Black Businesses: This money will be distributed amongst business owners across America that have been affected. You can find more businesses to contribute to here.
You can find more resources and places to donate here.
Online Petitions:
Justice For Floyd Petition: Sign the petition demanding the officers who killed George Floyd to be charged with murder. Currently, Officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. The three other officers, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng, are still free, and must also be charged for participating in George’s murder. It takes only seconds to sign.
Work your way down this list of important petitions to sign to demand a bureaucratic response.
Text to Sign:
Text “JUSTICE” to 668366
Text “FLOYD” to 55156
Text “ENOUGH” to 55156
Contact Your Representatives:
Find your local representatives here. Use this template to help communicate your demands.
Contact the Minneapolis District Attorney and Minneapolis Police Department regarding the murder of George Floyd using this form.
In New York State, police officers’ disciplinary and performance records are confidential and can not be accessed except by court order. Read more about the fight to repeal or reform Section 50-a here and get involved here.
Education and Mental Health Resources:
Educate: This Carrd compiles great resources to help educate yourself and others about the social issues of racism and anti-blackness that permeate our society at every level.
