To my fellow white and non-Black POC friends and family- we need to address racism. Both internalized and systemic. This is not a conversation on being a good person or bad person. It is not a conversation about what forms of protest you think are right or wrong. Bottom line…it is not about YOUR/MY feelings. It is about Black lives dying in this country and the silence of white people. It is about racism that never ended, but has just become more suppressed and ignored and buried. No one is above this. Even if you are liberal/have progressive political beliefs, even if you already donated money, even if you have Black friends or a Black partner, even if you are religious/spiritual, even if you are passionate about other causes, even if you are old, or young. Or too busy. Or an empath. No one is above this work. Don’t just think about it conceptually- we need to go deeper to really understand our role in white supremacy.
If you are new to this work, or your hackles go up when you hear the word “racism” or “white people”, I will first share a few articles, books, podcasts, etc. that have helped me a lot to unpack this work.
Then, I am going to point you in the direction of resources to do anti-racism work. This is so crucial: the reflection work. While articles, podcasts, and non-journal-prompt books are very very important…they keep us in the philosophical/intellectual space. They do not address our own history and belief system in the way that workshops and journal prompt work does. PLEASE DO THIS WORK.
I have also linked a past post that shares a number of Black artists, businesses, healers, educators, authors, etc. who I look up to. We need to SUPPORT BLACK LIFE as much as honoring Black death and our work to be in better solidarity.
Make time for anti-racism work. It is an everyday practice. Not just reading an article, or going to one protest, or posting one thing, or having one conversation…
internalized and systemic oppression via nationalequityproject.org
Articles, Podcasts, Books, Films
–The Way of Tenderness by Zen Earthly Manuel
-The work of Rachel Cargle who specifically aims to address the blindspots of white feminism.
–The Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture by Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun
Watch her most popular lecture on this topic here.
–“White Fragility and the Rules of Engagement” an article by
Robin DiAngelo
–Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women White Feminists Forgot by Mikki Kendall
–The Quest for Environmental Justice: Human Rights and the Politics of Pollution edited by Robert D. Bullard
–The Conscious Kid on instagram
–13th the film (on Netflix)
*-“I need to talk to spiritual white women about white supremacy (Part One)“ by Layla F. Saad
–Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
*-White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
–So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
via @theconsciouskid
Reflective work
–“Me and White supremacy” workbook by Layla F Saad ((a must do))
–The Good Ancestor Academy– workshops by Layla F Saad (parents- there is one for you! TEACH YOUR KIDS! This starts YOUNG. Teach them otherwise).
-Desiree Adaway of The Adaway Group which offers inclusive workplace advising, consulting, speaking engagements, and training.
– The work of Rachel Ricketts and her Spiritual Activism online courses! Her website also has tons of great links and information- both for white people and healing resources for WOC. Spend some time on there!
–Outer Work – an anti-racism practice group led by Lenéa Sims
–Ericka Hines consulting, training, assessments for businesses/organizations
– McKensie Mack Group trainings and consulting (esp for organizations/leaders/bosses)
–Leesa Renee Hall and Inner Field Trips (reflective writing prompts to unpack unconscious biases).
Instagram accounts to follow and listen/learn from (just a few I have learned a lot from):
@laylafsaad
@ajabarber
@krystalcmack
@divahines
@leesareneehall
@desireeadaway
@hoodherbalism
@blackandembodied
@decolonialatlas
@wellreadblackgirl
@thegreatunlearn
@sonyareneetaylor
@innocenceproject
@rachel.cargle
@mspackyetti
@ambertamm
@colorofchange
@ihartericka
I also have a previous blog post with some of my favorite Black businesses, voices, and more.
(header photo via @spiritdaughter on instagram)
