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The Horrific Mass Shooting in Buffalo: How to Talk with Young People

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Help young people reflect on and discuss the issues raised by the mass shooting incident in Buffalo, NY.

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racial trauma and ways to cope - the conscious kid

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racial trauma and ways to cope - the conscious kid

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The feeling in the pit of your stomach before you have "The Talk" (how to act in racially charged situations so your child can come home safely); The anger you feel when your child shares a racist social media post from one of her/his classmates; The anxiety you feel around your colleagues after the murder of another Black person; The confusion and overwhelming feeling you have when your normally mature child starts regressing to childlike behavior due to a racial incident at school; These are just a few of the stories I've heard from my clients as they share their experiences of racialized trauma.

What you feel is valid. The pain, hurt and trauma you feel daily due to racial injustice is valid. Moreover, the changes and reactions you see in your children might not be attributed to a character deficit, attitude or chemical imbalance, but it could be due to racial trauma.

Racial Trauma represents the emotional and physical symptoms often experienced by Black families and people of color due to the everyday occurrences of microaggressions and racism. It includes intergenerational injuries resulting from personal and collective experiences of racism. The public murders of George Floyd & Breonna Taylor among the numerous others, add to the multiple assaults that families experience daily due to racial injustice and can cause an increase in traumatic symptoms. Both adults and children can experience racial trauma. Some of the symptoms can include hypervigilance (anxious and on high alert), body aches, shame, fear, insomnia (lack of sleep), fear, guilt, headaches, confusion, numbness, and anger among others. Knowing these signs can help you recognize and cope with what you and your family may be experiencing.

1) Increased Anxiety - Worry and anxiety can be a normal part of life, but after traumatic experiences anxiety can increase significantly. Being afraid to go out, increased worry about interacting with the police, walking in your neighborhood or other fears may reflect the trauma you've experienced. Try to relax and take some deep breaths, it can make a huge difference. Then find someone, such as a therapist, to talk to help you with your anxiety.

2) Being Silent - Feeling numb and not wanting to speak can be another sign. Many Black families don't want to talk about racism or are tired about talking about racism because it triggers the pain and hurt of the trauma, some of which they have felt a majority of their lives. It's okay to unplug and take care of yourself!

3) Lack of Sleep/Insomnia - Trouble going to sleep or going back to sleep, increased nightmares or a more frequent desire to sleep in bed with parents can reflect underlying anxiety, concerns and fears. Difficulties sleeping often signify emotional distress. Sharing messages of love and safety with children and finding safe healthy coping strategies among adults are important!

4) Intense Anger & Rage - Anger can be used to make changes or be a sign that something is wrong, such as injustice. But prolonged intense anger and rage can take over and fill you with negative energy. Counteract devaluing messages and find productive ways to express anger so that it won't consume you.

5) Lack of Production/Academic Decline - Difficulties performing your job or academic challenges that weren't present before is another sign that you or your child could be experiencing racial trauma. Recognize your trauma, take time to get support from loved ones and take care of yourself!

Over the past decade alone, there have been numerous murders and other examples of racial injustices discussed in the public sphere. This means that if you have a child or children under 18 years of age, they have likely experienced at least three major national uprisings and protests as a result of racism and injustice (2012 Florida/Trayvon Martin, 2014 Ferguson/Michael Brown, 2015 Baltimore/Freddie Gray and Sandra Bland & 2020 Minneapolis/George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, not to mention countless other Black people who have been unjustly murdered). All of these public deaths along with one's private experiences exacerbate the impact of Racial Trauma on families and children.

Many children and young adults are overwhelmed by trauma and what feels like frequent (constant) occurrences of injustice. Some are inspired and motivated to action and others may feel hopeless and in despair. You can support your children and family by engaging in difficult conversations, providing opportunities for them to share their feelings and fears and finding mechanisms of advocacy that you can engage in collectively. It's important to get the help and support you need for yourself and your children. Having supportive teachers, colleagues and community to rely on can help to minimize the symptoms of racial trauma. It's not made up, or an overreaction, it's real and both your feelings and your children's feelings are valid.
Dr. George James (@GeorgeTalks), Chief Innovation Officer, Senior Staff Therapist & Supervisor at https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/schools/lynch-school/sites/isprc/isprc-advisory-board.html Council for Relationships https://studylib.net/doc/11084190/combating-racial-trauma-definition-acknowledge https://www.joydegruy.com/post-traumatic-slave-syndrome , Assistant Professor for the Couple and Family Therapy Program at Thomas Jefferson University and CEO of George Talks LLC.
Menakem, R. (2017). My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies. Las Vegas: Central Recovery Press. ISBN-13: 978-1942094470

Comas-Díaz, L., Hall, G. N., & Neville, H. A. (2019). Racial trauma: Theory, research, and healing: Introduction to the special issue. American Psychologist, 74(1), 1-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/amp0000442 - https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2019-01033-001.html

Williams, M. (2015, September). The Link Between Racism and PTSD. Psychology Today

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The feeling in the pit of your stomach before you have "The Talk" (how to act in racially charged situations so your child can come home safely); The anger you feel when your child shares a racist social media post from one of her/his classmates; The anxiety you feel around

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Family Conversations About Hate Incidents, Terrorism, and Bias Motivated Violence

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Family Conversations About Hate Incidents, Terrorism, and Bias Motivated Violence

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ADL - Empowering Young People in the Aftermath of Hate

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Conversaciones En Familia Sobre Incidentes De Odio, Terrorismo Y Violencia Motivada Por Prejuicios  

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Conversaciones En Familia Sobre Incidentes De Odio, Terrorismo Y Violencia Motivada Por Prejuicios  

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ADL - Descargar guía completa en Español

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Supporting Kids Of Color In the Wake Of Racialized Violence by EmbraceRace

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Supporting Kids Of Color In the Wake Of Racialized Violence by EmbraceRace

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Supporting Kids Of Color In the Wake Of Racialized Violence by EmbraceRace

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The recent police-involved deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and the shootings of officers in Dallas, have left many parents, guardians, teachers and others at a loss about how best to help children make sense of these events.

The challenge is especially acute in the case of children of color, who are more likely than white kids to identify with the black and brown people disproportionately killed by police.

How can caring adults best support kids of color? How do we help children feel safe without overpromising or making them fearful? How do we teach them to approach the world with love and possibility when they so often seem targeted for harm?

EmbraceRace co-founders Andrew Grant-Thomas and Melissa Giraud had this discussion with parents, teachers and other concerned adults, as well as invited expert guests, child psychologist Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith and educator Dr. Sandra “Chap” Chapman. They spoke via conference call on 7/14/16. 
 

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An excellent way to find in-person and virtual events. Filter by type, location, organization/campaign, tags, and/or ADA accessibility.

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Take action with Mobilize. Find high-impact opportunities near you.

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Progressive Organizations That Need Your Support, Now More Than Ever, in Trump’s America

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Progressive Organizations That Need Your Support, Now More Than Ever, in Trump’s America

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An easy way to take action right now is to learn more, get involved, and donate, your money and your time, to progressive organizations such as the ones listed here.

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W Magazine | Women's Fashion & Celebrity News

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The hours following the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States has left many feeling speechless, helpless, and utterly devastated. But as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama said in their respective post-election remarks, liberals, Democrats and independents must keep fighting, especially after January 20, when the government will controlled by a party that has made pulling back the progress of the last eight years, including affordable healthcare for all, a priority of their White House, their Congress, and, just as likely, their judiciary.

Clinton in particular, in her concession speech, urged activists and community organizers to fight for "what's right:" "I believe we are stronger together and we will go forward together. And you should never, ever regret fighting for that. You know, scripture tells us, 'Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in good season we shall reap.' My friends, let us have faith in each other, let us not grow weary and lose heart, for there are more seasons to come and there is more work to do."

An easy way to take action right now is to learn more, get involved, and donate, your money and your time, to progressive organizations like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, among many others. (Note: some of these organizations' sites have crashed because of high interest following the election; be patient.)

Below, a list of organizations that need your support now more than ever.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Mission: To ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.
Donate here.

The Trevor Project Mission: A national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for gay and questioning youth. Donate here.
Watch W's most popular videos here:

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Progressive Organizations That Need Your Support, Now More Than Ever,

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The hours following the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States has left many feeling speechless, helpless, and utterly devastated.

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A comprehensive list of education resources curated by the staff at Project HOME.

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How to Deconstruct Racism, One Headline at a Time

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How to Deconstruct Racism, One Headline at a Time

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Baratunde Thurston explores the phenomenon of white Americans calling the police on black Americans who have committed the crimes of ... eating, walking or generally "living while black." In this profound, thought-provoking and often hilarious talk, he reveals the power of language to change stories of trauma into stories of healing -- while challenging us all to level up.

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Baratunde Thurston: How to deconstruct racism, one headline at a time

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Baratunde Thurston explores the phenomenon of white Americans calling the police on black Americans who have committed the crimes of ... eating, walking or generally "living while black." In this profound, thought-provoking and often hilarious talk, he reveals the power of language to change stories of trauma into stories of healing -- while challenging us all to level up.

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Ally Resource Guide: Your Ally Journey Starts Here!

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Ally Resource Guide: Your Ally Journey Starts Here!

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Over 80 pages of stories, resources, conversation starters, journal prompts, videos, and personal anecdotes about how you can better unpack your internal bias and be a better ally for the Black community. Over the next 30 days, you'll have a total transformation in your thinking, understanding, and commitment to allyship.

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Your Ally Journey Starts Here!

Over 80 pages of stories, resources, conversation starters, journal prompts, videos, and personal anecdotes about how you can better unpack your internal bias and be a better ally for the Black community. Over the next 30 days, you'll have a total transformation in your thinking, understanding, and commitment to allyship. I'm excited to have you be a part of this movement! You ready?

I'm ready!

One day at a time...

Work through daily prompts, stories, videos, quotes, and a very honest discussion on some of the harder topics to discuss regarding race and the Black community.

Before you start...

Accountability is everything, so you'll want to set aside a journal JUST for this journey, grab a friend who you can do this with, and have an open mind as you read through some depressing, triggering, and raw information.

Mantras make the master...

I love mantras, and I get a lot of mine through quotes! So I have a few of my favorite civil rights quotes sprinkled throughout and they're timeless reminders of how far we still have to go.

Love what you're doing and I thank you for your leadership! I spoke to Gabby [Bernstein] and we talked about you. Excited to connect, and thanks for all your great work!

IG: @brendonburchard

Glo, your thoughtfulness, leadership, kindness, joy, vulnerability, bravery, all of it is demonstrating that love and empathy can be stronger than hate. Humanity thanks you. Humanity needs you!

IG: @melkurkjian

Today the COO at my company allowed me time at our department meeting to speak on someone who has helped with my anti-racism work, so I spoke about you and your ally guide. The way that you're opening your heart and soul to teach (although it is not owed in any form) is beautiful and inspiring and makes me hungry to do more. Thank you for offering a guiding hand while pushing for self-education."

IG: @cjbraun

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Over 80 pages of stories, resources, conversation starters, journal prompts, videos, and personal anecdotes about how you can better unpack your internal bias and be a better ally for the Black community. Over the next 30 days, you'll have a total transformation in your thinking, understanding, and commitment to allyship.

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How to Talk to Your Children About Protests and Racism

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How to Talk to Your Children About Protests and Racism

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As cities and social media explode with anger over the killing of yet another black man at the hands of police, worried parents struggle with how to protect their children from seeing the worst of the violence while simultaneously explaining the ravages of racism.

It couldn't have come at a worse time.

Sheltering at home for months to avoid the deadly coronavirus, many parents stressed by juggling work and child care from home had eased their restrictions on screen time for their children.

Now it's even more likely that kids might find the video of George Floyd, an unarmed and handcuffed black man in Minneapolis, gasping for breath as a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck.

Even if they haven't, experts say parents should assume their children are already aware of tragedies like these and their aftermath.

"Children and adolescents are experiencing the collateral consequences of the publicized murderers of Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and George Floyd, whether they have a smartphone in their direct possession or not," said California pediatrician Dr. Rhea Boyd, who teaches nationally on the relationship between structural racism, inequity and health.

"Whether from social media accounts, conversations with peers or caregivers, overheard conversations, or the distress they witness in the faces of those they love, children know what is going on," Boyd said. "And without the guidance and validation of their caregivers, they may be navigating their feelings alone."

Take care of you first

How can a parent help their child traverse these disturbing times?

Let the child's age and level of development guide you, experts say, but first, be sure that you are in the right frame of mind.

"A parent's first step is to take care of themselves, their mental health, their emotional health. Put their oxygen mask on first before they put the oxygen mask on their child," said Chicago pediatrician Dr. Nia Heard-Garris, who chairs the minority health, equity and inclusion committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

"Vicarious trauma through screens is real, especially for marginalized communities who may have experienced similar actions first-hand," said Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician who teaches at the University of Michigan.

The stress of watching traumatic events on television and smartphones "lingers within our bodies and minds," Radesky added. She suggests parents find ways to channel that energy with positive actions, such as deep breathing and re-grounding exercises, before playing with or talking to your kids.

"This doesn't mean letting go of the anger or anxiety, it just means organizing it better so you can think and act more clearly," she said.

Once a parent is fully available to be a calm, rational voice, "then you can parse out what's important to pass onto your child so that you're not oversharing information that may further traumatize them or make them feel insecure or unsafe," Heard-Garris said.

Infants and toddlers

While children younger than three aren't going to understand what is happening on television, they will be able to pick up on the "fear, urgency, or anger in people's voices and behaviors," Radesky said.

At this age, stress shows up in fussy or unregulated behavior. To keep that from occurring, parents should read, listen to or watch the news when the baby isn't physically there.

"Watch what you need to stay informed about your community, but then turn it off and do something that makes your family feel connected and whole," Radesky said. "You may need to re-ground yourself or regulate your thoughts and feelings before re-engaging with your kids."

This is the time to begin teaching your child about systemic racism and how to identify and refute it, experts say.

Racist stereotypes and bias begin at a shockingly young age.

As early as six months, a baby's brain can notice race-based differences, and can internalize racial bias by ages two to four, said Maryland pediatrician Dr. Jacqueline Dougé, who co-authored the AAP's statement on the impact of racism on child and adolescent health.

"Learning" racism is a lot like learning a new language for babies and toddlers, wrote Dougé and California pediatrician Dr. Ashaunta Anderson in a separate commentary. It can happen without parental input, just by the racial stereotypes so prevalent in society.

By age 12, many children become set in their beliefs. That gives parents "a decade to mold the learning process, so that it decreases racial bias and improves cultural understanding," they wrote.

While helpful for all races, it's especially important for white children to see brown and black kids in a positive light to fight systemic racism, experts say. Books that profile multi-racial characters are an excellent way for parents to do that. And since it's never too early to read to a baby, start right away.

Common Sense Media, a non-profit that rates movies, TV shows, books, apps and other media for parents and schools, has curated a list of 80 books with diverse, multi-cultural characters for preschoolers and older, some of which could easily be suitable for babies and toddlers.

"There's also a website called the Brown Bookshelf," said Heard-Garris. "These are books that have, brown and black protagonists who deal at times with tough issues. I think books are really, really fundamental, especially for younger kids."

Preschool and elementary ages

This is the age when kids begin to ask questions on why other people look different than they do.

"If your child asks about someone's skin tone, you might say, 'Isn't it wonderful that we are all so different!' You can even hold your arm against theirs to show the differences in skin tones in your family," according to Dougé and Anderson.

At this age, children will see and absorb disturbing images from protests and riots literally, "likely focusing on worrying about a burning van or a scary-looking person in a mask," Radesky said.

Parents should do their best to limit the exposure children this age have to media, whether television, smart phones or tablets, experts say.

"This can be done by setting certain times that children can use their devices, co-view the content with their children, find other activities like playing outside, games, cooking together, set rules that kids should use the devices in a common area where parents can check in," Dougé said.

"These times also provide opportunities for parents to model the behavior they want their kids to follow by also limiting their exposure to media," Dougé added.

But as Boyd said, children will likely have already overheard adult conversations, or been exposed to what is happening via social media accounts and conversations with friends.

"Parents who have not already, should proactively engage their kids around these distressing events," Boyd said. "Ask them what they know and what they've seen. Ask them how they are feeling. Validate their feelings and let them know what you are doing to keep them safe - be it in your home or your community."

Parents will also need to give their children the broader societal context of racism in order to try to explain the rage of protestors filling the streets of cities across the nation, Radesky said.

By doing so, parents can help build empathy and teach perspective-taking, rather than focusing on the child's specific fears.

"Instead of focusing on questions the child may have about concrete things, ask them questions like 'How do you think those people were feeling? Do you know why they were angry? What do you do when you feel like something is unfair?' " Radesky said.

"Providing a controlled space to understand what is going on and ways to process it will help children navigate the distressing emotions, helplessness and fear they may be experiencing," Boyd said.

Age-appropriate books that deal with discrimination and explain feelings from different perspectives are extremely helpful during this time, experts say.

"You can also show them videos of peaceful protests from the past, where people were inspired to demand fair treatment," said Radesky, while warning that some YouTube videos can contain intense political and disinformation ads occurring before and during videos.

"Just skip those and start showing your young kids the Martin Luther King Jr. or other video once the ad has passed," Radesky suggested. "For older children, you can ask them what they think of different ads and whether they're trustworthy."

'The talk'

For black families, there is another, more painful necessity at this age, known as "the talk." It's a series of "don'ts" black families have passed on for generations: Don't resist police. Stay away from bad places. Be respectful to white people and stay away from confrontation with white men, especially police.

"We're black folks so we don't have a choice but to talk about race and talk about racism," said Heard-Garris, who has a seven-year-old son. "So he can tell you probably more eloquently than I can about racism and he's seven."

She recalls with pain when he asked her if he would be the target of police violence at the tender age of four after he heard adults talk about a recent police shooting of an unarmed black man.

"He said to me 'Are police here to help me or do they shoot me? I thought they're supposed to keep me safe. I thought they were supposed to keep us safe.' And he was four," she related.

"And so we had a long conversation about how police are supposed to keep us safe, and I assured him that as his mom, that's my job. 'My first job is to always keep you safe,' I told him."

"As he grows, I'm going to have to have a more frank conversation that, 'Unfortunately you're going to do all the right things, but you might not be safe." And that's going to be a hard day for us."

The recent deaths of Breonna Taylor, an EMT who was killed in March after officers forced their way inside her home; Ahmaud Arbery, the 25-year-old unarmed black man shot while taking a jog in rural Georgia in February; and now George Floyd's death, has many black parents afraid that "the talk" may not be enough.

"The problem here is systemic racism and disregard for black lives," Heard-Garris said. "And so as a doctor, I don't just treat a patient that has a fever when they have a bacterial infection, right?

"I give them antibiotics. I don't just keep giving them Tylenol because that's not going to treat the infection. And I think as a country we need to treat the illness, which is systemic racism."

As Heard-Garris's story illustrates, when to begin "the talk" will be unique for each child and family, Boyd said.

"For some, it may be earlier than expected, because evidence indicates black children in particular are often perceived as older and less innocent than they are. For black girls this process of adultification can begin as young as age 5 and for black boys it can begin by age 10," Boyd said.

"Beginning 'the talk' with school aged children can prepare them for these encounters before they occur and equip them with tools that can be life saving," Boyd added.

As an Africian American pediatrician, Boyd discusses the topic often with parents of children in her care. She advises black parents to think of "the talk" as more of a process than a singular conversation.

"That process may begin with introducing stories through age-appropriate books or films that can generate questions you answer together. Or it can be an ongoing dialogue that is sparked by current events. Just remember to include specific guidance that enables your child to know their rights and the steps they can take to try and stay safe. And always be sure to let your child know it isn't fair they have to learn these lessons so young. But you are teaching then to try to keep them safe," Boyd said.

White parents can have "the talk" too, Boyd said.

"It's an important moment to build empathy with your child," she said. "It is also important to highlight the other children who may have fears or concerns related to their safety, and to model and practice 'upstanding' or acting in defense of those around them."

Tweens and teens

Of course, tweens and teens will likely be seeing all the coverage of police brutality and protests on their personal smartphones. Most teens get comfort by communicating with their friends on social media, Heard-Garris said. Some teens have even begun participating in online activism.

"Online activism is a coping response for some adolescents, especially right now while we're physically distant," Heard-Garris said. "Reposting, retweeting, expressing how they're feeling, chatting with friends has been helpful, sort of an active kind of coping response.

"Other teens, especially those that are not of a minority background, so those that are white, are educating themselves about why this is happening, what's the history of our country, what's happening right now. Intellectualizing the issues has been helpful for them to understand this is not just a today problem, this has been going on for years,'" Heard-Garris said.

At this age, kids will be able to think more abstractly about racism, injustice and violent versus peaceful protest and discuss their views with parents, experts say.

"Parents can ask their tweens or teens whether they've seen anything online about the riots and protests, what they think, and what about it was upsetting or inspiring," Radesky said.

As the parent of any teenager will attest, direct questioning of teens often doesn't produce constructive responses.

"I dunno," is a typical reaction, so Radesky suggests parents also try asking about the types of unfairness kids see or feel in their everyday lives.

Parents can also make good use of movies and documentaries that can educate older teens on the history of discrimination. Common Sense Media has lists of movies that discuss racism or inspire kids to "change the world" which can be used to jump start conversations about racism and how they can help fight it, Radesky said.

"You don't need to preach to children about what is 'right' or 'wrong,'" she said. "It's better to have a conversation where they come to their own understanding and can see things in a larger social context."

Kira Banks, a clinical psychologist whose website "Raising Equity" provides free videos and resources on how parents can fight racism and cultivate an open mind in themselves and their kids, suggests parents watch movies like "13th," a powerful look at institutional racism in the justice system that premiered in 2016 to a standing ovation at the New York Film Festival.

"Is this a teachable moment? Absolutely. It must be, it has to be," Banks said. "And if a person hasn't done the work to understand the history of racism and discrimination in America they should do so, and then join us in raising our children to see and disrupt racism, and be the change we want to see."

The work must be done by all social classes and races, experts say, including the most privileged.

"White and non-black families should not shield their older children from these images," Radesky said. "We need to engage our children in a conversation about racism, and use these events as a catalyst.

"While it is upsetting to watch, we need to sit with that discomfort and teach our families how to channel that energy to work to dismantle the racist structures that exist in our communities."

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

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How to talk to your children about protests and racism

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As cities and social media explode with anger over the killing of yet another black man at the hands of police, worried parents struggle with how to protect their children from seeing the worst of the violence while simultaneously explaining the ravages of racism. It couldn't have come at a worse time.

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Posted originally by @philippelazaro: If your feed looks anything like mine, social media has been a treasure trove lately of resources and tools for educating yourself on Antiracism...

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But, perhaps it feels like drinking from a fire hose. Where do you even get started? Not all these recommendations are made with the same audience in mind. And because racism poisons everything, there are so many different topics to cover.

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...I thought I would help by offering some flowcharts to help you find the right starting point for you. Plus, some of us learn best from books, while others through podcasts, documentaries, even fiction.

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White People. DOING Something. has 35,337 members. White People. DOING Something. is a group for people who identify as white and/or have white skin...

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Use Your Phone as a Witness

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This article is part of In Session: The Teen Vogue Lesson Plan. Find the full lesson plan here.

On one of the first warm spring weekends in New York City, photos and videos circulated on social media featuring police officers handing out masks to groups of mostly white residents lounging in city parks. That same weekend, videos of police officers - some of whom weren't wearing protective gear - using excessive force to arrest Black and Brown civilians for allegedly violating social distancing guidelines also circulated online. Videos, filmed by bystanders and community members, are helping to illuminate this new iteration of racist policing during COVID-19.

Over the past six years we've seen how critical video documentation can be in exposing violent and discriminatory policing, galvanizing public support around calls for accountability, and on rare occasions, even helping to secure justice in a courtroom. But far too often videos of police violence don't lead to convictions, despite what appears to be clear evidence of abuse. While people are inclined to whip out their phones and film when they see something alarming happening, those videos are not always recorded in a way that can be used as evidence in a legal proceeding or to support advocacy tactics.

At the human rights organization WITNESS, where I work as the senior U.S. program coordinator, we've learned that video has a greater chance of making an impact when it's filmed ethically and strategically, and released in coordination with advocacy and legal efforts. Using the camera in your pocket can be a valuable way to ensure the world bears witness to abusive policing and systemic racism, help hold authorities accountable, and advocate for the real safety of our communities. To help you film safely, ethically, and effectively, see the guidance below:

1. Safety first

The most important thing to consider when filming a police interaction is safety - your own and of the person you are filming. Filming or witnessing can escalate a situation, and sometimes bystanders become the target of police violence. The risk to your safety can depend on your identity - your background, race, gender, ethnicity, and so on - so it's important to think about whether or not you feel comfortable filming before you press record. There are important ways to bear witness even if you don't film, including standing in solidarity to let the person being targeted know they are not alone, or by taking notes. No footage is ever worth your safety.

2. Know your rights

In the United States, you have a 1st Amendment right to record law enforcement in public spaces as long as you don't interfere - even during COVID-19. But remember:

Whether or not you are interfering is totally up to the police officer in the moment (and later up to a judge or jury), so it's best to keep at least six feet of distance (or a car's length) between you and the incident while filming, especially during social distancing.

If the police officer tells you to back up, comply with their orders. You can even film your feet as you're backing up and say aloud, "I'm complying with orders."

If the police officer tells you to stop filming, you can assert your right to film if you feel comfortable doing so.

You can stay safe and still film critical footage from a distance, like from a window, balcony, rooftop, or fire escape.

For more information, see Justice Committee's COVID Copwatch Guidance

3. Prepare before you film

Even though an incident with police might occur without any notice, there are still ways you can prepare to ensure you are safe when filming:

Lock your phone with at least a six-digit passcode, not just the touch ID, face ID or pattern lock. For the most part, courts have ruled that you have a 5th Amendment constitutional right to not give up your cell phone passcode during a legal search. But that right is murkier when it comes to touch ID, face ID, or pattern lock, and courts have ruled both ways in the past. So it's safest to just stick with a six-digit passcode for now.

Set your phone to automatically back up to a cloud service like Dropbox or Google Drive. That way even if you break your phone, lose it, or it gets confiscated for any reason, you'll still have a backup of the video you filmed (we've seen this tactic work before). However, backing up footage to the cloud could leave the data vulnerable to legal requests from the police, depending on the company's policy.

4. Tell a story with your footage

Ask yourself, "If I wasn't here, what would I need to see to understand what happened?" Focus on details like:

Number of officers present, uniforms, badges, license plates, and any other identifying markers

Are the officers wearing masks and gloves? Are they practicing social distancing?

Are they using excessive force or violence? Are they using any racial slurs or discriminatory language?

Do they have weapons with them? Are they using them? Have they caused any property damage, ripped clothing, or injuries?

5. Try to provide evidence that your footage is real

In an era of fake news and rampant misinformation online, you want to make sure that your footage is as verifiable as possible. To do this:

Film street signs, landmarks, or exteriors of buildings to help determine the location.

Film a clock, phone home screen, newspaper, or something that helps verify the time and date.

It could be helpful to also state the time, date, and location out loud on camera, or write it down on a piece of paper and hold it up to the screen.

You can turn on GPS location services to help verify your location.

Film continuously instead of stopping and starting your camera; this will help fight against claims that footage was edited or manipulated.

6. To speak or not to speak

Sometimes it's most powerful and helpful to stay quiet and let the footage speak for itself, like when the world heard Eric Garner utter his last words, "I can't breathe." But adding commentary to your footage can be a great way to help the audience understand what's happening, especially if you're unable to film at a close distance. If you decide to narrate:

Stick to the facts. Try not to include any biased or emotional language. This could hurt your chance of the footage being used as evidence in a legal proceeding.

Think like a sports commentator. Focus on time, date, location, i.e., "It's 3 p.m. and four police officers just approached two women on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. The officers are holding tasers and are not wearing their masks properly."

If you know the person being targeted, don't allege anything about their criminal history or immigration status on camera. Something learned during an enforcement might be used against the person in a legal proceeding.

7. More filming tips

We're all used to filming on our phones for fun, but filming for evidence and advocacy requires a little practice. Here are some tips on how to make your videos more valuable:

Film horizontally as opposed to vertically to capture more content in the frame.

Try to hold your shot for at least 10 seconds before moving your phone. This might feel uncomfortable, but lawyers, advocates, and investigators will need to be able to actually see what's happening in the footage to use it. We often hear from the lawyers we work with that footage is too shaky or moving around too quickly for them to make sense of it.

Use slow and steady pans instead of quick, jerky movements.

Hold your elbows tight into your body, just over your hips (like a natural tripod for your camera). This will help save your arms from getting tired.

8. Sharing your video

So you filmed a video, what do you do now? The first thing to do is pause. Take a deep breath. You may have just witnessed a violent or traumatic event, so it's important to take care of yourself. Wait before you post the footage to social media. Think through a strategy first, or work with a lawyer or advocacy organization to ensure your footage makes an impact. Before you share, ask yourself:

"Do I have consent from the person I just filmed?" Even if you filmed in a public space where people do not have an expectation of privacy, it can be a courtesy to check in with them or their friends/family before sharing footage of a vulnerable moment publicly. In most cases it might not be possible to get consent, but when possible, speak to them before sharing the footage, or give them the footage so they can decide how it's used.

"Do I need to blur anyone's face before uploading the footage in order to protect their identity or location?" YouTube offers a free tool for this (watch a tutorial on how to use it here).

"Do I want to share the footage with a lawyer?" If so, it's best to share a completely unedited version with them. If you make any edits to the footage (including just changing the file name), do so from a copy; otherwise it could hurt the video's chances of being used in a legal proceeding.

"Do I want my name associated with the video?" Having your name publicly tied to a video can make you vulnerable to aggressions from internet trolls or even the police. After Ramsey Orta filmed the death of his friend Eric Garner at the hands of Staten Island police, he says he and his family became a target of local police harassment. He was eventually arrested on drug charges, and was recently released from prison after serving a four-year sentence. In a Time magazine article that followed up with Orta one year after the event, he expressed regret for not sharing the video anonymously. At WITNESS, we've seen it can be helpful to first share your footage with a journalist or advocacy organization so that they can share the footage publicly instead.

"How can I make sure people see my video?" Unfortunately, just posting a video on social media and hoping it goes viral doesn't usually work, and might not even be the most strategic option. It's not about how many eyes see the video; it's about which eyes see the video. To help a video reach the best audience, share your footage with an advocacy organization to support their campaign work and advocacy goals.

"When should I release the footage?" It's helpful to collaborate with advocates or a lawyer to determine when to release your footage so that it makes the biggest impact. When Feiden Santana waited until the police report was released before sharing his video of a police officer fatally shooting Walter Scott in South Carolina, the video helped combat the official narrative. The police officer was eventually charged with second degree murder.

To learn more, see:

Keep fighting, and keep filming.

Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: Central Park Video Shows White Woman Threatening a Black Man With a Police Call

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How to Safely and Ethically Film Police Misconduct

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This article is part of In Session: The Teen Vogue Lesson Plan. Find the full lesson plan here . On one of the first warm spring weekends in New York City, photos and videos circulated on social media featuring police officers handing out masks to groups of mostly white residents lounging in city parks.

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Abolitionist Teaching Network's mission is simple: develop and support educators to fight injustice within their schools and communities. Utilizing the intellectual work and direct action of Abolitionists in many forms, including community organizers, educators, parents, social workers, counselors, lawyers, therapists, artists, health care providers, and incarcerated folx, we will organize and take action for educational freedom.

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What We Do

Grants

APS Teacher Campaign

APS Teacher Campaign

ATN awards grants to educators and community members who strive to disrupt inequalities and injustice within their schools, communities, or both. We will be launching our 3rd annual grant cycle in late October 2023.

APS Teacher Campaign

APS Teacher Campaign

APS Teacher Campaign

Explore resources to learn about the Atlanta Public Schools "Cheating Scandal" and support the educators facing prison

Programming

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Year round, we host political education, healing justice, and affinity group events for educators, organizers, students, and parents/caregivers. Follow us on socials to stay up to date.

Resources

Programming

Programming

From our founding guide for racial justice and abolitionist social and emotional learning to a database for queer, trans, and non-binary educators + students, we pride ourselves on being a resource hub for education communities.

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Abolitionist Teaching Network's mission is simple: develop and support educators to fight injustice within their schools and communities. Utilizing the intellectual work and direct action of community organizers, Abolitionist Teachers will organize and take action for educational freedom.

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Free Library of Teaching Tolerance On Demand Webinars

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Free Library of Teaching Tolerance On Demand Webinars

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Teaching Tolerance webinars offer helpful guidance and great ideas from our experienced teaching and learning specialists and from innovative educators in the Teaching Tolerance community.

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Learning for Justice webinars offer helpful guidance and great ideas from our experienced teaching and learning specialists and from innovative educators in the Learning for Justice community. Watch these FREE on-demand webinars at your own pace and share them with colleagues!

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Preparing for Cultural Diversity: Resources for Teachers

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Preparing for Cultural Diversity: Resources for Teachers

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How can teachers prepare for diverse classrooms? There isn't a definitive answer, but there is a wealth of resources online. Discover some helpful links for teachers.

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Preparing for Cultural Diversity: Resources for Teachers

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How can teachers prepare for diverse classrooms? There isn’t a definitive answer, but there is a wealth of resources online. Discover some helpful links for teachers.

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8 Ways Teachers Can Address White Supremacy in Their Classrooms

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8 Ways Teachers Can Address White Supremacy in Their Classrooms

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Help your students build a better world with these strategies, lessons, and tools.

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White supremacy, and the concept of whiteness that it relies on, grows when it goes unnamed and unchallenged. In the absence of honest conversations about race, it festers like a wound. It's more important than ever to have these tough conversations with our students.

Let's be real: It might feel scary to take this plunge. But the thought of you and your students discussing race is much scarier to white supremacists. Frank, open conversations about race -- grounded in understanding, solidarity, and equity -- are dangerous only to those who fear difference.

We've put together some helpful resources, including lesson plans, articles, and tools, to help you get started. You'll need to make adjustments based on your student population and community, and you should adapt the focus for your grade level and subject area. These important conversations can benefit all classrooms.

Here are eight ways to make a difference.

1. Review the research on reducing bias and prejudice.

The two articles here offer concise summaries of the proven strategies for reducing kids' racial predispositions. These strategies are effective from kindergarten to high school.

2. Unpack "color blind" ideology.

Acknowledge and discuss that we have complex identities, and that while race is a construct, it can shape how we're perceived and the privileges we have.

3. Find relevant, high-quality teaching resources and professional development.

Dig into Facing History and Learning for Justice, the two best websites for social justice education.

4. Expose the history of racism and white supremacy.

Gain perspective on past and present incarnations of white supremacy and their effect on modern institutions.

5. Expand students' horizons through cross-cultural communication.

Counter bias and prejudice by helping students get exposure to and form relationships with people from different backgrounds and perspectives.

6. Focus on news, web, and media literacy.

White supremacists use propaganda, specifically on social media, to recruit young people to the cause. Give your students the critical skills to counter these messages.

7. Cultivate your students' capacity for empathy.

Racists demonstrate an inability to take the perspectives of others and acknowledge their histories, experiences, and feelings. Build this capacity in your students by practicing listening and taking perspective.

8. Empower students to take action.

It's important to encourage students -- especially those entering adulthood -- to take action to stop racism and white supremacy. These resources offer strategies, lessons, and tools to help students make a commitment to social change.

Help students get beyond the buzzword with this classroom discussion activity.
Image courtesy of Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for American Education: Images of Teachers and Students in Action

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8 Ways Teachers Can Address White Supremacy in the Classroom | Common Sense Education

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Help your students build a better world with these strategies, lessons, and tools.

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Resources for Classrooms

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Resources for Classrooms

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources for Classrooms | Common Sense Education

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources for Classrooms is a list of 36 apps, games, and websites curated by Common Sense Education editors.

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Tips for Protesting Safely during COVID-19

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Tips for Protesting Safely during COVID-19

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Primer On How and What We Teach Youth about Racism and Xenophobia Across Family, School, Peer, Community, and Media Contexts

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Primer On How and What We Teach Youth about Racism and Xenophobia Across Family, School, Peer, Community, and Media Contexts

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A fantastically comprehensive resource for parents & educators.

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Owning Your Power to Raise Kids Who Challenge Racism 

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Owning Your Power to Raise Kids Who Challenge Racism 

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Heart-to-heart conversation around the pain and struggle of being a parent at this time and the work that is required of us to mitigate racism

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CASEL CARES: Owning Your Power to Raise Kids Who Challenge Racism

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The Difference Between Being "Not Racist" and antiracist

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The Difference Between Being "Not Racist" and antiracist

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There is no such thing as being "not racist," says author and historian Ibram X. Kendi. In this vital conversation, he defines the transformative concept of antiracism to help us more clearly recognize, take responsibility for and reject prejudices in our public policies, workplaces and personal beliefs. Learn how you can actively use this awareness to uproot injustice and inequality in the world -- and replace it with love.

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Ibram X. Kendi: The difference between being "not racist" and antiracist

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There is no such thing as being "not racist," says author and historian Ibram X. Kendi. In this vital conversation, he defines the transformative concept of antiracism to help us more clearly recognize, take responsibility for and reject prejudices in our public policies, workplaces and personal beliefs.

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Why White Parents Need to Do More Than Talk to Their Kids About Racism

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Why White Parents Need to Do More Than Talk to Their Kids About Racism

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Why White Parents Need to Do More Than Talk to Their Kids About Racism

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Insights into how people can improve, after two years of studying the behavior white families

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Covid-19 Fueling Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia Worldwide

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Covid-19 Fueling Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia Worldwide

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(New York) - Governments should take urgent steps to prevent racist and xenophobic violence and discrimination linked to the Covid-19 pandemic while prosecuting racial attacks against Asians and people of Asian descent, Human Rights Watch said today. On May 8, 2020, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that "the pandemic continues to unleash a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering" and urged governments to "act now to strengthen the immunity of our societies against the virus of hate."

"Racism and physical attacks on Asians and people of Asian descent have spread with the Covid-19 pandemic, and government leaders need to act decisively to address the trend," said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director. "Governments should act to expand public outreach, promote tolerance, and counter hate speech while aggressively investigating and prosecuting hate crimes."

The UN committee responsible for monitoring compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which 182 countries have ratified, has recommended that governments adopt " national action plans against racial discrimination." Plans should lay out specific approaches to combat racism and discrimination, from enhanced policing of hate crimes to public messaging and education programming encouraging tolerance. Governments need to take urgent action to adopt new action plans to address the wave of Covid-19 racism and xenophobia.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Asians and people of Asian descent have been targets of derogatory language in media reports and statements by politicians as well as on social media platforms, where hate speech related to Covid-19 also appears to have spread extensively. US President Donald Trump's use of the term "Chinese virus" and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's use of "Wuhan virus" may have encouraged the use of hate speech in the US. Although by late March Trump stepped back from using the term and issued a tweet in support of "our Asian-American community," he has not directed any specific governmental response toward protecting Asians and people of Asian descent.

The governor of the Veneto region of Italy, an early epicenter of the pandemic, told journalists in February that the country would be better than China in handling the virus due to Italians' "culturally strong attention to hygiene, washing hands, taking showers, whereas we have all seen the Chinese eating mice alive." He later apologized. Brazil's education minister ridiculed Chinese people in a tweet suggesting that the pandemic was part of the Chinese government's "plan for world domination."

In the UK, Asian people have been punched in the face and taunted, accused of spreading coronavirus. Two women attacked Chinese students in Australia, punching and kicking one and yelling " Go back to China" and " you fucking immigrants." Two men attacked a Chinese-American in Spain and beat him so badly that he was in a coma for two days. A man with a knife attacked a Burmese family in Texas.

In Africa, there have been reports of discrimination and attacks on Asian people accused of carrying coronavirus, as well as foreigners generally, including in Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa. In Brazil, the media have reported harassment and shunning of people of Asian descent.

In some instances, governments have imposed strict lockdowns that indiscriminately affect only foreign workers without providing adequate health care, financial assistance, or other services that many workers now need to survive. In early May, the Malaysian authorities carried out mass raids to detain refugees and migrant workers, suggesting without basis that the migrant community and Rohingya refugees were responsible for the spread of Covid-19.

Across the Middle East, persistent racist rhetoric in public discourse against foreign workers intensified after several Covid-19 outbreaks occurred in densely populated segregated areas for foreign workers, most of whom are Asian.

Discrimination against Chinese people has also been reported in South Korea, Japan, and Indonesia.

Discrimination hasn't been limited to Asians or people of Asian descent. In India and Sri Lanka, where leaders have done little to stop rising anti-Muslim discrimination in recent years, many apparent Covid-19-related cases of attacks and discrimination against Muslims have been reported. In Myanmar, ultra-nationalist leaders have used the pandemic to justify threats and hate speech against Muslims.

In early April 2020, Chinese authorities in the southern city of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, which has China's largest African community, began a campaign to forcibly test Africans for the coronavirus, and ordered them to self-isolate or to quarantine in designated hotels. Landlords then evicted African residents, forcing many to sleep on the street, and hotels, shops, and restaurants refused African customers. Other foreign groups have generally not been subjected to similar treatment.

"Repeatedly and publicly condemning racism is an important part of any government's response to the coronavirus," Sifton said. "Governments also need to adopt special public education initiatives, strengthen policing of hate crimes, and offer support to communities victimized by discrimination and racially motivated attacks. "Social media companies have a responsibility to protect users against hateful and xenophobic content on their platforms, and should invest adequate resources to addressing it and mitigating its harm."
Country-Specific Cases
Anti-Asian incidents have continued in the US since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, with numerous media reports in February and March about attacks and discrimination linked to Covid-19. By late April, a coalition of Asian-American groups that had created a reporting center called STOP AAPI HATE said it had received almost 1,500 reports of incidents of racism, hate speech, discrimination, and physical attacks against Asians and Asian-Americans.

In one typical incident, a Chinese-American reported "I was on the phone with my mom speaking in Mandarin when a woman walked by and yelled 'get this corona virus chink away from me,' directed at me."

At least 125 of the incidents reported were physical attacks. Among the reported incidents: "A truck drove by and threw a [fast food franchise] drink on my back and yelled 'Hey chink, you're fucking nasty.'" In another, an Asian-American waiting for a bus said a man:

began berating me. I ignored him ... [then] an object of substantial weight was thrown at me with high velocity - missing me but impacting the side of the bus with a sickening 'thwack.' Instantly, I sobered to an awareness in the amount of trauma the object would have caused if it had struck my head.

The group also reported hundreds of cases in which Asian-Americans were harassed in public or barred from businesses or transportation, yelled at in supermarkets, accused of "bringing coronavirus" to the US, or refused transport in car services like Uber or Lyft.

On May 4, the Anti-Defamation League released a list of near-daily incidents of racist attacks and cases of harassment from January through early May. For instance, on May 3, a stranger shouted at an Asian man on the New York subway "You're infected China boy, you need to get off the train" and then attempted to pull the man out of his seat.

Senior members of several Asian-American and other nongovernmental organizations have told Human Rights Watch that many members of the Asian-American community they work with have experienced abuse or harassment, or know someone who has.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other federal agencies have not taken any specific actions to address the rise in racist attacks and discrimination, although several state and local governments have set up hotlines and directed authorities to investigate cases of attacks or discrimination.

Several violent attacks against people of Asian descent were reported when the Covid-19 outbreak began in the UK in February, including several physical attacks or beatings.

In early May, Sky News reported that data it had obtained through Freedom of Information requests to various regional UK police forces showed at least 267 anti-Asian hate crimes recorded across the country between January and March. In many jurisdictions, the figures for the first three months of 2020 were higher than all of 2018 or 2019. The figures from the British Transport Police between January and March, for instance, showed anti-Asian (or "anti-Chinese") hate crime incidents matching the total number of complaints during all of 2019.

Stop Hate UK, an anti-racism group, reported in March that it had received increasing numbers of calls or reports of "racism, discrimination, and verbal abuse, arising from perceptions that they are members of the Chinese community."

The senior-most UK police official responsible for hate crime nationally has stated publicly that police forces are monitoring anti-Asian hate crime and take such crimes seriously. In a recent release of crime statistics generally during the Covid-19 outbreak, however, police authorities focused on crime decreasing generally, without noting the rise in anti-Asian hate crime or indicating steps they are taking to stop it.

Several of the country's local police forces did not provide information to the Sky News Freedom of Information requests about Covid-19-related hate crimes. This raises concerns about whether they are collecting data on anti-Asian hate crimes and whether they are monitoring and disaggregating hate crime by ethnicity, despite clear official guidance to do so.

The Russian group SOVA, which monitors xenophobia and racism, told Human Rights Watch that there had been increased attacks against Asians since February. It also reported a "wave of insulting and racist commentary directed at Chinese people and natives of Central Asia on social media" in relation to Covid-19.

A media report by Lenta on March 29 detailed several accounts, including cases of people yelling at Asians or Central Asians on the subway or in public, asserting that "the Chinese brought coronavirus to this country." Through March, there were also reported incidents of discriminatory actions against Asian-looking people in Nizhnevartovsk, Ekaterinburg, Tatarstan, and Makhachkala, among other places.

A spate of cases of racist abuse and attacks and vandalism against people of Asian descent have been reported across the country since the outbreak of Covid-19. For example, there were reports in late March in Sydney of cases in which "Death to dog eaters" was painted in front of an Asian man's house and of people screaming racist abuse at two sisters, calling them "Asian dogs" who "brought Coronavirus here" and "dumb whore."

Near Melbourne, also in late March, a Chinese-Australian family's suburban home was targeted with racist vandalism three times in the space of a week: on March 20, the family found the words " COVID-19 China die" spray painted on the door of their garage. Late the following night, an unidentified person threw a large rock though one of their windows. On March 29, the door of their garage was again spray painted, this time with the words " leave and die."

On April 15, 2 women in a group attacked 2 female Chinese students at Melbourne University, yelling racist statements such as, " Go back to China" and " you fucking immigrants." One of the women repeatedly punched one of the students in the head and, after pushing her to the ground, kicked her in the torso several times.

Hate speech against Muslims, already a serious and growing problem since the election of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2015, increased in connection with the spread of Covid-19.

The situation grew so serious that the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement of caution, noting that "it is very important that we do not profile the cases on the basis of racial, religious, and ethnic lines."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not explicitly condemned hate speech against Muslims, but tweeted "COVID19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language, or borders before striking. Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood. We are in this together." But Indian authorities at the national and local level have not taken adequate steps to stem the increasingly toxic atmosphere or conduct adequate investigations of attacks where appropriate.

Several government officials have made stigmatizing public comments about Sri Lanka's minority Muslim community in the context of the pandemic, as hate speech has been reported across the country. This includes claims that Muslims are responsible for deliberately spreading the pandemic, along with calls for boycotts of Muslim businesses. Muslim organizations wrote to the government on April 12 to draw attention to an increase in hate speech in Sri Lanka.
International Legal Obligations
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination obligates countries to "condemn racial discrimination" and undertake measures aimed at "eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms and promoting understanding among all races" while undertaking "not to sponsor, defend, or support racial discrimination by any persons or organizations." Countries need to "prohibit and bring to an end, by all appropriate means ... racial discrimination by any persons, group, or organization" and "discourage anything which tends to strengthen racial division."

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), set up to monitor the treaty's provisions, has stated in a general recommendation on combating racist hate speech that "[f]ormal rejection of hate speech by high-level public officials and condemnation of the hateful ideas expressed play an important role in promoting a culture of tolerance and respect." The CERD committee recommends that governments undertake "information campaigns and educational policies calling attention to the harms produced by racist hate speech," and that training for police and legal systems is "essential" to foster "familiarization with international norms protecting freedom of opinion and expression and norms protecting against racist hate speech."

Given the upsurge in anti-Asian and other racism and xenophobia related to the Covid-19 pandemic, all governments should adopt new action plans to address emerging forms of discrimination and xenophobia tailored to the new and changing circumstances, Human Rights Watch said. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights outlined best strategies for adopting action plans in a set of guidelines released in 2014.

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Covid-19 Fueling Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia Worldwide

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(New York) - Governments should take urgent steps to prevent racist and xenophobic violence and discrimination linked to the Covid-19 pandemic while prosecuting racial attacks against Asians and people of Asian descent, Human Rights Watch said today.

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Email Carolyn (padlet creator) at contact.teacher.lady@gmail.com

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Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of a dream where his children would not be judged by the color of their skin. More than a half-century later, how should parents talk about race and justice with their kids now?

Melissa Giraud, social justice educator, researcher and advocate. Co-founder of EmbraceRace, an organization that provides resources for parents to teach their children about race. (@RaceEmbrace)

Andrew Grant-Thomas, social justice researcher and advocate. Co-founder of EmbraceRace. Former director of programs at the Proteus Fund, a national foundation committed to advancing justice through democracy, human rights, and peace; and deputy director at the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at the Ohio State University. (@RaceEmbrace)

Gita Gulati-Partee, founder and president of OpenSource Leadership Strategies, which consults nonprofits about the racial equity capacity of social change organizations.
On the importance of addressing race with your children
Melissa Giraud: "Kids in early elementary school will tell you stream of consciousness what they're eating, what they're thinking, what they're feeling, all kinds of stuff. But often [we] have been taught, a lot of us, not to talk about race. And so even as a person of color, and even growing up in the family ... because I didn't have the language, I didn't have the tools. I really absorbed a lot of ... what kids absorb, which is like, 'Oh, it's me. It's about me. There's something wrong with me. I'm somehow less than, I'm embarrassed to tell my parents.' That's something that happens to kids, because as much as we want to not talk about race - or for some people race is like Voldemort, the thing that cannot be named - if we don't, our kids are learning about it without us. They're having the conversation in what they're imbibing without us: on TV, on the playground, passing through different neighborhoods that are quite segregated. So kids are going to use their kid logic and say, 'Why are things this way?' and not have the information they need."
On the failures of the colorblind approach to racial issues
Andrew Grant-Thomas: "The good news is that the urgency of the moment has led more people to want to have the conversations. I think for a long time - especially but not only among white adults, white parents of white children - the hope was that [the] 'colorblind approach' - not talking about it - would be the way to go. I think people are understanding that that's not serving as well."
On moving beyond difference
Andrew Grant-Thomas: "Kids are noticing difference[s]. Kids are noticing race, and gender and all of these issues. I think the real challenge we have is, what are the meanings of those things? We tend to think casually of race as about physical characteristics: Skin color, texture of hair, shape of eyes, nose, these sorts of things. The real significance of race, though, what makes it salient is, what are those visible differences indicative of? What are the invisible features that the visible features are supposed to be indicators of? That's the conversation we increasingly need to engage kids in. Let's understand how they're thinking, what kind of connections they may be making between the visible and the invisible, and then let's talk to them about what does it mean or not mean. ... Let's not normalize, let's not naturalize, let's actually engage kids in a conversation about why they see what they see."
On following your child's lead
Gita Gulati-Partee: "I think parenting in general ... is so much more about following than leading, sort of following your kids lead. And I do remember the first time my son acknowledged race - acknowledged skin color - and the opportunity that that sort of gave me in the moment to think to take a deep breath and think, 'How do I want to engage in this?' And at the time just really gave him an opportunity to think about who he is. And so I think it's being as intentional as you can be, and also being present and aware to where your kids are and what they might need in the moment."

The New York Times: " The Impact of Racism on Children's Health" - "This month the American Academy of Pediatrics put out its first policy statement on how racism affects the health and development of children and adolescents.

"'Racism is a significant social determinant of health clearly prevalent in our society now,' said Dr. Maria Trent, a professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, who was one of the co-authors of the statement.

"Racism has an impact on children and families who are targeted, she said, but also on those who witness it. 'We call it a socially transmitted disease: It's taught, it's passed down, but the impacts on children and families are significant from a health perspective,' said Dr. Trent, who is the chairwoman of the A.A.P. section on adolescent health. Social transmission makes sense here, because race itself is a social construct, she said: 'Genetically, we're very much the same.'

"But the impact of bias on children's health starts even before they're born, Dr. Trent said. Persistent racial disparities in birth weight and maternal mortality in the United States today may in part reflect the deprivations of poverty, with less availability of good prenatal care, and poorer medical care in general for minority families, sometimes shaped by unacknowledged biases on the part of medical personnel. High rates of heart disease and hypertension also persist among African-Americans."

Washington Post: " They were raised to be 'colorblind' - but now more white parents are learning to talk about race" - "The family had been talking about Black History Month over dinner on a recent February weeknight, and Kirstin Cassell, a clinical social worker in Greensboro, N.C., had asked her children what their classrooms were doing to celebrate. But it wasn't until later, after the plates were cleared away and the younger children had wandered off, that Cassell's 12-year-old son admitted he was bothered by something at school.

"'I've noticed something,' he began, and then told his mom that there were black boys in his class who were consistently getting in trouble with the teacher for goofing around. This troubled him, he said, 'because they're not doing any behaviors that are any different than what I do.'

"In that moment, Cassell says now, several thoughts raced through her mind: that she'd always known her oldest child could be silly in class and that she had wondered whether he might get away with it because he was white. That her 8-year-old son, who is black and adopted from Ethiopia, might find himself in that same classroom in a few years. That she was proud of her seventh-grader for identifying the problem. And that she wasn't sure how to fix it."

NPR: " Why All Parents Should Talk With Their Kids About Social Identity" - "A majority of parents rarely, if ever, discuss race/ethnicity, gender, class or other categories of social identity with their kids, according to a new, nationally representative survey of more than 6,000 parents conducted by Sesame Workshop and NORC at the University of Chicago. The researchers behind Sesame Street say the fact that so many families aren't talking about these issues is a problem because children are hard-wired to notice differences at a young age - and they're asking questions.

"' "Why is this person darker than me?" "Why is this person wearing that hat on their head?" ' These are just some of the social identity questions parents might hear, says Tanya Haider, executive vice president for strategy, research and ventures at Sesame Workshop. 'We sometimes are scared to talk about these things. If the adults stiffen up and say, "Oh, you shouldn't say that loudly," that's sending [children] a cue that there's something wrong.'

"And there's nothing wrong, Haider says, with a child's natural curiosity. What's risky is when kids are left alone to make sense of the differences they see, with little more than stereotypes, television and guesswork to guide them."

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How To Talk To Your Kids About Race And Justice

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Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of a dream where his children would not be judged by the color of their skin. More than a half-century later, how should parents talk about race and justice with their kids now? Melissa Giraud , social justice educator, researcher and advocate.

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How white parents should talk to their young kids about race.

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Last summer, my family moved from Brooklyn to a small town in the Hudson Valley. We love our new life, but one thing about the community is not so great: It's predominantly white. What will it mean in the long run if my white children don't see and befriend people who come from different racial backgrounds? And are there steps I can take to instill racial sensitivity and acceptance in my kids despite the fact that they're growing up in an ethnic bubble?

To find out, I dug into research on the causes of racial bias and talked to developmental and social psychologists, race-relations researchers, and Africologists. The good news is that the answer seems to be yes-there are things I can do to keep my kids from harboring racial prejudice. Namely, I can talk to them about race.

First, a caveat: I'm writing this article as a white parent with white kids living in a mostly white neighborhood. I know that my experiences, perspectives, and considerations differ markedly from those of parents with different ethnic backgrounds living in different situations, and I also realize that I know nothing about the racial landscape that minority parents have to navigate with their kids. For many minority parents, talking about race is not an option-it's essential in helping their children move through a world that sees a "black kid" and not just a kid. Although I talked to researchers with diverse backgrounds while reporting my piece, I'm guessing that my findings and advice will apply predominantly to white parents like me. Still, I would love to hear from all readers on the issues discussed in this column, so please, send your thoughts, advice, and feedback to melindawmoyer@gmail.com.

In their book Nurture Shock, journalists Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman told the story of Birgitte Vittrup Simpson, a University of Texas at Austin Ph.D. student who in 2007 recruited 99 white families to participate in a study-the basis for her doctoral dissertation-that involved asking them to talk meaningfully about race with their kids.* Five families immediately dropped out when they heard what they had to do. Nine out of every 10 of those who stuck with the study admitted at the end that they did not have truly in-depth conversations with their kids on the topic.

Why? I've avoided talking about race with my kids mainly because I've thought that racial bias is learned by direct instruction and imitation-and that if I don't talk about race or act in explicitly racist ways, my kids won't pick up prejudices. My sources told me that this notion is pretty common; research suggests that nonwhite parents talk about racial identity much more frequently with their kids than white parents do, but that even minority parents often avoid talking about racial differences. "There's this idea that if you do call attention to race at a young age, you're poisoning kids' minds," says Erin Winkler, chair of the department of Africology at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

This theory makes sense. In fact, it's what social learning theorists believed for a long time, and why so many parents strive to make their children "color-blind." But over the past 15 years, research has supported a different idea: that children start assigning meaning to race at a very young age. When researchers presented 30-month-olds with pictures of children of various races and asked them to pick who they would want to play with, the toddlers were more likely to pick kids of their race. Likewise, when sociologists Debra Van Ausdale and Joe Feagin observed kids in an urban day care center for 11 months, they found that children as young as three excluded other kids from play based on their race and used race to negotiate power in their social networks, as they described in their 2001 book The First R: How Children Learn Race and Racism.

Why does this happen? Kids actively try to understand and construct rules about their environment. As they do, they engage in what is called transductive or essentialist reasoning, which means that they simultaneously categorize people and objects according to multiple dimensions-so they might believe, wrongly, that people who have the same skin color have similar abilities or intelligence. They also notice class-race patterns-for instance that white people tend to hold privileged jobs or positions (or play them on television). One study found that by age 7, black children rated jobs held by blacks as lower in status than jobs held by whites. In other words, as Winkler wrote in a 2009 paper, "children pick up on the ways in which whiteness is normalized and privileged in U.S. society."

Beverly Tatum, a race-relations scholar and the president of Spelman College in Atlanta, has referred to this pervasive cultural message as a "smog in the air," noting that "we don't breathe it because we like it. We don't breathe it because we think it's good for us. We breathe it because it's the only air that's available." Ultimately, kids may infer that the patterns they see in privilege and status are caused by inherent differences between groups. In other words, they may start to think that whites have more privilege because they are inherently, somehow, smarter or better.

Other aspects of psychology come into play to promote racial biases, too. Children (and adults) exhibit a type of bias known as "in-group" bias, which basically means that we tend to prefer people who are members of groups we also belong to. Researchers have elicited strong in-group biases in children as young as 3 by assigning them to color-coded groups in their preschools; after a few weeks, the children said they preferred the other kids in their group more than kids outside their group and even preferentially chose toys that they were told their groups liked. Starting at around age 4 or 5, kids also start to develop what is called "high-status bias," in that they show implicit preferences for individuals who are members of high-status groups-in our culture, whites.

So if children as young as 3 develop racial prejudices when left to their own (cognitively biased) devices, it may help for parents to intervene and, you know, actually talk to their kids about race. "Don't you want to be the one to suggest to them-early on, before they do form those preconceptions-something positive [about other races] rather than let them pick up something negative?" asks Kristina Olson, a University of Washington psychologist who studies social cognitive development and racial bias. "White parents seem very, very resistant to talking about race-even really liberal ones-and they have this attitude of 'I wouldn't want to talk about it because it would make it real to my kids.' But inevitably, it's their kids that show these really strong race biases." In fact, Olson says, when parents don't talk about race, kids may infer from this silence that race is especially important, yet highly taboo-basically, the last thing you want them to think.

In her University of Texas dissertation, Simpson reported that the children of parents who actually did talk meaningfully with them about race had better racial attitudes at the end of the study than they did at the beginning. The kids whose parents glossed over the issue or didn't discuss race did not improve.

But how should white parents talk about race with their kids? "It depends," Winkler says, "on who the kid is, where they're living, what the context is, how old they are." But, generally speaking, be upfront and specific. If little Henry makes a mortifying comment in the grocery store about someone's skin color being "dirty," don't shush him and change the subject or say something vague like don't say things like that; it's hurtful. Use the moment to explain what skin color is. An appropriate response might be, "Honey, that little girl is not dirty. Her skin is as clean as yours. It's just a different color. Just like we have different color hair, people have different skin colors," as Tatum explained her book Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria: And Other Conversations About Race. You can also use examples from television or books to start race conversations. As Howard Stevenson, a University of Pennsylvania professor of education and Africana studies and the author of Promoting Racial Literacy in Schools: Differences That Make a Difference explained to me, "I've always been in commentary with my sons while they're watching TV, saying, 'What do you really think about that?' You may see an issue in diversity that bothers you that you want to comment on, like, 'How come there are no black Santa Clauses on television?' "

Stevenson, who develops strategies to help parents, teachers, and kids cope with racial conflict, also points out that when children say racially insensitive things, parents should take a moment to consider, before admonishing them, where they are coming from. "Rather than challenge them about their words, get a sense of what they understand it to mean from their perspective," he explains. "Where did they hear it from? How is it being used in the social context they're in? Then, you have a better angle as to how you can speak to it."

White parents can also make kids' in-group biases work for them: Point out that even though Lily has darker skin, she, too, seems to really like playing with dolls. The more similarities young kids see between themselves and children of other races, the more they may embrace them. That said, for older kids, it may be smarter to encourage kids to embrace racial differences, rather than to downplay these differences. A Northwestern University study found that when kids aged 8 to 11 were taught about diversity as a value, they were better able to detect evidence of racial discrimination than were kids who had been taught a "color-blind" message. Pointing out how much diversity exists within races may help foster diversity acceptance, too. As Deborah Rivas-Drake, a psychologist at the University of Michigan, suggests, you could say to your children, "Within our own group, we don't all act and look the same, we don't all think the same-so if we ourselves are really diverse, can you imagine all the different kinds of diversity that exist among other groups?"

It may also help to broach the subject of our country's racial history. In 2007, Rebecca Bigler, a psychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, conducted a two-part study-the first among white 6-to-11-year-olds at a Midwestern summer school, and the second among black 6-to-11-year-olds.* All of the kids were read short, positive biographies of famous Americans, half of whom were black and half of whom were white. Half of these kids were also taught about discrimination the famous Americans experienced; the other half did not get this extra lesson. At the end of the six-day study, Bigler and her colleagues assessed the children's attitudes toward black and white people in general. The kids who had been taught about discrimination had higher opinions of black people than did the children who had simply been read the positive biographies. Van Ausdale and Feagin warn, however, against blaming racism and discrimination on "bad people" or "bad behavior," because doing so may dismiss inequality as something that's the fault of an "evil few" rather than being an institutional problem.

So, for any parent, talking about race with your kids is incredibly important. Even more essential, though, is making sure that your kids get to know children of other races. "Friendships are a major mechanism for promoting acceptance and reducing prejudice," Rivas-Drake explains. Kids should "have direct contact with people from different groups-to learn about them without relying on stereotypes." That said, simply sending your kid to a diverse school may not do the job. One study reported that in highly diverse schools, students self-segregate more by race than they do in moderately diverse schools, and the likelihood of cross-racial friendships goes down. But the study also reported that when diverse schools ensure that their extracurricular activities are racially mixed, interracial friendships become more common.

You know what else helps? When parents have a diverse network of friends. "We have some hints that parents' friends and the diversity of the people they hang out with matters a lot," Olson says. If we're telling our kids that they shouldn't judge people based on race, but our kids only ever see us hanging out with other people of our race, our words may not go very far. This notion has big implications for families like mine who live virtually cut off from other ethnic groups-for most white families, in fact, since research suggests that the average U.S. white family lives in a neighborhood where three-quarters of all other residents are also white. (This New York Times infographic on the distribution of racial and ethnic groups in New York City is, for instance, jaw-dropping.) If we truly want our children to accept and befriend people of other races and ethnicities, we need to address the institutional problems that keep us all apart from one another-and we need to remember that, as parents, the choices we make shape the world that our children see, and may limit the choices that they are able to make for themselves.

Correction, April 2, 2014: This article originally misstated that Ph.D. Student Birgitte Vittrup Simpson recruited 93 families for her study. She recruited 99 families. (Return.) Due to a copy-editing error, the article also mischaracterized Rebecca Bigler's study of 6-to-11-year-old children. She did not study a mixed group of black and white students. She studied a group of white students and a group of black students, but they never mixed in the study. (Return.)

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How White Parents Should Talk to Their Kids About Race

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Last summer, my family moved from Brooklyn to a small town in the Hudson Valley. We love our new life, but one thing about the community is not so great: It's predominantly white. What will it mean in the long run if my white children don't see and befriend people who come from different racial backgrounds?

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RESOURCES FOR TALKING ABOUT RACE, RACISM AND RACIALIZED VIOLENCE WITH KIDS

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RESOURCES FOR TALKING ABOUT RACE, RACISM AND RACIALIZED VIOLENCE WITH KIDS

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The link is working; click below for a comprehensive complication of resources from the Center for Racial Justice in Education
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A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice

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A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice

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from Teaching Tolerance

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Supporting Kids Of Color In the Wake Of Racialized Violence

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Supporting Kids Of Color In the Wake Of Racialized Violence

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Supporting Kids Of Color In the Wake Of Racialized Violence by EmbraceRace

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The recent police-involved deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and the shootings of officers in Dallas, have left many parents, guardians, teachers and others at a loss about how best to help children make sense of these events.

The challenge is especially acute in the case of children of color, who are more likely than white kids to identify with the black and brown people disproportionately killed by police.

How can caring adults best support kids of color? How do we help children feel safe without overpromising or making them fearful? How do we teach them to approach the world with love and possibility when they so often seem targeted for harm?

EmbraceRace co-founders Andrew Grant-Thomas and Melissa Giraud had this discussion with parents, teachers and other concerned adults, as well as invited expert guests, child psychologist Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith and educator Dr. Sandra “Chap” Chapman. They spoke via conference call on 7/14/16. 
 

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How to Talk to Your Kids about Race & Racism

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How to Talk to Your Kids about Race & Racism

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What White Children Need to Know about Race

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What White Children Need to Know about Race

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NAIS - What White Children Need to Know About Race

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Growing up in the suburban Midwest, I (Ali Michael) never talked about race with my family. We were white, all of our neighbors were white, and it never occurred to us that there was anything to say about that. As a result, in later years, I developed a deep sense of shame whenever I talked about race — particularly in college, where I was expected to make mature personal and academic contributions to race dialogues.

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Over the holiday weekend, two instances of racial discrimination - one that turned deadly, and one that easily could have - set social media aflame before becoming headline news. On Monday, a white woman named Amy Cooper allowed her dog to run freely in the historic Ramble of Central Park in New York before a black man named Christian Cooper (no relation) requested that, in accordance with the area's rules, she put the dog on a leash. Christian, a birder, knew that loose dogs could damage the plants and startle animals native to the park. In a video now seen around the world, Amy threatens to call the police and report that an "African American man is threatening my life" - which she does, hiking up her voice to a terrified high pitch.

That same day, another video made the rounds: In Minneapolis, a black man named George Floyd was slowly choked to death by a white cop with a knee to his neck. His last words were the same as Eric Garner's, who also yelled out "I can't breathe" while begging for release from a police officer's chokehold in 2014. This was yet another modern-day lynching, yet another black person's humanity reduced to a hashtag, yet another example of structural racism and an all-powerful police state targeting black communities and destroying black life. A police officer killing a black man for threatening the white supremacist capitalist order (by allegedly attempting to use a counterfeit $20 bill): "This," Adrienne Green recently wrote for the Cut, "is what Amy Cooper wanted Christian Cooper to be afraid of."

The everyday indignities and aggressions suffered by black Americans don't always break through to the level of national conversation, but when they do, white women in this country are presented with an opportunity that, time and time again, we've failed to take: owning up to the ways in which we benefit from, and actively promote, white supremacy, and pledging to do the work of unlearning harmful behaviors so that we may commit ourselves to the project of racial justice. Will we rise to this occasion with the urgency and dedication it deserves, or will we once again seek shelter from our culpability by indulging in (and continuing to weaponize) our sense of self-preservation and victimhood?

White women have actively participated in the disenfranchisement, assault, and murder of black people.

For centuries, the white damsel in distress has been "protected" from the black man deemed predator by various means of state-sanctioned violence. But while white women might claim otherwise, they haven't merely been a tool wielded by white patriarchs. They have, in fact, actively participated in the disenfranchisement, assault, and murder of black people. Historian Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers, in her 2019 book They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South, details how white women - who typically inherited more enslaved people than land, and therefore relied on the institution of slavery as their primary source of wealth - could be just as brutal as their enslaving male counterparts. Despite women's real power under white supremacy, however, the cult of the poor, defenseless white damsel has lived on for generations. Concerns over white women's purity and fragility made way for, among other things, race-segregated and gender-segregated public bathrooms, whippings, lynchings, and mass incarceration.

Ruby Hamad, author of the forthcoming White Tears/Brown Scars: How White Feminism Betrays Women of Color, wrote for the New York Times this week that Amy Cooper is the latest example of the damsel archetype in action: She offers "an illusion of innocence that deflects and denies the racial crimes of white society." And yet, Hamad warns, "we should be wary of individualizing [Cooper's] behavior by punishing her to the extent that she is deemed an outlier. Doing so obscures the racialized social context in which this incident occurred."

Cooper has been fired from her job at an investment firm, and she voluntarily relinquished custody of her dog after facing criticism for how roughly she handled the cocker spaniel during the altercation. Some, including local leaders, are calling for her arrest for filing a false police report. Whatever consequences she faces on an individual level, however, Cooper is destined to become a symbol. She'll be an example of cancel culture run amok in a society where being called a racist is often deemed a greater crime than actual racism, or else a cautionary tale for well-meaning white people who either shun and begrudge her for saying the quiet parts out loud.

Because for so many white people, racism is only bad enough to warrant condemnation when it's made too explicit to ignore. A visual that's been going around on social media this week, attributed to the Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence, offers a helpful framework: overt acts of white supremacy, like hate crimes and racial slurs, are widely considered to be socially unacceptable, while countless more covert acts are deemed perfectly fine.

So many of those more insidious strains of racism, from discrimination in housing and education to the promotion of respectability politics to white paternalism in lieu of cross-racial solidarity, have white women at the helm, often on behalf of their white children. Who would fault a mother for wanting whatever's best for her kids? When white parents successfully protest against the desegregation of public schools - even now, 66 years after Brown v. Board of Education - they're likely to be applauded for standing up for their families, rather than shamed on social media. Likewise when wealthy white parents buy their children's ways into elite universities through expensive test prep and transcript-padding gap years at boarding schools. But when celebrities like Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman cheat to get their kids into those universities, they're shunned. The main players of the infamous college admissions scandals weren't really doing anything wildly out of the ordinary from other elite-class white parents, who love taking advantage of things like legacy admissions (effectively affirmative action for the wealthy) while also decrying race-based affirmative action programs as discriminatory and unfair. But they pushed the boundaries ever so slightly, and they got caught.

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

A woman unable to find a vacant seat at an F.W. Woolworth's lunch counter chastises demonstrators participating in a sit-down protest.

We're slowly starting to see these more covert efforts to uphold white supremacy in pop culture. Hulu's recent adaptation of Celeste Ng's bestselling book Little Fires Everywhere sees Reese Witherspoon in her new favorite role - well-meaning but thoroughly problematic white lady - as a mother whose obsessions with projecting the image of a perfect family, and patronizing, microaggression-laced interactions with the black woman who's just moved into her rental property, lead to disastrous consequences. In another new Hulu effort, Mrs. America, a historical-fiction series about the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment, Cate Blanchett as Phyllis Schlafly carries out her tirade against feminism on behalf of white, well-off housewives like herself - though you wouldn't necessarily know how deeply racism animated her battles from the show alone.

When racists in the popular imagination range from men in Klan hoods to working-class white hillbillies who must not know any better, middle-class and wealthy white women can shield themselves from claims of racism by pointing out their own respectability. "I'm not a racist," Amy Cooper told CNN. And plenty of people will believe her - perhaps she was only having a bad day, and she's probably a liberal, after all! It's easy enough to shirk the label, regardless of the evidence; the president insists he's not one either, though fully half of Americans believe him to be racist (with divisions falling, of course, along party lines). The only reason so many people feel comfortable giving him the label where they might not have for his predecessors is because he's a top offender of saying the quiet parts out loud, vocalizing what more respectable presidents thought ( and acted on) in private. White women and men, across socioeconomic classes and up and down the political spectrum, from civilians to the world's most powerful, are all capable of racist thoughts and deeds.

That's why we need to retire the idea that racist is either something you are or aren't, no matter how polite and subtle you are about it, and no matter your progressive bona fides. As author and historian Ibram X. Kendi puts it, there's no such thing as being "not racist," because the inaction implied in the face of racism is itself a form of racism. Rather, there is only racism and antiracism - the latter being active, emotional and intellectual participation in combating racism in all its forms. As Ta-Nehisi Coates has written, "ending white supremacy does not merely require a passive sense that racism is awful, but an active commitment to undoing its generational effects. Ending white supremacy requires the ability to do math - 350 years of murderous plunder are not undone by 50 years of uneasy ceasefire."

One of the ways in which some white women avoid the work of antiracism is by crying sexism whenever they're asked to do better. This year has seen the rise of the "Karen" meme, which is a convenient shorthand for white women with big "I need to speak with the manager" energy. Karens are the women who go viral for prioritizing their own comfort ahead of other people's, often by racist means: those who refuse to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic, who call the cops on black people enjoying everyday activities like barbecuing in the park or selling drinks on the street. They've had a variety of names over the years - BBQ Becky, Permit Patty - and now they're all at home under the wide umbrella of Karen, where they can receive the scorn they deserve. Of course, both men and women have complained that the meme is sexist, and there have certainly been instances of "Karen" being deployed in sexist ways. But the fact is white women don't need to be called "Karen," or even provoked in literally any way, to spin themselves into hysterics and claim they're being threatened or oppressed.

Black feminists like Audre Lorde have long warned us: Standing on the backs of black and brown women won't make us any freer, because until we are all free, none of us are.

The pushback against the Karen meme is yet another way in which white people tend to prioritize ideals of civility, peace, and decorum over the messy work of confronting racism's everyday evils. To merely call attention to racism and bigotry, even in calm and productive ways, is often framed, especially by the right-wing media, as a vicious and hateful attack. (Think about the absolute uproar after the cast of Hamilton addressed Vice President Mike Pence when he came to the show in 2016, welcoming him and expressing concerns about his administration's plans to protect minorities, children, and the planet - Trump, and many others in his orbit, deemed it harassment.) The limits of respectability politics are made clear when even "good" victims of racism, like Christian Cooper (an enthusiastic birder and longtime LGBTQ activist who graduated from Harvard) are treated in the same dehumanizing and racist ways as those without the markers of class and status that might make white people more comfortable. "Respectability" seems like an empty promise when gun-toting white protesters railing against state shutdowns and mask orders can scream in cops' faces and go home unscathed at the end of the day, while protesters in Minnesota over George Floyd's death were met with police in riot gear brandishing tear gas and rubber bullets.

For the white women of my generation - who were raised in the confusing swirls of the whore/virgin complex, and encouraged to be independent while also docile, submissive, and attentive to the needs of men - being respectable, a "good" girl, can seem like a kind of freedom. Maybe if we are "good" (thin, pretty, successful but not too successful, dutiful foot soldiers in the fight to maintain white supremacy - but quietly, don't be a Karen!) then we can survive the machinations of the capitalist patriarchy. But being "good" won't save us from misogyny or abuse, or from the harmful austerity of capitalism. Black feminists like Audre Lorde have long warned us about that: Standing on the backs of black and brown women won't make us any freer, because until we are all free, none of us are.

I thought about what it means to be a "good" representative of a marginalized group when the New York Times announced the death of the author and heroic AIDS activist Larry Kramer yesterday. At first, the obituary's subheadline mused that "his often abusive approach could overshadow his achievements," before the word "abusive" was swapped for "aggressive," then "confrontational." Then the wording was changed entirely; now it reads that Kramer "sought to shock the country into dealing with AIDS as a public-health emergency and foresaw that it could kill millions regardless of sexual orientation." Even after so many harried edits, the paper still failed to accurately capture Kramer's work, which did address the fact that AIDS could kill even those who aren't gay, but was fundamentally rooted in the belief that AIDS only became a plague in this country because of the American government's hatred of LGBTQ people and ambivalence to their suffering. It was precisely Kramer's "aggressive" and "confrontational" approach - railing against the pharmaceutical companies that remain great and terrible evils to this day, especially as we're living through another plague - that allowed him and the other unruly members of ACT UP to save hundreds of thousands of lives.

As the current pandemic is disproportionately ravaging black and communities, and as another police killing has thrown families and communities into terrible grief, now is a chance for white women to do some necessary deprogramming about what it means to be "good." Remaining quiet, polite little girls who are "not racist" but make no active efforts to combat white supremacy - even and especially when we mess up, which we all have and will do again - because it's too loud and messy and "aggressive" is just not going to cut it anymore. Do your research: There are plenty of free resources out there for white people interested in racial justice work. Donate to bail funds, like #FreeBlackMamas or this one in Minnesota, which is aiding activists jailed for protesting George Floyd's killing. Check out mutual aid funds in your area - if there isn't one, consider starting one! - and, if you haven't already, work on changing your mindset from one of providing "charity" to acting in solidarity. Agitate for police abolition. Speak up whenever you witness either overt or covert instances of racism, even if that means disrupting social scripts for "good" white women by making other white people uncomfortable. Hold yourself and other white people to account. Decenter your own feelings. Refuse to be a damsel. Work toward a world where being "good" doesn't mean being calm and quiet in the face of injustice, but having the courage and the commitment to make noise. ●

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Time To Get Your Acts Together, White Women

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Over the holiday weekend, two instances of racial discrimination - one that turned deadly, and one that easily could have - set social media aflame before becoming headline news.

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An Activity Book For African American Families: Helping Children Cope with Crisis 

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An Activity Book For African American Families: Helping Children Cope with Crisis 

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Downloadable workbook; click below.

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In this op-ed, Jor-El Caraballo, LMHC, co-founder of Viva Wellness, explains how to cope with race-based trauma.

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In this op-ed, Jor-El Caraballo, LMHC, co-founder of Viva Wellness, explains how to cope with race-based trauma.

When the news of Ahmaud Arbery 's death became widespread, I can't say that I was surprised. I was, however, shocked that a video of this man's last moments on earth was circulating widely on the internet. As a Black man I was stunned. As a therapist, I was immediately concerned.

We've made incredible ground in the past few decades with technology. Folks around the globe have immediate access to information and news on the ground whenever they want it. But, it has an insidious side too. This means that the darker sides of existence are that much harder to gain distance from, including the ongoing violence against Black people in the United States.

Seeing videos like Arbery's killing or reading the news of Breonna Taylor's death is exposure to trauma for Black people. Nina Pop's recent death is a reminder of the ever-present transphobia and misogynoir Black women experience. Now we are also coming to grips with more recent incidents such as the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police and the incident involving Christian Cooper in New York City' Central Park. Someone recently asked, "Can we heal if this is always going on?" While I don't feel like I can offer a reassuring answer to that question, I will say that we can do what we're able to heal on our own scale - with ourselves and the people around us.

But, healing is hard. Instead, maybe coping is a helpful, and functional goal right now. When we can't seemingly have sustained peace, we can and must find our own ways to cope.
Coping Looks Different on Everyone
As a mental health professional, I can't help but think how harmful it is to continue to witness and read about the deaths of those who are like you. Racism is not good for our mental health, and studies have shown an association between racism and post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD). Now, we have the research to support what many of us already know - that viewing police killings or distressing news towards one's racial-ethnic group is connected to worsened mental health. Yes, videos create awareness. However, we have to be mindful about the negative mental health impact of seeing a senseless killing play out right in front of our eyes.

Coping after these events can vary a great deal, and might be different for everyone. Coping might look like getting more sleep, or debriefing with people in your inner circle or community to get things off your chest. It can also mean avoiding the news cycle for a bit. It's up to you to figure out what coping mechanisms work best for you.

As you begin to find ways to deal with the ongoing violence against Black people, it's important to continue to check in with yourself to make sure your coping is healthy. The key is to watch for the potential negative consequences of your coping. When that debriefing, avoidance of the news, or activism starts to create other negative consequences in your life, then it's likely time to develop more tools to help you manage your thoughts and feelings more responsibly. Talking through those thoughts and feelings with a therapist is a great place to start.
Everyone Needs Support
Regardless of your preferred coping method, even the most well-adjusted, high functioning folks need support from time to time. Reaching out to others for support is not a weakness, but an act of incredible wisdom, emotional maturity and insight.

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How to Cope When Black People Keep Being Killed

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In this op-ed, Jor-El Caraballo, LMHC, co-founder of Viva Wellness , explains how to cope with race-based trauma. When the news of Ahmaud Arbery 's death became widespread, I can't say that I was surprised. I was, however, shocked that a video of this man's last moments on earth was circulating widely on the internet.

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Filling our Cups: 4 Ways People of Color can Foster Mental Health and Practice Restorative Healing

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Filling our Cups: 4 Ways People of Color can Foster Mental Health and Practice Restorative Healing

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The strong, Black woman. The Asian " model minority." "" These tropes, expressions, and labels are often used to demonstrate (and even celebrate) the "resiliency" of people of color. But it's a trap. These stereotypes may seem empowering, but beneath the surface, they are damaging. By denying our humanity, we downplay the mental-health effects of racial trauma. We perpetuate the stigma of mental illness in our communities. And we ignore our own pain and suffering.

Mental illness does not discriminate on the basis of identity or background. Why, then, are people of color often silenced, ignored, and excluded from the discussion? White-centricism not only takes over the narrative of mental health, it consumes media representation, access to services/resources, and even community support. People of color aren't visible in this conversation, and that alone impacts our mental health by making it harder for us to believe and identify our struggles.

And people of color not only feel left out, we get left out. Racial minorities in the U.S. are less likely overall to access mental health services for reasons including cultural and socioeconomic barriers. When we DO receive care, it is often poorer quality. Access to culturally competent care is also an obstacle for communities of color. For example, only 5% of psychologists are African Americans. The history of racism in mental health care is well-documented, and even today, there is still clear bias against people of color. From diagnostic disparities to pathologizing and gaslighting those suffering from racial trauma, white mental health practitioners have little sense of cultural competency in serving people of color and can reinforce stigma and induce more harm. When confronted by their lack of knowledge, white therapists often retraumatize us with their own white fragility and rage.

Meanwhile, the social impact is devastating. Our communities are in crisis. People of color are disproportionately more likely to experience race-based trauma and PTSD, with Native Americans experiencing significantly higher rates. Asian-American women have the second highest suicide rate in the country. Islamophobia has taken a mental and physical toll on Muslim Americans with nearly one-fourth suffering from depression. Both Black and Latinx people face higher rates of depression than white people.

Is it any wonder that suicide rates in communities of color are on the rise?

But despite the obstacles we face, our people can heal and our communities can thrive. Our survival and continued existence is a tribute to our strength and resilience. Loving ourselves in the process is radical resistance. But we do not have to give from an empty cup or suffer in silence. Follow this week's call to action to find out how people of color can foster mental health and practice restorative healing.

Normalize mental health as a social justice issue by breaking down barriers to seeking help. Share your narrative as an act of "

Take the Stigma Free Pledge and be conscious of words and language that stigmatize mental illness.

Watch this 3-minute video by writer and activist Imade Nibokun, about depression, the intersection of mental health and social justice, and how the suicide of MarShawn McCarrel was a catalyst for addressing activist self-care.

Visit the People of Color & Mental Illness Photo Project created by Dior Vargas, a Latina feminist mental health care activist, and follow on Facebook and Twitter. Consider submitting your photo to be included in the project.

Read this series that addresses the stigma of mental health in young Asian Americans, "model minority" expectations, and how practitioners, parents, peers, and schools can help break down barriers.

Read the educational fact sheets from Brother, You're on My Mind Toolkit and use their tips and resources for advocacy, community outreach, events, and partnerships for African-American communities.

Keep in mind that the seemingly strongest among us are sometimes the most at risk. Especially those in activist spaces can use uplifting and room for just being and being vulnerable. Reach out, check in, share the load.

#2. Seek Follow Rejuvenate using these resources specifically tailored for people of color. Self-care and self-love are crucial and #4. De-center and de-colonize white supremacy models of mental health and treatment. Seek out, research, and listen to sources of knowledge from marginalized, underserved, and neglected communities about mental health beliefs, healing, and community needs. Endorse multicultural and social justice counseling competencies. radical acts of resistance. these 3 tips to finding mental health care from My Brown Box. Look at recommendations from the National Alliance on Mental Illness on how to find a culturally competent therapist for the specific needs of African American and people. Check out these resources and directories of practitioners of color: culturally competent mental health services. self-love, liberation and reclamation," an inspiration to others that can potentially save lives. Use the following resources to open awareness and dialogue:
Financially support these mental health organizations for and by people of color.

Black Emotional And Mental Health Collective (BEAM) is a multidisciplinary collective of mental health healers and activists. They develop trainings, technical assistance, and educational offerings that are based on "social justice informed informed mental health literacy" designed by and for Black communities." #BlackLight is their social media campaign for highlighting mental health and healing in Black communities. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter and join their mailing list to stay up to date. Donate here with a one-time contribution or with monthly support.

Rest for Resistance has a repository of resources about mental health for queer and trans people of color. They offer online peer support, community (Brooklyn) monthly meditations, a weekly online zine that publishes works by QTPoC related to "healing, self-care, emotional wellness, survival, and navigating all that along with oppression." They have a social media presence on Facebook and Twitter that is both uplifting and educational. Donate here (various options).

National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network is an all-volunteer endeavor, founded by queer, gender non-conforming, and trans therapists of color who are committed to healing and interrupting the consequences of oppression. Their work is about building capacity for being transformative mental health healers while supporting each other through the racism and barriers faced on their journey as students and professionals. Their Facebook page and Google site are dedicated spaces only for queer and trans people of color with weekly content, resources, and information related to healing and mental health providers. A monthly newsletter is offered for all to stay informed and connected. Donate through the PayPal link found at the bottom of the NQTTCN home page.

This is Action Call #15 in a series. Read past calls to action from Threads of Solidarity . You can support our work financially here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/solidaritywoc .

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Threads of Solidarity: WOC Against Racism

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Filling our Cups: 4 Ways People of Color can Foster Mental Health and Practice Restorative Healing

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The strong, Black woman. The Asian " model minority." "" These tropes, expressions, and labels are often used to demonstrate (and even celebrate) the "resiliency" of people of color. But it's a trap. These stereotypes may seem empowering, but beneath the surface, they are damaging.

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Our African American sisters and brothers have asked that before we speak, we be sure that we have done something else first: educate ourselves...The following list of resources is far from exhaustive, but will serve as a springboard for those who want to learn more about racism in America right now.

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But our African American sisters and brothers have asked that before we speak, we be sure that we have done something else first: educate ourselves.

It's not the job of the African American community to teach white people about racism, so we must intentionally and humbly lean in, listen and learn how white culture is killing black lives.

The following list of resources is far from exhaustive, but will serve as a springboard for those who want to learn more about racism in America right now. Most of the resources are current and ones I've run across in the past six months, but

Episode 34-Black & White: Racism in America
(If you only have time to listen to one podcast from this list, I would recommend this one. It's nearly two hours, but it's so packed with insight that you'll want to listen again.)

John A. Powell: Opening the Question of Race to the Question of Belonging

Deidra Riggs on Women of Color Writers, the Church, and More
Jo Saxton on Post-Christendom, Discipleship, and Being a Woman of Color
Michelle Higgins on That Sermon at Urbana (Here is the talk that this is about: Michelle Higgins)

Aplace to buy toys and decorative items for kids that reflect diversity. From the site: " Our hope is to curate beautiful products that allow children of color to see themselves in the art, books and toys they interact with daily. We also hope that children of all shades would grow up appreciating the gift of diversity - like me, like you."

Raising Race Conscious Children

12 Books Featuring Black Fathers (for all ages)
28 Black Picture books that Aren't About Boycotts, Buses or Basketball
50+ Picture Books about Mixed Race Families

White Privilege, Explained in One Simple Comic (language alert!)

White Privilege: Lessons from a White Mama of Black Children by Christy Richardson at Elephant Journal

**White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, by Peggy McIntosh
(This checklist is used all over the country in college classes to teach about white privilege).

White Fragility:

Why White People Freak Out When They're Called Out About Race, by Sam Adler-Bell for Alternet

Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Why White Moms Need to Care about Murdered Black Children, by Danielle S

One Small Square, by Lisha Epperson for The Mudroom ( The Mudroom did an entire series on race in June of 2016 that was fabulous.)

Ok, White Folks, Here's What You Can Really Do to Help, by Pastor Jonathan Brooks

The Cross and the Lynching Tree

Curriculum for White Americans to Educate Themselves on Race and Racism-From Ferguson to Charleston
31 Days of #WOKE
On Race, Rights & Raising a Black Son: An Interview with Rachel Yantis

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a book and buy it through Amazon, you will not be charged extra, but I will receive a very tiny commission.

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It's time. Maybe you read a news article on your Facebook feed or listened to a podcast and feel it's time for you to finally DO something about the injustices in our nation. Perhaps it is time for that.

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4 Things We Should All Teach Kids About Racism Right Now

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4 Things We Should All Teach Kids About Racism Right Now

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Mia McKenzie is the award-winning author of The Summer We Got Free and the creator of  BGD, a popular media website that amplifies the voices of queer and trans people of color, and Black Girl Dangerous Media, an independent media and education project that centers queer black women and girls.

The link is working; please click below.

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For the past three years, ever since Trayvon Martin was murdered for walking while Black and reports of unarmed Black people being killed by cops and wanna-be cops have surged, leading to the Black Lives Matter movement and push-back from Black communities all over the country, I've wondered how, and if, we're ever going to beat anti-Black racism. I don't even mean eliminate it. I just mean...get a leg-up. Because sometimes it seems as if we're getting nowhere, and getting there really fast.

In the wake of the South Carolina church shootings, when South Carolina governor Nikki Haley said, "Parents are having to explain to their kids how they can go to church and feel safe," I wondered what those parents have been teaching their kids about anti-black racism all this time.

More importantly, what is everyone (who actually cares) teaching their kids about anti-Black racism?

"Don't say the N-word, Bobby!"

"Be nice to people no matter what the color of their skin is, Malik!"

"The Ku Klux Klan is bad, Madison! Don't ever put on a hood and burn a cross on someone's lawn! Okay, nap time!"

Is this the gist of it? God, I hope not. Jokes aside, I suspect that it's not much more nuanced than this. And it really needs to be.

As informed, non-presidential black people have been saying forever, and as one presidential Black person, President Obama, recently said, too: anti-Black racism isn't just saying the N-word.

It's not just being in a hate group, either. Or being mean to people because of the color of their skin. It's way more complicated than that.

As someone who is working on baby-making with my partner, and is already auntie to the cutest nephew ever, I've tried to imagine what, exactly, I'll tell my kids about racism, and especially anti-Black racism, that will make them less likely to internalize it when they encounter it, which, as black children, they absolutely will. There are a few things I've identified as especially important for them to understand as soon as they're able to, and I think these are good things for everyone (who actually cares) to teach their kids about anti-black racism.
1. There's nothing "wrong" with Black people, Jenny.
One of the ways white supremacy operates is that it convinces us that all of the struggles black people face are a result of inferiority and shortcomings, rather than the fact that there is a system of racial oppression working every day that denies us access to equal opportunity and full acknowledgement of our humanity.

Children need to understand that anti-black racism in this country is an intricate system of oppression built on a foundation of hundreds of years of enslavement, followed by segregation, housing discrimination, economic suppression, police brutality, unfair sentencing, mass incarceration and many other practices. All of these have worked against black people and our ability to survive and thrive and we have fought, and are still fighting, an uphill battle against systemic oppression, even in 2015.

We should teach children to recognize when the media and individuals are pathologizing black people-when they're making our struggles about some inherent defect in us, rather than the intricate system of oppression that works against us-rather than calling out that system.

If kids can understand from a young age that there are forces at work here, very real forces that impact people's lives in very real ways (I see a fun Star Wars analogy in there that could be hella effective) then they'll be able to identify who and what the enemy is and not fall into the trap of blaming oppressed people-including themselves-for their own oppression.
2. Don't trust the mainstream media, Mateo.
We all grow up watching, reading, listening to, and being influenced by the mainstream media. Without a basic understanding of the ways the MSM works to uphold systemic racism, kids are ill-equipped to avoid its trappings.

We should all teach kids that the U.S. media isn't fair and unbiased, but rather that it's made up mostly of people who benefit from white supremacy and anti-blackness, and who hold white supremacist and anti-black biases themselves.

Teach your kids to constantly question the media's narratives, especially about black people, including what stories the media tells and doesn't tell, what images they show and don't show, and the ways that black people and other people of color are made less than human by the media, while white people, even mass murderers, are allowed full humanity. Point out to them the differences in headlines and language used to describe people of color vs. white people and make sure they understand the motives behind them.
3. Being "colorblind" is not the answer, Tiffany.
The "I'm colorblind" or "I don't see color" or "I don't see you as black, just as a person" approach is one of the major ways that racism actually gets perpetuated. The fact is that everyone sees race, and there's nothing wrong with that. The problem occurs when we make assumptions about people of color based on race, when racialized people are stereotyped and denied access based on race.

Most of the black people I know, most of the people of color I know, don't want their race, culture and heritage ignored or erased. They also don't want their experiences of racialized oppression ignored or erased. They simply don't want to be treated as less human because of their race.

Also, if you have to pretend my blackness isn't there in order to see my full humanity, you might be racist (j/k you're definitely racist).

We have to teach kids of color that being surrounded by "colorblind" people is no kind of goal to have, and teach white kids that "not seeing race" isn't possible, isn't necessary, and, in fact, perpetuates racism.
4. There is no such thing as reverse-racism, Tyrone.
"Reverse-racism" is a made-up concept that just won't die. Kids, including many, many kids of color, think "reverse-racism" is a real thing and that fact makes me want to take Jesus by the shoulders and shake him.

Okay, that's not fair. This isn't Jesus' fault.

But seriously, we need to teach kids early on that 'reverse-racism'-also known as 'racism against white people'-isn't a thing. The best way to start is by helping them understand what racism actually is: a system of oppression that denies people access to employment, education, housing, food, medical care, safety from police brutality, fairness in sentencing, media representation, and a host of other things, based on race.

Once they get that, explain to them that white people aren't denied access to any of those things based solely on their race, and that's why racism against white people doesn't and can't exist. See how simple that is?

Help them understand that if a person of color calls a white person a mean name (cracker, mayo, etc.), that isn't racism. Unlike whites using the N-word, which is connected to centuries of brutality and denial of access and opportunity for black people, words like cracker and mayo have no such power. While it might hurt a white person's feelings and make them sad, it has never in any way affected their ability to access all of the things I listed above, so it will never be racism. Hurt feelings aren't oppression.

Think of it like this, little Dustin:

Ashley is a black girl and she has five pieces of candy (the candies represent access and acknowledgement of full humanity). Every time a white person calls her the N-word, she feels sad AND a piece of her candy gets taken away. Pretty soon, she has no candies.

Bobby is a white boy and he has five pieces of candy. Every time a black person calls him a cracker, he feels sad but none of his candy gets taken away. Pretty soon, he still has all of the candies.

Get it?

These are only four things, and of course there are many other things, but this is a great start for a kid, and one that gets at some of the more insidious ways that anti-black racism operates. It's not enough to teach kids that all colors of skin are beautiful, or to make sure they don't use racial slurs against others, or even to buy them storybooks with diverse faces. Systems of oppression like anti-black racism are always working, both overtly and covertly, and in order to give kids tools they need to fight it, we have to go deeper with them.

The next generation of black lives depends on our kids having better tools and better ways to understand racism than we have had.

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Want to bring Mia to talk race, queerness and feminism at your school or community event? She's now booking for Fall 2017!

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4 Things We Should All Teach Kids About Racism Right Now

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For the past three years, ever since Trayvon Martin was murdered for walking while Black and reports of unarmed Black people being killed by cops and wanna-be cops have surged, leading to the Black Lives Matter movement and push-back from Black communities all over the country, I've wondered how, and if, we're ever going to beat anti-Black racism.

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Honestly, Sometimes I'm Uncomfortable With My Children Making White Friends

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Honestly, Sometimes I'm Uncomfortable With My Children Making White Friends

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Once, I was at a friend's house with my two kids and her two children. At one point, the oldest of her two kids walked up to my daughter and said, "Why did God give you this gross hair? Why didn't he give you princess hair like mine?" I just stared at her, because I couldn't fathom why she would ever say something like that. But thankfully, my daughter didn't get upset. Instead, she retorted, "My hair is perfect. I have a black mom and a white dad, so it actually makes my hair better than your straight hair." Then she went back to playing. This was about three years ago. It was the moment that I realized that not everyone talks to their children about race, which can put my children in an uncomfortable position - and I want to avoid putting them in that position whenever possible.

My children are black and white. They're extremely proud of their race, but still, I get nervous when my kids make friends with white children. That's not because I'm anti-white, or because I think that white children make terrible friends. It's more that I get nervous about what these children are being taught in their homes by their white parents. I get nervous about the language used, statements like "We don't see color!" or "We don't even notice that your son/daughter is black!" Or even, "We don't talk about race with our children. It's too much for them right now."

My children know who they are and where they came from. They have been raised to celebrate, acknowledge, and honor their heritage. The thought of sending them to play in a home where that would be questioned, challenged, or in some cases completely ignored, leaves me wanting to avoid playdates with most white families.

Courtesy of Margaret Jacobsen

In the past, I never really thought about my children making friends with white children. For the most part, I was just happy they were making friends. But one day at my son Beck's preschool, I was talking to another mother about being black and raising a mixed son. She turned to me and said, "We don't even see Beck's color! He's just Chance's friend!"

It felt like someone had kicked me in my stomach. When someone says they don't see color, they're simply stating that they refuse to acknowledge someone else's ethnicity, thus erasing their background and culture. I couldn't respond to what she said. She stood there smiling at me, as if I should be thanking her for saying that, when all I wanted to do was shake her and say, "How do you not see that he's black? It's OK to see that!"

After that conversation, I stopped working as hard to make playdates with her and her son. My son would ask almost daily when their next playdate would be, but I always said, "Hopefully, soon," knowing that it wasn't going to happen.

"I'm a photographer and a writer," I tell them. "I write about raising black children, being a black parent, and what it's like to be black in America." For me, this is a not-so-subtle way of saying, "Race is an extremely important part of our lives and our identities."

We live about 20 minutes outside of a big city, and the school my kids attend is in the suburbs, which means that their school is 90% white. That means making playdates with white kids is kind of unavoidable, but I try to do a sort of vetting process with parents beforehand. The vetting starts the moment my children introduce me to another kid's parents. I start by just talking about the work I do.

"I'm a photographer and a writer," I tell them. "I write about raising black children, being a black parent, and what it's like to be black in America." For me, this is a not-so-subtle way of saying, "Race is an extremely important part of our lives and our identities."

The ideal answer is usually just a simple "That's interesting! I'd love to read what you write," or even a simple, honest answer about not knowing much about race relations in our country. But sometimes, it's something like, "Oh, we don't see color in our home!" At that point, I make a mental note that we will not be making playdates with that family. Same goes for: "Oh, wow, you're really into politics then? That's not really something I have interest in." When someone says they don't believe in being political, it shows both how privileged they are and how they are actively choosing to remain ignorant of politics, despite the current political climate.

Courtesy of Margaret Jacobsen

It's not that I think families of color can't be friends with white families. Of course they can. It's more that I'm concerned about how white parents are raising white children. I'm concerned that they don't have conversations about race in their home, and that if they do, they don't skip over important aspects like slavery, and how it's created a foundation of racism in our country.

I don't want my children playing with kids whose parents believe in racist stereotypes. I don't want my children playing in a home where recognizing other people's humanity isn't a focus.

I don't want my children playing with kids whose parents believe in racist stereotypes. I don't want my children playing in a home where recognizing other people's humanity isn't a focus. And I don't want my children playing in a home where parents claim they don't "see color," because they're too "nice" to acknowledge that race is an important part of how we interact with each other in this country. Being "nice" isn't enough to keep black children safe.

Courtesy of Margaret Jacobsen

Our home is a place where compassion comes first. We don't water down discussions of race to exclude the realities of white supremacy. We talk about it. We talk about being black, about the white side of the family, about what it means to have light skin privilege, which my children have. We make sure that whoever comes over is respected and loved, but who they are is never neglected or ignored. We honor the cultures, traditions, and stories that are carried into our home by those who visit us. We don't silence anyone, in ways that I've seen other parents do to my children when they talk about being black. I've seen parents say to my kids "We haven't talked to them about black people yet, they're not ready." My children are confused by this. How is who they are something to talk about "later"? And why do my young children have to conceal their pride to make white children more comfortable?

Unless white parents are doing the necessary work to dismantle racism, like having frank conversations about race with their own children, addressing their own racial biases, and talking about the realities of white privilege, my children will not be having playdates with those families. I will not go out of my way to educate white parents on how to treat my children with respect and dignity. They should already be doing that.

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TBH, I'm Uncomfortable With My Kids Having White Friends

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Once, I was at a friend's house with my two kids and her two children. At one point, the oldest of her two kids walked up to my daughter and said, "Why did God give you this gross hair? Why didn't he give you princess hair like mine?" I just stared...

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15 mental health podcasts for people of color

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15 mental health podcasts for people of color

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Podcasts are growing in popularity and some are bold enough to tackle the taboo topic of mental health in marginalized communities. Take a listen to these 15 podcasts working to end the stigma in communities of color.

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Podcasts are growing in popularity and some are bold enough to tackle the taboo topic of mental health in marginalized communities. Take a listen to these 15 podcasts working to end the stigma in communities of color.

Be sure to check out 5 mental health podcasts by therapists of color.

The podcast for women of color who affirm their worth, value mental health, and seek wholeness. Hosted by former therapist & creator of Redefine Enough, Davia Roberts.

Available on iTunes, SoundCloud, & GooglePlay

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15 mental health podcasts for people of color

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Podcasts are growing in popularity and some are bold enough to tackle the taboo topic of mental health in marginalized communities. Take a listen to these 15 podcasts working to end the stigma in communities of color. Be sure to check out 5 mental health podcasts by therapists of color.

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The Five Things I need from White People Right Now

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The Five Things I need from White People Right Now

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Raising Antiracist Kids: Ibram X. Kendi with Derecka Purnell

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Raising Antiracist Kids: Ibram X. Kendi with Derecka Purnell

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A discussion about raising antiracist kids with author of the new book, AntiRacist Baby, Ibram X.Kendi in conversation with Derecka Purnell.

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HaymarketBooks.org

Raising Antiracist Kids: Ibram X. Kendi with Derecka Purnell

A discussion about raising antiracist kids with author of the new book, AntiRacist Baby How do families raise actively anti-racist children? , Ibram X.Kendi in conversation with Derecka Purnell. Pre-order AntiRacist Baby or order Kendi's other books from Labyrinth at 10% off and free shipping, email [email protected] and include a callback number.
A new uprising across the country demanding racial justice is a powerful reminder that families of all backgrounds need to be pro-active in raising children to understand racism and discrimination, and helping our kids to be a force for anti-racist change in the world.

AntiRacist Baby written by Ibram X. Kendi; illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky (Kokila Books; on sale June 16, 2020; ages 0-3)

Early review of AntiRacist Baby from Publishers Weekly:

"Boldly outlined, inclusive illustrations by Lukashevsky complement the text by showing a world populated by people of various skin tones, sizes, identities and orientations, religions, and abilities....[A] mindful companion for families striving together toward a more equitable future."

Ibram X. Kendi is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and the Director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University. He is an Ideas Columnist at The Atlantic, and a correspondent with CBS News. He is the author of four books including Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which won National Book Award for Nonfiction, and the New York Times bestsellers How to Be an Antiracist and STAMPED: Racism, Antiracism, and You, co-authored with Jason Reynolds. His next book, AntiRacist Baby, will be published in June.

Derecka Purnell is is a human rights lawyer, writer, and organizer. Since graduating from Harvard Law School, she has worked to end police and prison violence nationwide by providing legal assistance, research, and trainings to community based organizations through an abolitionist framework. Derecka is currently a columnist at The Guardian and Deputy Director of Spirit of Justice Center.

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Raising Antiracist Kids: Ibram X. Kendi with Derecka Purnell

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A discussion about raising antiracist kids with author of the new book, AntiRacist Baby, Ibram X.Kendi in conversation with Derecka Purnell. A new uprising across the country demanding racial justice is a powerful reminder that families of all backgrounds need to be pro-active in raising children to understand racism and discrimination, and helping our kids to be a force for anti-racist change in the world.

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How the coronavirus is surfacing America’s deep-seated anti-Asian biases

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How the coronavirus is surfacing America’s deep-seated anti-Asian biases

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There's been a surge in harassment toward Asian Americans in recent weeks: According to Stop AAPI Hate, an organization that's been tracking self-reported incidents, more than 1,100 physical and verbal attacks against Asian Americans have been documented since late March.

The high number of reports, which have been submitted over just two weeks, is especially striking since people across the country have predominantly been sheltering in place. The incidents - logged through the Stop AAPI Hate website, which launched on March 19 - are wide-ranging.

In one, an Asian American child was pushed off her bike by a bystander at a park. In another, a family at a grocery store was spat on and accused of being responsible for the coronavirus. For some, including one Japanese restaurant owner, the harassment has come in the form of vandalism.

Among these reports, which come from 46 states, there are notable patterns: women were more likely than men to say they were targeted, several incidents involved children, and harassment was more likely to occur at retail stores and pharmacies now that people in most states are sheltering in place.

"So many of us have experienced it, sometimes for the first time in our lives," says Manjusha Kulkarni, the executive director of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, the group that helped set up this tracker. "It makes it much harder to go to the grocery store, to take a walk, to be outside our homes."

Such incidents are taking place as the US grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, and as President Donald Trump continues to stoke xenophobia by using a racist name for the virus and associating it with Asian Americans. In a tweet last Thursday, Trump appeared to equate Chinatowns in American cities to the country of China, criticizing House Speaker Nancy Pelosifor promoting businesses in Chinatown after he restricted travel from China earlier this year.

The latest uptick in racism, however, isn't just fueled by the pandemic. Although the uncertainty of the outbreak - coupled with the president's rhetoric - has amplified it, this prejudice is rooted in longstanding biases toward Asian Americans that have persisted since some of the earliest immigrants came to the US generations ago.

"I think the recent surge is [driven by] the rhetoric that political leaders have been using ... but I don't think we would have seen the spike in anti-Asian bias without a pretty strong foundation rooted in the 'forever foreigner' stereotype," says University of Maryland Asian American studies professor Janelle Wong.

The "forever foreigner" idea Wong references is one that's been used to "other" Asian Americans in the US for decades: It suggests that Asians who live in America are fundamentally foreign and can't be fully American.Enduring tropes that have associated Asian Americans with illness and the consumption of "weird" foods, which have reemerged in relation to the coronavirus, are among those that play into this concept.

The revival of these stereotypes and the recent spike in harassment are having a pointed effect: they're forcing a reckoning about the existence of anti-Asian racism in the US.

The current xenophobia is built on deeply rooted racism toward Asian Americans

Racism toward Asian Americans goes back a long time.

In fact, it was enshrined into law when some of the earliest generations of Asian Americans were immigrating to the United States in the 1800s. The Page Act of 1875 and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, two of the country's first immigration laws, were designed explicitly to bar Chinese American laborers from entering the country because of widespread xenophobia and concerns about workplace competition.

These laws - along with others that made it impossible for immigrants to reenter the country if they visited China - were among the earliest that tagged Asian American immigrants as foreigners who didn't belong in the US. "Whereas in the opinion of the Government of the United States the coming of Chinese laborers to this country endangers the good order of certain localities within the territory thereof," read the first lines of the Exclusion Act.

In addition to limiting immigration, the act guaranteed that Chinese Americans could not become US citizens for decades. "Very early on in the history of this country, Chinese Americans were seen as a group of people we wanted to keep out," says Yale sociology professor Grace Kao.

And immigration policy wasn't the only place where such discrimination was apparent. As illnesses including smallpox and the bubonic plague spread in the late 1800s, San Francisco's Chinese residents were repeatedly used as "medical scapegoats," according to San Francisco State public health researcher Joan Trauner.

When the city grappled with a smallpox outbreak in 1875-'76, for example, officials blamed the "foul and disgusting vapors" - and "unwholesome" living conditions of Chinatown - for fueling it, according to Trauner. Even after the epidemic continued following the city-ordered fumigation of all the homes in Chinatown, the blame persisted.

"I unhesitatingly declare my belief that the cause is the presence in our midst of 30,000 (as a class) of unscrupulous, lying and treacherous Chinamen, who have disregarded our sanitary laws, concealed, and are concealing their cases of smallpox," city health officer J.L. Meares wrote at the time.

Similarly, when the city encountered cases of the bubonic plaguein 1900, one of which was detected in Chinatown, San Francisco attempted to quarantine roughly 14,000 Chinese Americans who lived in that part of the city. At one point, city officials proposed sending Chinese residents to a detention camp where they could be cordoned off from other members of the public, though a circuit court rejected this plan.

In both cases, the vitriol toward Chinese Americans was driven by explicit racism, a fundamental lack of medical knowledge, and pushback toward the influx of Chinese laborers competing with white workers for job opportunities. Policy prescriptions were actively informed by assumptions that Chinatowns were a "laboratory of infection," Trauner explains.

"A common trope in American popular culture was that the Chinese ate rats and lived in filthy, overcrowded quarters," says Princeton University history professor Beth Lew-Williams. "In the 19th century, San Francisco routinely banned Chinese from public hospitals."

The recurring association of Chinese Americans with the ideas of being "dirty" or illness-ridden is inextricably tied up with xenophobia - and as Nylah Burton writes for Vox, it's an association that's been used to "other" many people of color, including Mexican Americans and African Americans.

And now, because the origins of the coronavirus have likely been traced back to a wet market in Wuhan, China, where people purchase groceries, this information has renewed racist jokes and statements about the type of food that Asian Americans eat. It's a sentiment that's so common, it was a plot line of the ABC television show Fresh Off the Boat, when a young Eddie Huang, the Asian American protagonist of the show, is shunned after consuming his lunch in front of his white classmates because they see the noodles in it as "gross" and "nasty."

This treatment of Asian foods is simply another plank of the othering of Asian American people: By deeming anything that's different or unfamiliar as exotic or disgusting, the idea that Asian people are fundamentally foreign is further reinforced.

The effects of the "forever foreigner" trope, briefly explained

While the Chinese Exclusion Act was ultimately repealed in the 1940s, the racism it embodied played a central role in shaping how the United States continues to view Asian Americans.

The idea that Asian Americans are "forever foreigners" helped lay the groundwork for Japanese internment during World War II, when Japanese American citizens were sent to detention camps solely on the basis of their ethnicity, due to suspicions that they were abetting the Japanese government in some way. In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Islamophobia toward Muslim Americans and prejudice toward South Asian Americans was similarly fueled by assumptions that people were not loyal to the United States because of their religion, ethnicity and external appearance.

"It's always easily activated, it's very tenacious, it's very familiar to many Americans," says Wong of this assumption. "I'm sixth-generation Chinese American in the US and I still feel it."

Because the hostility that Asian Americans have faced is rooted in this question of belonging in the US, some - including former presidential candidate Andrew Yang - have suggested that Asians can combat this prejudice by proving their patriotism and commitment to their community.

It's a misguided argument founded on "respectability politics" that further puts the onus on Asian Americans to demonstrate how American they are - and it's revealing of how much some people still think Asians need to compensate for looking "different."

"Very early on in the history of this country, Chinese Americans were seen as a group of people we wanted to keep out"

Political pushback toward China, including its handling of the virus, has also been conflated with hostility toward Chinese Americans in a way that historic US tensions with Asian nations have been projected onto people of Asian descent in the past.

Recently, former Washington Gov. Gary Locke - who is Chinese American - was featured in a Trump attack ad against former vice president and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Because of the way it's framed, the ad appears to imply that Locke, who once served as the US ambassador to China, is a Chinese official and not an American one.

"Asian Americans - whether you're second-, third-, or fourth-generation, will always be viewed as foreigners," Locke told the Atlantic. "We don't say that about second- or third-generation Irish Americans or Polish Americans. No one would even think to include them in a picture when you're talking about foreign government officials."

Recent incidents are forcing a dialogue about racism

Although racism toward Asian Americans has persisted for generations, it's rarely explicitly confronted or talked about. "Asian discrimination tends to be overlooked and widely tolerated, even among educated classes," University of Pennsylvania English professor Josephine Park told Penn Today.

There are many reasons for this, according to Asian American studies scholars. Relative to other people of color, including black Americans and Latino Americans, Asian Americans have faced discrimination of a different degree. According to a 2017 survey from the Harvard School of Public Health, Asian Americans reported facing less bias in areas including housing, employment and criminal justice, compared to other minority groups.

Additionally, because of the diversity within the Asian American community - which includes more than 15 ethnic groups - there is a breadth of experience that isn't always all the same. "It's rare to see all parts of the Asian American community equally affected by an issue," says UC Riverside political science professor and head of AAPI Data Karthick Ramakrishnan.

The toxic perpetuation of the "model minority" myth, which was introduced by sociologist William Petersen in a New York Times Magazine piece in 1966, has further complicated the conversation about Asian Americans and racism.

As part of his piece, Petersen pits minority groups against one another and argues that Japanese Americans were able to attain economic success in the face of injustice and discrimination in a way that other groups, which Petersen dubbed "problem minorities," were not. It's a fictitious argument that's been used repeatedly as a "wedge" between minority groups, Kat Chow reported for NPR.

By branding Asian Americans as a "model minority," writers like Petersen also sought to evade responsibility for systemic injustices that have disproportionately hurt black Americans. The proliferation of this idea ultimately reduced the visibility of racism against Asian Americans as well.

In the years since, the "model minority" myth has repeatedly been leveraged to obscure the diversity within the Asian American community - giving rise to stereotypes about Asian Americans as a homogeneous group that's focused exclusively on studies and certain professions, like those in science and technology.

That emphasis on homogeneity, in turn, reinforces the idea that Asian Americans can be perceived as a monolithic group of people who can always be framed as outsiders. Comments like "Where are you really from?" or "Go back to your country" and jokes about how all Asian people look the same remain commonplace.

"The dominant culture's belief in the 'model minority' allows it to justify ignoring the unique discrimination faced by Asian Americans," writes Robert Chang, in his book Disoriented: Asian Americans, Law and the Nation-State.

Now, the recent rise in harassment is sparking a new conversation about the type of prejudice that Asian Americans experience. For some, it marks one of the rare times they are confronting this problem in such an explicit way.

"I haven't been harassed for my race for years and years. It's been a really long time, so it felt like it came out of nowhere," California resident Julie Kang told Vox's Catherine Kim.

Experts see these incidents compelling people to talk about discrimination toward Asian Americans more openly. "I think there is a newfound understanding for a lot of folks," says Kulkarni. "We hope this will spur more dialogue and more action, frankly."

Some also think it has the potential to improve solidarity between Asian Americans and other people of color, many of whom deal with racist harassment and violence - including from the police - on a regular basis. "I hope that we realize that this kind of process happens to other groups all the time," says Ramakrishnan.

The response from some lawmakers has helped underscore this solidarity: A few weeks back, a group of House Democrats representing the black, Asian, and Hispanic caucuses unequivocally denounced anti-Asian rhetoric and violence.

"In times of crisis, it's important for us all to stand together," said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). "It's particularly important for leaders of every race, every religion, every background to raise your voices as we are doing today to make it clear we will not tolerate anti-Asian rhetoric or violence against the community."

The attacks Asian Americans are facing across the country are bringing the dialogue about longstanding prejudices to the fore. And as Americans are having more frank conversations about race and institutional biases - even as the president promotes xenophobia - they aren't as easy to ignore as they have been in the past.

"Addressing ... these kinds of dominant stereotypes that are really pervasive, that are so easily activated, requires public education and the broader public committing to understand race in America," says Wong. "There's a way that it could be a really potent reminder that Asian Americans are racialized in the US and that we can't go it alone."
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How the coronavirus is surfacing America's deep-seated anti-Asian biases

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There's been a surge in harassment toward Asian Americans in recent weeks: According to Stop AAPI Hate, an organization that's been tracking self-reported incidents, more than 1,100 physical and verbal attacks against Asian Americans have been documented since late March.

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Over 30 percent of Americans have witnessed COVID-19 bias against Asians, poll says

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Over 30 percent of Americans have witnessed COVID-19 bias against Asians, poll says

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More than 30 percent of Americans have witnessed someone blaming Asian people for the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new Ipsos survey conducted for the Center for Public Integrity.

Sixty percent of Asian Americans, who made up about 6 percent of the survey's respondents, told Ipsos they've seen the same behavior.

The poll, released Tuesday, comes as advocacy groups and researchers report an alarming rise in anti-Asian discrimination. Stop AAPI Hate, an effort to track these cases, reported about 1,500 instances of harassment against Asian Americans in a one-month period since mid-March.

"We're already seeing an increase in physical assaults, refusal of service and vandalism," said Cynthia Choi, co-executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action, a San Francisco-based civil rights organization helping to run the tracking effort, "despite the fact that 95 percent of Americans are sheltering in place."

Choi worries about what will happen when shelter-in-place orders are lifted and more people interact on subways, in workplaces and elsewhere. "We are preparing for worst-case scenarios," she said.

Serious incidents of violence have already occurred, in one of which a man is accused of stabbing an Asian American family, including two children, at a Sam's Club in Texas in March. By mid-April, the New York City Police Department was investigating 11 coronavirus-related hate incidents, one of which left a woman needing stitches after she was hit on the head with an umbrella while people yelled anti-Asian insults at her.

The surge in anti-Asian bias may reflect a growing tendency to blame certain groups for the pandemic, according to Chris Jackson, the head of public polling at Ipsos, who ran the survey of 1,001 adults. The survey has a "credibility interval," a way of measuring its precision, of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak
While a narrow majority of poll respondents described the virus primarily as a natural disaster, 44 percent said specific people or organizations were responsible. Of those respondents, nearly two-thirds mentioned China or Chinese people.

"The majority of people - a bare majority, but a majority - are still viewing the pandemic as a natural disaster," Jackson said. "We've not asked this particular question before, but we've asked similar questions, and that number is coming down. Earlier on, there was a much larger number of people who viewed it as a natural disaster."

The poll found a partisan divide. Sixty percent of Republicans said the virus was caused by specific people or groups, almost double the share of Democrats who said that.

This reflects an intentional 2020 election effort.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee sent a memo directing campaigns this month to blame China when asked about failures in the Trump administration's response to the pandemic. "Don't defend Trump, other than the China Travel Ban - attack China," says the memo, first reported by Politico.

President Donald Trump and other Republican politicians have repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus."

"I think the Republican strategy is to deflect blame and scapegoat and rile up their base," said Russell Jeung, a professor of Asian American studies at San Francisco State University who is also involved in the Stop AAPI Hate tracker. "A clear consequence of using terms like 'Chinese virus,' of making China the central campaign strategy, is putting Asian American lives at risk."

In open-ended responses to the poll, many people simply blamed "China," leaving it unclear whether the blame was leveled at the Chinese government or at Chinese and Asian people more broadly.

Jeung said that it was fair game to criticize foreign governments for their responses to the pandemic but that Americans should also look to the failures of their own government. Politicians have a responsibility to denounce hate and racism, he said.

Charissa Cheah, a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, is researching anti-Asian bias during the pandemic. She said she is not sure that people make a clear distinction between criticism of Chinese leaders and criticism of people with Asian ancestry.

"Many of these implicit assumptions are done without thought," she said.

The tendency to blame China is particularly notable, she said, because researchers have found that most COVID-19 cases in New York were imported from Europe, not Asia.

Anti-Asian bias amid the virus' spread plays into a long history of racism in the United States that has associated immigrant groups with disease, Cheah said. But while some immigrant groups, such as those from European countries, were later assimilated into an identity as white Americans, people with Asian ancestry keep finding their status as Americans questioned.

"They fall very quickly from model minority to yellow peril," she said. "Asian Americans are considered perpetual foreigners. It doesn't matter how many generations you've been here. You're always asked, 'Where do you come from?'"

Community spread within the U.S. dwarfs the risk of exposure from outside travel. But the Ipsos/Center for Public Integrity poll results suggest that a minority of people see Asian Americans as disease risks.

One out of 4 people said they would be concerned about coming into close contact with someone of Asian ancestry in public, a share that jumped to 46 percent if the person was not wearing a face covering or other protective gear. Respondents were far more likely to express concern about encountering someone of any ethnic background who is coughing (94 percent), not wearing protective gear (79 percent) or elderly (56 percent).

To Jackson, the Ipsos pollster, that suggests that the lion's share of Americans see outward signs of disease or lack of protection - not ethnicity - as a risk factor. The trouble, he said, is that a small number of racists motivated to take action can cause serious damage.

"Virulent racism isn't a mass phenomenon," Jackson said. "But among Republicans particularly, there is an environment where blaming China or blaming the Chinese people is acceptable, and that is an environment that fosters more extreme acts."

The federal government has done little to combat a rise in hate crimes during the pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention swiftly launched a team to combat discrimination during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, but the agency has announced no such measures for COVID-19. The Justice Department has not said whether it is planning anything like its quick response to the backlash that affected Americans of South Asian and Middle Eastern ancestry after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

That leaves a critical gap. But bystanders can play a crucial role in combating hate, experts said.

People's level of prejudice is directly correlated with their perception of what is socially acceptable, said Mina Cikara, an associate professor of psychology at Harvard University: "Social norms are incredibly powerful in terms of driving attitudes." Denouncing violence, or publicly supporting the victim of harassment, sends a strong signal.

The consequences of not intervening could be severe. All it takes, Cikara said, is "a couple of awful people to do awful things."
The Center for Public Integrity is a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.

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Over 30 percent of Americans have witnessed COVID-19 bias against Asians, poll says

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More than 30 percent of Americans have witnessed someone blaming Asian people for the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new Ipsos survey conducted for the Center for Public Integrity. Sixty percent of Asian Americans, who made up about 6 percent of the survey's respondents, told Ipsos they've seen the same behavior.

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What I am learning from my white grandchildren -- truths about race 

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What I am learning from my white grandchildren -- truths about race 

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Anthony Peterson | TEDxAntioch

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What I am learning from my white grandchildren -- truths about race | Anthony Peterson | TEDxAntioch

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On Monday evening, George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police. Video surfaced of a white police officer holding his knee to Floyd's neck for eight minutes while Floyd pleaded with police saying "I can't breathe." Floyd became unresponsive and died shortly after at Hennepin County Medical Center. This brutal killing follows the death of Breonna Taylor in her bed at the hands of police in Louisville, Kentucky, the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in a Georgia suburb and centuries of police abuse and violence.

In this moment, w know there are thousands of white people who are looking for direction and a way to show up alongside Black communities and communities of color. Welcome. You are needed. Here are a few ways to start showing up - not just in words but in action.

1. Come out as anti-racist and invite others to join you. Be public and vocal about which side you are on, share details of the actions you are taking to make this commitment real, and invite others to join you. Join SURJ to build a mass base of people breaking white silence by signing up here and share this graphic on your Facebook and social media pages to invite others to sign up as well.

2. Join fights to defund the police. It's local budget season and right now across the country towns and cities are deciding how your community will spend its resources. Join your local group already doing this work or plan an action to tell decision makers what your community really needs - like mental health services and affordable housing - instead of more funding for police. In Los Angeles, when the Mayor proposed giving 54% of the budget to the police, SURJ's affiliate White People for Black Lives showed up alongside Black Lives Matter to push back and they've won the first round of the fight. Many local SURJ chapters are already engaged in these fights alongside their partners - click here to see if there is a chapter in your community.

Minneapolis based Black Visions is asking folks to call Minneapolis Mayor Frey and the City Council to "stop making statements on social media and start holding MPD accountable in the only language they speak: money. Call Mayor Frey and tell him: 'Cut MPD's budget. We need money to keep our communities healthy during the pandemic, not murder them in the streets.'" Make this call today and share their post on Facebook.

3. Make a commitment to "organize your own" for the long haul. White communities are used to uphold the power structure and business-as-usual. When we break away and join movements for justice, this can help tip the balance of power and win real change. For too long, those at the top have relied on the silence of white folks to keep things as they are - and then we all lose. Our work is to organize in our own communities to bring more white people into struggles for justice, and to support the efforts led by people of color.

Police departments and white supremacists have been emboldened under the Trump administration. The head of the Minneapolis Police Union has sold "Cops for Trump" t-shirts, has been applauded by the President on Twitter, and even spoke at a Trump rally. White voters elected Trump, which has led to an escalation in racist scapegoating of and violence against communities of color. We need to show up big this election year to ensure white voters don't re-elect Trump. Sign the Collect Your Cousins Pledge to join us in calling white voters in critical battleground states. SURJ is calling white voters on June 4th at 6:00 EST. Click here to sign the Collect Your Cousins Pledge to join the phone bank and help us call in thousands more white people into the work.

4. Focus on building our numbers, not being right. To end police brutality, white supremacy, and to build a movement to get us all free, we need to move people with us - namely people who are conflicted or watching from the sidelines. This means calling in our folks - people in our families, faith communities, neighborhoods, and workplaces - inviting them to join a movement and be on the right side of history. It might feel good to just yell at other white people in the short run. But when we spend time with those who are awakening in this moment and are wanting to show up, as imperfect as they are, that helps us all. This is the work.

5. Help resource the work of Black-led groups that are fighting for police accountability and abolition. Find and support a local group in your community or move your money to the front lines in Minneapolis. Make sure folks most impacted have the resources to stay in the streets and dream up the most powerful, transformative pathways forward. Make a donation today to Reclaim the Block and Black Visions who are on the frontlines in response to the murder of George Floyd.

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5 Ways White People Can Take Action in Response to White and State-Sanctioned Violence

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On Monday evening, George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police. Video surfaced of a white police officer holding his knee to Floyd's neck for eight minutes while Floyd pleaded with police saying "I can't breathe." Floyd became unresponsive and died shortly after at Hennepin County Medical Center.

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10 common phrases that are actually racist AF.

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10 common phrases that are actually racist AF.

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You might be surprised to discover that these phrases were originally insults against not just Blacks, but also Asians, Native Americans, and the Roma people.

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As much as we'd like to pretend every phrase we utter is a lone star suspended in the space of our own genius, all language has a history. Unfortunately, given humanity's aptitude for treating each other like shit, etymology is fraught with reminders of our very racist world.

Since I have faith that most of you reading want to navigate the world with intelligence and empathy, I figured it'd be useful to share some of the everyday phrases rooted in racist etymology.

Knowledge is power, and the way we use and contextualize our words can make a huge difference in the atmospheres we create.

1. Thug

According to Meriam-Webster's dictionary definition, a thug is "a violent criminal." Obviously, this definition leaves the word open to define people of all ethnicities.

However, given the frequent ways this word has been used to describe Black Lives Matter protesters, the 17-year-old murder victim Trayvon Martin, and sadly, almost every black victim of police brutality - there is an undeniable racial charge to the word.

When you consider the people who are called thugs - groups of black protesters, victims of racist violence, teenagers minding their own business, and flip the racial element, you'd be hard-pressed to find examples of white people being called thugs in earnest by the media (or really by anyone).

Several prominent activists and black writers have written about the phenomenon of thug replacing the n-word in modern culture. In a popular press conference back in 2014, the Seattle Seahawks player Richard Sherman explained his feelings about the word.

"The reason it bothers me is because it seems like it's an accepted way of calling somebody the N-word now. It's like everybody else said the N-word and then they say 'thug' and that's fine. It kind of takes me aback and it's kind of disappointing because they know," Sherman said.

If you're talking about an actual criminal, there are so many descriptive words to invoke besides "thug." Given its current use as a negative, racially-coded word, avoiding its use seems like an easy and obvious move.

2. Grandfather Clause

When most of us hear the term "grandfather clause" we just think of the generalized description: a person or entity that is allowed to continue operating over now expired rules. But the literal meaning reveals the "grandfather clause" was a racist post-Reconstruction political strategy.

This is the historical definition, according to Encyclopedia Britannica:

"Grandfather clause, statutory or constitutional device enacted by seven Southern states between 1895 and 1910 to deny suffrage to African Americans. It provided that those who had enjoyed the right to vote prior to 1866 or 1867, or their lineal descendants, would be exempt from educational, property, or tax requirements for voting. Because the former slaves had not been granted the franchise until the adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870, those clauses worked effectively to exclude black people from the vote but assured the franchise to many impoverished and illiterate whites."

In modern speak, this basically meant the Grandfather Clause let white people off the hook for new voting requirements because their ancestors were already registered voters. Meanwhile, black people were required to fill out impossible literacy tests and pay exorbitant poll taxes to vote. This in turn, meant many black people were unable to vote, while white people weren't held to the same standard.

3. Gypsy or "Gyp"

The word "Gypsy" was (and is) a racial slur referring to the Roma people. The Roma people are descendants of Northern India who, due to severe marginalization and threats of violence by others, lived a nomadic lifestyle of forced migration for centuries.

During a fraught history, Roma people were taken as slaves in Romania and were targeted for genocide by the Nazis.

The word "Gypsy" is a slang word perpetuating stereotypes of Roma people as "thieves, rowdies, dirty, immoral, con-men, asocials, and work-shy" according to the Council of Europe.

In a similar vein, the term "Gyp" or "getting gypped" means to cheat or get conned, and many connect this meaning as another racist extension of Gypsy.

4. No Can Do

According to the Oxford Dictionary, the very common phrase "no can do" was originally made popular as a way to make fun of Chinese immigrants.

"The widespread use of the phrase in English today has obscured its origin: what might seem like folksy, abbreviated version of I can't do it is actually an imitation of Chinese Pidgin English. The phrase dates from the mid-19th to early-20th centuries, an era when Western attitudes towards the Chinese were markedly racist."

5. Sold Down The River

Upon first hearing, many people associate the phrase "sold down the river" with the notion of being betrayed, lied to, or otherwise screwed over. While these definitions all technically apply to the origin, the root of this phrase is much more bleak.

According to a report from NPR, being "sold down the river" was a literal reference to slavery, and the families that were torn apart in the south.

"River" was a literal reference to the Mississippi or Ohio rivers. For much of the first half of the 19th century, Louisville, Ky., was one of the largest slave-trading marketplaces in the country. Slaves would be taken to Louisville to be "sold down the river" and transported to the cotton plantations in states further south.

This heavy connotation sadly makes sense, but also makes casual use of the phrase feel way more cringe-inducing.

6. Welfare Queen

This straw woman in Reagan's campaign served as a racially-charged exaggeration of one minor case of real welfare fraud used to pedal his platform for welfare reform.

Needless to say, the term has sadly lived on as a racially-charged vehicle used to undermine the importance of welfare programs, while peddling gross stereotypes about black women.

On top of all the other offenses, this stereotype is of course ignoring the fact that poor white Americans receive the most welfare out of any economically-disadvantaged demographic.
7. Shuck And Jive
The term shuck and jive is both common and very obviously rooted in the language of slavery.

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the phrase shuck and jive refers to:

"The fact that black slaves sang and shouted gleefully during corn-shucking season, and this behavior, along with lying and teasing, became a part of the protective and evasive behavior normally adopted towards white people in ' traditional' race relations."

Likewise, the modern usage of this phrase refers to pandering, selling out, or instances in which black people go along with racist white people's wishes. Again, not a phrase to be thrown around lightly.
8. Long Time No See
The very commonly used greeting "long time no see" first became popular as a way to make fun of Native Americans. The phrase was used as a way to mock a traditional greeting exchanged between Native Americans.

This is the official definition, according to the Oxford Dictionary:

"Long Time No See was originally meant as a humorous interpretation of a Native American greeting, used after a prolonged separation. The current earliest citation recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) comes from W.F. Drannan's book Thirty-one Years on Plains (1901): 'When we rode up to him [sc. an American Indian] he said: 'Good mornin. Long time no see you'."

The act of committing genocide is not limited to human lives, but also translates to a normalized cultural violence. Deconstructing, mocking, and erasing someone's language contributes to this pattern of colonialism.
9. The Peanut Gallery
Most modern uses of the term "the peanut gallery" is in reference to a group of people who needlessly criticize or mocking another person. However, the historical roots of this term are much more racist and painful.

Originally, this term referred to the balconies in segregated theaters where black people were forced to sit. The nickname "peanut" was given due to the fact that peanuts were introduced to America at the same time as the slave trade. Because of this, there was a connection drawn between black people and peanuts.
10. Uppity
As of now, the word "uppity" is often used as a synonym for "stuck up" or "pretentious" or "conceited." But the roots of the word are far more specific and racist.

The word Uppity was first used by Southerners to refer to slaves who did not fall into line, or acted as if they "didn't know their place."

So, basically, any black person who overtly stood up to racism. Given the heaviness of this origin, it seems best to leave this word at home when looking to describe a pretentious acquaintance.

Sadly, given our ugly history, there are many more words and phrases I could add to this list. In the meantime, hopefully this list is helpful for navigating the racism innate in our language.
The article was originally published by our partners at someecards and was written by Bronwyn Isacc.

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10 common phrases that are actually racist AF.

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As much as we'd like to pretend every phrase we utter is a lone star suspended in the space of our own genius, all language has a history. Unfortunately, given humanity's aptitude for treating each other like shit, etymology is fraught with reminders of our very racist world.Since I have faith that ...

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Solidarity: Unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest;
mutual support within a group.

“Solidarity does not assume that our struggles are the same struggles, or that our pain is the same pain, or that our hope is for the same future. Solidarity involves commitment, and work, as well as the recognition that even if we do not have the same feelings, or the same lives, or the same bodies, we do live on common ground.”
–Sara Ahmed

“Solidarity entails the recognition that liberation is a collective project that requires dialogic participation and a critical consciousness of how both oppressor and oppressed are bound together through power relations.”
–Paulo Freire

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Make a Donation to Know Your Rights' Coronavirus Fund

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Make a Donation to Know Your Rights' Coronavirus Fund

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Hundreds of years of structural racism is making Black and Brown communities more vulnerable to the coronavirus. Black and Brown people are more likely to be infected, less likely to be tested, less likely to be treated, and more likely to die from COVID-19.

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Reclaim the Block began in 2018 and organizes Minneapolis community and city council members to move money from the police department into other areas of the city’s budget that truly promote community health and safety.

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Reclaim the Block began in 2018 and organizes Minneapolis community and city council members to move money from the police department into other areas of the city's budget that truly promote community health and safety. We believe health, safety and resiliency exist without police of any kind. We organize around policies that strengthen community-led safety initiatives and reduce reliance on police departments. We do not believe that increased regulation of or public engagement with the police will lead to safer communities, as community testimony and documented police conduct suggest otherwise.

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Reclaim the Block began in 2018 and organizes Minneapolis community and city council members to move money from the police department into other areas of the city's budget that truly promote community health and safety. We believe health, safety and resiliency exist without police of any kind.

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National Bail Out is a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers and activists building a community-based movement to support our folks and end systems of pretrial detention and ultimately mass incarceration.

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National Bail Out is a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers and activists building a community-based movement to support our folks and end systems of pretrial detention and ultimately mass incarceration. We are people who have been impacted by cages - either by being in them ourselves or witnessing our families and loved ones be encaged. We are queer, trans, young, elder, and immigrant. Learn more at www.nationalbailout.org.
In response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, we are working to continue to free our people from cages, especially those that have been detained through the current uprising.
People who are incarcerated cannot practice social distancing inside a cage. Yet even in the midst of international crisis, society's instinct is to continue to criminalize and punish under the guise of public health.

With your generous support we are able to continue to bail out community members, provide life-changing supportive services and resource groups who are organizing to transform the criminal justice system.
Thank you for your generous support today, and we ask that you share this page with your community so we can get more mamas free.
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National Bail Out is a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers and activists building a community-based movement to support our folks and end systems of pretrial detention and ultimately mass incarceration. We are people who have been impacted by cages - either by being in them ourselves or witnessing our families and loved ones be encaged.

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Critical Resistance seeks to build an international movement to end the Prison Industrial Complex by challenging the belief that caging and controlling people makes us safe. We believe that basic necessities such as food, shelter, and freedom are what really make our communities secure. As such, our work is part of global struggles against inequality and powerlessness. The success of the movement requires that it reflect communities most affected by the PIC.

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The Abolitionist, launched in the spring of 2005, is a bilingual (English/Spanish) publication dedicated to the strategy and practice of PIC abolition. It is distributed absolutely free of charge to thousands of people in prisons, jails, and detention centers throughout the US, who in turn share the paper with many more of their imprisoned comrades. As George Jackson said: "The point is...in the face of what we confront, to fight and win. That's the real objective: not just to make statements, no matter how noble, but to destroy the system that oppresses us [...]"

Latest Issue:Issue 39 Sneak Peek: An Inside-Outside Fishing Line Conversation between Indigenous Political Prisoners in Argentina

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The Abolitionist , launched in the spring of 2005, is a bilingual (English/Spanish) publication dedicated to the strategy and practice of PIC abolition. It is distributed absolutely free of charge to thousands of people in prisons, jails, and detention centers throughout the US, who in turn share the paper with many more of their imprisoned comrades.

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Unicorn Riot is a decentralized, educational 501(c)(3) non-profit media organization of artists and journalists. Our work is dedicated to exposing root causes of dynamic social and environmental issues through amplifying stories and exploring sustainable alternatives in today’s globalized world.

Born from the Internet in 2015, our commercial-free platform operates non-hierarchically, independent of corporate or government control. Unicorn Riot spans across multiple US cities including Boston, Denver, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia. All of our financial support comes from grants and from you, our audience.

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Download this Padlet's QR code here.

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Over 1,000 people are killed by police every year in America. We are calling on local, state, and federal lawmakers to take immediate action to adopt data-driven policy solutions to end this violence and hold police accountable.

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Mental health crises should not be excuses for heavy-handed police interventions and are best handled by mental health professionals. Establish and fund Mental Health Response Teams to respond to crisis situations.

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Black Visions Collective, a black, trans, and queer-led social justice organization and legal fund based in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

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Since 2017, Black Visions Collective, has been putting into practice the lessons learned from organizations before us in order to shape a political home for Black people across Minnesota. We aim to center our work in healing and transformative justice principles, intentionally develop our organizations core "DNA" to ensure sustainability, and develop Minnesota's emerging Black leadership to lead powerful campaigns. By building movements from the ground up with an integrated model, we are creating the conditions for long term success and transformation.

Black Visions Collective envisions a world in which ALL Black Lives Matter. We use the guidance and brilliance of our ancestors as well as the teachings of our own experiences to pursue our commitment to dismantling systems of oppression and violence. We are determined in our pursuit of dignity and equity for all.

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Since 2017, Black Visions Collective, has been putting into practice the lessons learned from organizations before us in order to shape a political home for Black people across Minnesota. We aim to center our work in healing and transformative justice principles, intentionally develop our organizations core "DNA" to ensure sustainability, and develop Minnesota's emerging Black leadership to lead powerful campaigns.

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Donate to Communities United Against Police Brutality

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Donate to Communities United Against Police Brutality

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A Twin-Cities based organization that was created to deal with police brutality on an ongoing basis. We work on the day-to-day abuses as well as taking on the more extreme cases.

Our overriding goal is to create a climate of resistance to abuse of authority by police organizations and to empower local people with a structure that can take on police brutality and actually bring it to an end. We provide support for survivors of police brutality and families of victims so they can reclaim their dignity and join the struggle to end police brutality.

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Communities United Against Police Brutality

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CUAPB takes on police brutality in a number of ways.

Advocacy: CUAPB provides assistance to individuals and families dealing with the effects of police brutality. We offer a 24-hour crisis line (612-874-STOP) that people can call to report instances of abuse. We can send out a crisis team to investigate the complaint, take photos and statements and offer immediate assistance. We follow up with legal, medical and psychological referrals and other services as needed. We work to influence media coverage so that survivors and family members have their stories told. We bring together families and survivors in a local network to provide ongoing support and empowerment for people suffering from their encounter with police brutality.

While these services are a key way people come in contact with CUAPB, we always make it clear that we are about social justice, not social services. We ask those who have been helped by the organization to attend meetings and become involved in helping others secure justice and in our other work. In this way, not only do we help those affected by police brutality regain their sense of personal power but we build a powerful and lasting movement.

Political Action: CUAPB routinely wages battles in the political and legal arenas to bring about changes in laws, policies and practices that reduce accountability and allow police brutality to occur. We hold rallies and protests to demand justice in particular cases. In addition, we operate copwatch and courtwatch programs to bring accountability directly to the institutions most responsible for brutality and injustice.

We are currently working to get a charter amendment on the ballot that would require Minneapolis police officers to carry their own professional liability insurance. If successful, police officers who engage in misconduct would see their premiums increase and some would eventually become uninsurable and be off the force. This is an extensive, multiyear project that will have a powerful impact on addressing the underlying causes of police brutality. For more information on this effort, see Committee for Professional Policing.

Education: CUAPB provides a number of educational programs to inform the community about police brutality and justice system issues. Our Know Your Rights training arms the community with tools to interact safely with law enforcement officers while asserting their rights. Our copwatch training empowers people to provide oversight in their own neighborhoods.

Communities United Against Police BrutalityTM

24-HOUR HOTLINE: 612-874-STOP (612-874-7867)

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CUAPB takes on police brutality in a number of ways. Advocacy: CUAPB provides assistance to individuals and families dealing with the effects of police brutality. We offer a 24-hour crisis line (612-874-STOP) that people can call to report instances of abuse.

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Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Calendar of Events & Calls

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Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Calendar of Events & Calls

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Here is a calendar of upcoming calls, webinars, and other events that are open to the SURJ network.  Some are open to the broader public as well.

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VIRTUAL EVENTS

From mutual aid efforts to disaster relief, Black communities know what's best for Black people. Where we can, we are providing for one another by developing mutual aid networks, organizing, and creating virtual spaces for connection and joy. Where we don't have enough or where the systems meant to meet the needs of the people fail, we're demanding more from our elected officials. As Black leaders-all of us-we are demanding and fighting for what needs to be done right now to stop the spread and lasting harm of COVID-19 - such as a just health care system and affordable housing. At the same time, we are demanding a recovery that benefits everyday people, not big corporations. Join us for a series of virtual social hours to connect, hear from organizers on the ground who are creating networks and opportunities for Black people to support one another, and find out about what steps M4BL is demanding our elected officials take to stop the spread and lasting harm of COVID-19.

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From mutual aid efforts to disaster relief, Black communities know what's best for Black people. Where we can, we are providing for one another by developing mutual aid networks, organizing, and creating virtual spaces for connection and joy.

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These organizations are working within the field of racial equity and on a variety of issues and topics. These organizations range from grassroots organizations, to academic institutions, to national advocacy organizations and more.  Using the filters, you can view the organizations based on area of focus and/or related issues.

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Here’s Where to Donate to Support the Black Community in Boston

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Here’s Where to Donate to Support the Black Community in Boston

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Offer money, supplies, or your time to these organizations furthering the call for equality and equity in Boston and beyond—because the moment may come to an end, but the movement will be long lasting.

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Offer money, supplies, or your time to these organizations furthering the call for equality and equity in Boston and beyond-because the moment may come to an end, but the movement will be long lasting.

Not all of us can head out to the many protests taking place across Boston this week, whether because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, or other reasons. But don't forget that there are other ways to support and help our Black community and to drive the call for equality and change in the government and across communities. Here are places in Boston you can offer money, supplies, or your time, all of which support either the ongoing movement to protest police brutality or more broadly work to improve Black life around Boston, whether it's today, tomorrow, or deep into the future.

Black Lives Matter Boston: A chapter of the greater international movement Black Lives Matter, this organization works to organize and build Black power in Boston by supporting new Black leaders, creating a network where Black people feel empowered, and igniting communities to end state-sanctioned violence against Black people.

Loveland Foundation: Brings opportunity and healing to Black women and girls through fellowships, residency programs, mental health support, listening tours, and more.

Youth Enrichment Services: Inspires and challenges youth from low income families with physical and mental activities that foster life-long respect for self, others, and the environment.

: Addresses chronic housing insecurity in the city through a residency program that embeds artists, legal designers, and trauma experts into community settings.

BAMS Fest: This non-profit hosts an annual festival and yearly events to break down racial and social barriers to arts, music, and culture across Greater Boston.

Families for Justice as Healing: Works to end the incarceration of women and girls in Massachusetts. Currently their website is under construction, but you can join the cause through their social channels.

Boston Bail Funds and Legal Assistance: Posts bails of up to $2,000 in Essex and Suffolk counties in Massachusetts.

Charity Navigator: Search the city of Boston in this database to render a list of charities that have been examined and rated to ensure your money is going to a good cause.

Campaign Zero: Supports the analysis of policing practices across the country and provides technical assistance to organizers leading police accountability campaigns.

New England Blacks in Philanthropy: Works to shift the philanthropy paradigm from focusing on Black deficits to the potential and financial leverage of Black philanthropy by creating a strong alliance between funders and the community.

Movement for Black Lives: Organizing around five core pillars-mass engagement, local power, electoral strategy, leadership development, and building across movements-MBL works to mobilize hundreds to increase Black political power in communities across the country.

Lucy Parsons Collective: A volunteer-run nonprofit operating as a radical, independent bookstore and community center for activist groups and community activities.

Massachusetts ACLU: A state affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union, Mass ACLU defends the principles enshrined in the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights, as well as the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

National Police Accountability Project: Protects the human and civil rights of individuals in their encounters with law enforcement and detention facility personnel.

Register to Vote: Real change also stems from policy amendments. Make sure your voice can be heard on election day and get out there and VOTE.

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Here's Where You Can Donate to Support the Black Community in Boston and Beyond

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Offer money, supplies, or your time to these organizations furthering the call for equality and equity in Boston and beyond-because the moment may come to an end, but the movement will be long lasting. Not all of us can head out to the many protests taking place across Boston this week, whether because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, or other reasons.

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Petitions to sign, numbers to call, ways to get educated, actions to take from home

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You don’t necessarily have to stop social distancing to take a stand. You can still demand justice from home, starting with educating yourself about what’s happening—and been happening for decades, if not centuries.

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W Magazine | Women's Fashion & Celebrity News

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"When the looting starts, the shooting starts," President Donald Trump tweeted on Friday. Then Miami police chief Walter Headley coined the threat in 1967, when he held a press conference and claimed his department "doesn't mind being accused of police brutality." Trump didn't repeat the last part, but his meaning was clear: When it comes to the current wave of protests and riots in Minneapolis, Trump's allegiance is with the police.

The video of Derek Chauvin kneeling on the neck of George Floyd for nearly eight minutes, as he and three of his fellow police officers ignored Floyd's pleas that he couldn't breathe, has been spreading since Monday. So has the outrage. In Minneapolis, where Floyd was murdered, protests, civil disobedience, and looting have shaken the city. And across the country, more and more people are proving a pandemic won't stop them from taking to the streets. At the same time, more and more police departments are proving that violence remains their standard-even for pregnant women and children.

You don't necessarily have to stop social distancing to take a stand. You can still demand justice from home, starting with educating yourself about what's happening-and been happening for decades, if not centuries. (Hence why so many of the stories you'll find in the suggested guide below are sadly evergreen.)

Study Up

* The Minnesota protests are part of the same cycle as those of Baltimore and Ferguson. Read more in " The Shooting of Black Americans Started Long Before the Looting" and " Why Minneapolis and Ferguson Are More Similar Than You Think."

* "For far too many Americans, it is easier to mourn the destruction of a series of chain stores, owned and operated by millionaires, than the death of a Black American. A stolen lamp is worthy of a kind of empathy that a black person could only dream of." Read more in " This Is What You Get."

* Yes, it makes sense for protesters to target Target. Read more in the essential " In Defense of Looting."

* "The fact that Mr. Floyd was even arrested, let alone killed, for the inconsequential "crime" of forgery amid a pandemic that has taken the life of one out of every 2,000 African-Americans is a chilling affirmation that black lives still do not matter in the United States." Read more in " Of Course There Are Protests. The State Is Failing Black People."

* "Imagine again that you were scrolling through Twitter and stumbled across the image of a coronavirus victim, dead in a morgue ... There are some things that are too painful to look at: like when you stare directly into the sun, its image is stuck at the centre of your vision all day. But images of black people being killed in the US have become part of the furniture of our lives." Read more in " We Shouldn't Have to Witness George Floyd's Killing For It to Spark Outrage."

* "The problem is not police training, police diversity, or police methods. The problem is the dramatic and unprecedented expansion and intensity of policing in the last 40 years, a fundamental shift in the role of police in society. The problem is policing itself." Read more in The End of Policing, which Verso Books is currently offering as a free e-book.

* Cops are killing people at the same rate as pre-pandemic years. Read more in " The Pandemic Is the Right Time to Defund the Police."

* Despite the increase in outrage, it's still notoriously difficult to hold the police accountable in the United States. Read more in " Thousands of Complaints Do Little to Change Police Ways" and " Police Can't Solve the Problem. They Are the Problem."

* "Some white people act as if there are two sides to racism, as if racists are people we need to reason with. They fret over the destruction of property and want everyone to just get along. They struggle to understand why black people are rioting but offer no alternatives about what a people should do about a lifetime of rage, disempowerment and injustice," Roxane Gay writes. Read more in " Remember, No One Is Coming to Save Us."

* In the time that Kara Brown took to write about Alton Sterling in 2016, Philando Castile was also murdered. Read more in " Am I Going to Write About Murdered Black People Forever?."

* "We perceive a weird and ancient adrenaline in many of the cop callers, who have internalized that the police are their personal valets, ready to treat any perceived inconvenience as violence," Doreen St. Felix writes of the "American genre" of videos documenting social aggressions. Read more in " The Summer of Coupon Carl, Permit Patty, and the Videos That Turn White Privilege Into Mockable Memes."

* Black people are dying from COVID-19 at three times the rate of other Americans. Read more in " The Coronavirus Was an Emergency Until Trump Found Out Who Was Dying."

* "Self-defense, like the Second Amendment, like stand-your-ground laws, has been colonized by white men," Ibram X. Kendi writes. Read more in " Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?."

* Amy Cooper was just the latest in a long list of white women. Read more in " The Tricky Exceptionalism of 'Fellow White Women,'" " How White Women Use Themselves as Instruments of Terror," and " Millions of Amy Coopers."

* If applicable: " 75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice" and a lengthy list of anti-racism resources for parents and white people.

#icantbreathe #georgefloyd #ahmaudarbery #blacklivesmatter #bipoc . . As a cisgender, white male in America I don't have to speak up to be heard. My voice is given space by default. You do NOT need my words today. You need the words of those who have to fight, tooth...and...nail. Every. Day. To simply...survive. Full. Stop. . . This photo is a start. A. Start. If haven't read any of these I petition you to start. I have read 12 of these. It's nowhere near enough. I am grateful to @hellofelicia_murrell for this photo. . . I am grateful for @resmaamenakem and his work on the neurobiology of racialized trauma, as well as his efforts to demonstrate practical and empirical ways of helping us (especially non-BIPOC bodies) understand the triage-level need to see the trauma around us. . . I am grateful for @kaitlincurtice and her advocacy for indigenous peoples so profoundly abused, forgotten and ignored. Her work is compassionate, poignant and powerfully direct. . . I am also grateful for @imterencelester and @lovebeyondwalls for his actionable efforts. Terence does not simply speak. He is the model of "actions speak louder than words." His work is saving lives. Every day. Literally. . . I am grateful for @austinchanning for confidently, powerfully and boldly telling us, again and again, from the first sentence...how exhausting this all is. How exhausting white people can be. Seeking to understand the gravity/reason for this statement is so important. . . When you see brothers and sisters, human beings...ACTUAL PEOPLE...suffering, grieving and lamenting, instead of saying, "I don't know what to do." Rather, ask, "What are these people groups saying? What have they BEEN saying?" For centuries... . . Seek to understand before you seek to be understood. Read a dozen books on anti-racism. Read a dozen more. Then...and only then...will we (non-BIPOC individuals) begin to comprehend the very edge of a millennia old conversation we are called to LISTEN TO, rather than a conversation we so often attempt to govern. . . If we are seeing what is happening for our/your BIPOC brothers and sisters and it does not break your heart with grief we are detached from reality.

A post shared by Jerome D. Lubbe DC, DACNB (@doctor.jerome) on

Donate

The GoFundMe for George Floyd's memorial has already exceeded its goal by $500,000. And while the Minnesota Freedom Fund and Brooklyn Community Bail Fund remain more than worth supporting, both have suggested considering other funds receiving less attention, some of which you can find below. Better yet, ask your friends, family, and followers to match your donations.

* Reclaim the Block, which advocates for defunding Minnesota state police.

* Black Visions Collective, a Minnesota Black Lives Matter affiliate.

* State and community bail funds, which you can find in the National Bail Fund Network's directory and this continuously updated spreadsheet. You can also split your donations among a number of bail funds at the same time.

* Free Them All For Public Health, which is support bail for demonstrators in New York City. (Donate via CashApp or Venmo.)

* Campaign Zero, which compiles research-based policy solutions to end police brutality.

* Unicorn Riot, an ad-free independent media source and nonprofit.

Follow

For news and thoughtful takes on the news:

* The Appeal president and Justice in America podcast co-host Josie Duffy Rice.

* Human rights lawyer, activist, and Guardian columnist Derecka Purnell.

* Activist and former Women's March co-chair Tamika Mallory.

* The New York City-based incarceration, bail, and public health resource Free Them For All Public Health.

* Antiracist Research and Policy Center director Ibram X. Kendi.

* Activist and Campaign Zero cofounder Brittany Packnett Cunningham. (See: her tweets on Breonna Taylor and guide to self-care.)

* Activist, organizer, and educator DeRay Mckesson.

* Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza.

* Huffington Post editor Philip Lewis.

* New Yorker staff writer Doreen St. Felix.

* "In Defense of Looting" author Vicky Osterweil.

* White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor.

* Washington Post political correspondent Jenna Johnson.

* 60 Minutes correspondent Wesley Lowery.

* Writer Mimi Zhu.

* Activist Dom Roberts.

Reach Out

Email and call Minnesota's county and city attorneys to demand protesters' release. Black Lives Matter has a running list of who to call and text, along with email templates, and a list of current petitions.

Watch

Tamika Mallory on looting:

"America has looted black people. America looted the Native Americans when they first came here, looting is what you do. We learned it from you. We learned violence from you. If you want us to do better, then damnit, you do better." -Tamika Mallory, Nat. Co-Chair of Women's March pic.twitter.com/EP2VpnCYMw
- bengarvin (@bengarvin) May 29, 2020

Martin Luther King, Jr. on rioting:

Cornel West on why the U.S. is a "failed social experiment":

Cardi B on police brutality:

Vote

But first, read up on your options-especially when considering candidates who've worked in criminal prosecution. If you live in New York City, take a look at this " Who's Taking Cop Money?" spreadsheet and take note of who's promised to donate that money to bail funds. Listen to Cardi B and register here.

Consider Protesting

"I'm terrified of the coronavirus... But I had to choose which virus poses the biggest threat. And that's the police," a 24-year-old named Sućdi told The Cut this week. Hers is a dilemma that many face-but perhaps none more so than black people, who are dying from COVID-19 at a disproportionately higher rate in the United States. If you are part of a lower-risk demographic, consider using your privilege as safely as you can. One option is to support protesters from the sidelines with water, first aid kits, and milk for those hit with pepper spray.

Attending a protest? Protect yourself and your private information by securing your devices!

We must be able to hold those in power accountable through the act of protest! Please share, and stay safe! pic.twitter.com/YK808ZRoD1
- Hannah: the horse e-girl (@hannahdiazart) May 29, 2020

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Justice for George Floyd: What to Read and What You Can Do

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"When the looting starts, the shooting starts," President Donald Trump tweeted on Friday. Then Miami police chief Walter Headley coined the threat in 1967, when he held a press conference and claimed his department "doesn't mind being accused of police brutality."

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What You Can Do Right Now About Police Brutality

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What You Can Do Right Now About Police Brutality

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Once again we find ourselves confronting the murder of another black man at the hands of police. The video showing Michael Slager fire eight times at a fleeing Walter Scott is irrefutable evidence of the police brutality that people of color fear. As with Trayvon Martin, Tanisha Anderson, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Yvette Smith, John Crawford, Eric Garner, and so many more, we see the toll that racism, fear, power, and corruption take on black lives.

As I took to the Internet to voice my pain and frustration I once again received replies from white friends that every black person is familiar with:

"I'm so sorry you have to go through this, but I don't know what to do."

"This is outrageous. I hope it gets better."

"I wish I could fix it, but the problem is so big. It's never going to change."

"I'm praying it will get better."

"I hope these racist cops get life in prison."

Well-meaning white friends, I'm going to be completely honest with you. None of this is helpful. Not one word. Your questions, your apologies, your wishes, even your prayers--none of them do anything to help end police brutality or the system of oppression that breeds it. Furthermore, your black friends are busy working through their own grief while trying to stay alive--they don't have space for your feelings and they don't have time to educate you.

These conversations are rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of racism and racial oppression in America: It's not black America's problem, it's yours.

Racism is your problem, not because white people are uniquely predisposed to racial bigotry (it's a horrible trait we all share), but because the power structure of White Supremacy upholds it. It's your system and whether or not you personally built it, you live in it, maintain it, and benefit from it. It is your house, and you need to clean it.

Ending racism is not a favor that white people do for brown people. Confronting police brutality does not make you virtuous or generous. It makes you a responsible adult addressing the flaws in your system. When we recognize this, it's easy to see how ridiculous and even insulting saying, "I sure hope it gets better" is.

When people of color talk about the racism they face, when they discuss instances of oppression that you couldn't see, they are doing you a favor. It is a service to you. Being outraged and sad does not fix the issue. We are telling you so that you know what to fix.

And let me say clearly: You can fix it.

So let's get to the meat of this--what can you do? There are a lot of things you can do to have a measurable impact in fighting police abuse and brutality. I've compiled a starter list of items that you can consider:
What To Do Right Now About Police Brutality
Educate yourself on your city's police conduct review process. The police conduct review process is often one of the biggest shelters for police misconduct and brutality. The process that holds police accountable for their actions is often shaped or heavily influenced by police unions, who are beholden to cops--not civilians. Who reviews civilian complaints? Is there any civilian oversight? How are people appointed to review panels? Is there regular auditing of reviews? Is the chief of police required to take action in disciplining an officer if it is recommended by the review? Is information on disciplinary action taken readily available to the public?

Most of this information can be found by conducting a google search of "police conduct review" and your city name. Look for areas where independent review can be strengthened, where union interference can be minimized, and where transparency can be increased. It is important to know where the flaws in the system are before you are faced with a headline-grabbing instance of police brutality in your city. If your police system has these sizeable gaps in civilian protection (and chances are they do) then there are issues of police misconduct and brutality happening in your city right now, whether you hear about them or not.

Pressure your mayor and city council to address gaps in this process. Both the mayor and the city council hold a lot of influence over the police force and their disciplinary process. This is where you want to put pressure. Through petitions, letter writing campaigns, city council meetings, and town hall meetings you can push your city government to commit to concrete and actionable steps to increase insight and accountability into police conduct. If you have city council members already committed to reform, ask what you can do to contribute.

Don't just ask once. Ask and follow up regularly. This is an issue that local politicians love to give lip service to, and then drop. Vigilance and measurable accountability is required if you want to create lasting change.

Vote for reform-minded city government. Reform-minded judges, district or prosecuting attorneys, city council members, and mayors are integral to the battle against police brutality. We all know that politicians are always campaigning. Make this a hot button issue. Make police reform a requirement for your vote.

Write to your representatives. Police brutality isn't just addressed by the city. The state and federal governments can work to improve oversight and accountability on a larger scale. Contact your representatives and ask what they are doing to address police brutality. If they don't give you measurable action, demand that they get started. You can find the contact info for your government representatives here.

Know your right to record police encounters. If a brave civilian bystander hadn't recorded the murder of Walter Scott, there is no way the cop who killed him would be in jail right now. When you encounter police, it's important to know your rights regarding visual and audio recording of the encounter before you are faced with a cop telling you to put your cell phone away. You can learn more about your rights here. It's also important to speak up against efforts to restrict the abilities of civilians to record police officers. Most recently, we've seen efforts at curtailing this powerful weapon against police brutality in Illinois and Texas. We must vigorously fight any attempts to infringe upon our right to hold police accountable for their actions.

Support legal defense funds and activism groups. Often we don't hear about cases of police misconduct or brutality because victims do not have the resources to fight the injustice they have faced. This is where your money talks. Fund the groups who are working hard every day for justice for those who have been violated by the criminal justice system. You can support the NAACP Legal Defense Fund here, and the ACLU here.

As you can see from the above list that there are things you can do right now fight police brutality. This list is just scratching the surface. There are hundreds of actions you can take today to fight police brutality, racism, and structural oppression right where you live. Actions speak louder than words. Instead of telling your black friends that you hope things will get better, show them how you are working to make things better.
This story by Ijeoma Oluo first appeared on Ravishly.com, an alternative news+culture website for women.
You can follow Ravishly on Twitter @ravishlydotcom and read more stories here:

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What You Can Do Right Now About Police Brutality

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Once again we find ourselves confronting the murder of another black man at the hands of police. The video showing Michael Slager fire eight times at a fleeing Walter Scott is irrefutable evidence of the police brutality that people of color fear.

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44 Mental Health Resources for Black People Trying to Survive in This Country

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44 Mental Health Resources for Black People Trying to Survive in This Country

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"...As a Black woman myself, I’ve spent years trying to process the violence and racism that are part and parcel of living in this country in this skin. But I’ve never had to do it during a pandemic that, of course, is decimating Black lives, health, and communities the most.

...There is solidarity and support out there if you need help processing what’s happening (and there’s nothing weak about needing it, either). Here’s a list of resources that may help if you’re looking for mental health support that validates and celebrates your Blackness."

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Black lives matter. Black bodies matter. Black mental health matters. This latest string of rampant and wanton brutality against Black people flies in the face of these indisputable truths. As a Black woman myself, I've spent years trying to process the violence and racism that are part and parcel of living in this country in this skin. But I've never had to do it during a pandemic that, of course, is decimating Black lives, health, and communities the most.

In my years as a mental health reporter and editor, I've been heartened to slowly see the collection of mental health resources for Black people start to grow. It's still not where it needs to be, but there is solidarity and support out there if you need help processing what's happening (and there's nothing weak about needing it, either). Here's a list of resources that may help if you're looking for mental health support that validates and celebrates your Blackness.

It starts with people to follow on Instagram who regularly drop mental health gems, then goes into groups and organizations that do the same, followed by directories and networks for finding a Black mental health practitioner. Lastly, I've added a few tips to keep in mind when seeking out this kind of mental health support, especially right now.

People to follow

1. Alexandra Elle: Author and founder of the Hey, Girl podcast, Elle has an Instagram feed that offers affirmations and reminders like "We are never alone in our struggles" and "You don't have to be okay. Healing isn't linear," sometimes set against a soothing taupe background, other times simply written on a sticky note.

2. Alishia McCullough, L.C.M.H.C.A., N.C.C.: McCullough's Instagram places an emphasis on Black mental wellness and self-love, along with social justice issues like fat liberation. She also posts about participating in live virtual panels on issues like living with an abuser while social distancing and having to live with toxic family during the coronavirus crisis, so if you're craving that kind of content, consider following along.

3. Bassey Ikpi: Ikpi is a mental health advocate whom I first became familiar with when she appeared on podcast, where she talked about her now best-selling debut essay collection, I'm Telling the Truth but I'm Lying, in which she writes about her experiences having bipolar II and anxiety. Ikpi is also the founder of the Siwe Project, a global nonprofit that increases awareness around mental health in people of African descent.

4. Cleo Wade: Wade is the best-selling author of and Where to Begin: A Small Book About Your Power to Create Big Change in Our Crazy World, and his poetic Instagram dispatches offer quiet meditations on life, love, spirituality, current events, relationships, and finding inner peace.

5. Donna Oriowo, Ph.D.: I first heard about Oriowo, a sex and relationship therapist, when a friend told me I had to listen to a recent Therapy for Black Girls podcast episode in which Oriowo discussed whether Issa and Molly can repair their friendship on Insecure. Oriowo shared so much insight into Issa and Molly's psyches that I was having lightbulb moment after lightbulb moment. And as a sex and relationship therapist, her Instagram feed destigmatizes Black sexuality and relationships specifically, which is essential.

6. Jennifer Mullan, Psy.D.: Mullan's mission is, as her Instagram handle so succinctly sums up, to decolonizing therapy. Check out her feed for ample conversation about how mental health (and access to related services) are impacted by trauma and systemic inequities, along with hope that healing is indeed possible.

7. Jessica Clemons, M.D.: Dr. Clemons is a board-certified psychiatrist who spotlights Black mental health. Her Instagram encompasses everything from mindfulness to motherhood, and her live Q + As and #askdrjess video posts really make it feel like you're not only following her, but connecting with her, too.

8. Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D.: Bradford is a psychologist who aims to make discussions about mental health more accessible for Black women, particularly by bringing pop culture into the mix. She's also the founder of Therapy for Black Girls, a much-loved resource that includes a great Instagram feed and podcast.

9. Mariel Buquè, Ph.D.: Click the follow button if you could use periodic "soul check" posts asking how your soul is holding up, gentle ways to practice self-care, help sorting through your feelings, advice on building resilience, and so much more.

10. Morgan Harper Nichols: If you don't already follow Nichols but like stirring art mixed with uplifting messages, you're in for a treat. Her Instagram feed is a swirly, colorful dream of what she describes as "daily reminders through art"-reminders of how valid it is to still seek joy, and of your worth, and of the fact that "small progress is still progress."

11. Nedra Glover Tawwab: In Tawwab's Instagram bio, the licensed clinical social worker describes herself as a "boundaries expert." That expertise is critical right now, given that safeguarding our mental health as much as possible pretty much always requires firm boundaries. Tawwab also holds weekly Q&A sessions on Instagram, so stay tuned to her feed if you have a question you'd like to submit.

12. Thema Bryant-Davis, Ph.D.: Bryant-Davis is a licensed psychologist and ordained minister whose clinical background includes a focus on healing trauma and working at the intersection of gender and race. If you happen to be avoiding Twitter as much as possible for the sake of your mental health, like I am, you might like that her feed is mainly a collection of her great mental health tweets you would otherwise miss.

Brands, collectives, and organizations to follow

1. Balanced Black Girl: This gorgeous feed features photos and art of Black people, along with summaries of Balanced Black Girl podcast episodes, worthwhile tweets you can see without having to scroll through Twitter, and advice about trying to create a balanced life even in spite of everything we're dealing with. Balanced Black Girl also has a great Google Doc full of more mental health and self-care resources.

2. Black Female Therapists: On this feed you'll find inspirational messages, self-care-Sunday reminders, and posts highlighting various Black mental health practitioners across the country. Black Female Therapists also recently launched an initiative to match Black people in need with therapists who will do two to three free virtual sessions.

3. Black Girls Heal: This feed focuses on Black mental health surrounding self-love, relationships, and unresolved trauma, along with creating a sense of community. (Like by holding "Saturday Night Lives" on Instagram to discuss self-love.) Following along is also an easy way to keep track of the topics on the associated podcast, which shares the same name.

4. Black Girl in Om: This brand describes its vision as "a world where womxn of color are liberated, empowered & seen." On its feed you can find helpful resources like meditations, along with a lot of joyful photos of Black people, which I personally find incredibly restorative at this time.

5. Black Mental Wellness: Founded by a team of Black psychologists, this organization offers a ton of mental health insight through posts about everything from destigmatizing therapy to talking about Black men's mental health to practicing gratitude to coping with anxiety.

6. Brown Girl Self-Care: With the mission to "Help Black women healing from trauma go from 'every once in a while' self-care to EVERY DAY self-care," this feed features tons of affirmations and self-care reminders that might help you feel a little bit better. Plus, in June, the account is running a free virtual Self-Care x Sisterhood circle every Sunday.

7. Ethel's Club: This social and wellness club for people of color, originally based in Brooklyn, has pivoted hard during the pandemic and now offers a digital membership club featuring virtual workouts, book clubs, wellness salons, creative workshops, artist Q&As, and more. Membership is $17 a month, or you can follow the feed for free tidbits if that's a better option for you.

8. Heal Haus: This café and wellness space in Brooklyn has of course closed temporarily due to the pandemic. In the meantime, it has expanded its online offerings. Follow its Instagram to stay up to date with what it's rolling out, like the free upcoming Circle of Care for Black Womxn on June 5.

9. The Hey Girl Podcast: This podcast features Alexandra Elle, whom I mentioned above, in conversation with various people who inspire her. Its Instagram counterpart is a pretty and calming feed of great takeaways from various episodes, sometimes layered over candy-colored backgrounds, other times over photos of the people Elle has spoken to.

10. Inclusive Therapists: This community's feed specializes in regular doses of mental health insight, a lot of which seems especially geared toward therapists. With that said, you don't have to be a therapist to see the value in posts like this one, which notes, "You are whole. The system is broken."

11. The Loveland Foundation: Founded by writer, lecturer, and activist Rachel Elizabeth Cargle, the Loveland Foundation works to make mental health care more accessible for Black women and girls. It does this through multiple avenues, such as the Therapy Fund, which partners with various mental health resources to offer financial assistance to Black women and girls across the nation who are trying to access therapy. Its Instagram feed is a great mix of self-care tips and posts highlighting various Black mental health experts, along with information about panels and meditations.

12. The Nap Ministry: If you ever feel tempted to underestimate the pure power of just giving yourself a break, the Nap Ministry is a great reminder that "rest is a form of resistance." Rest also allows for grieving, which is an unfortunately necessary practice as a Black person in America, especially now. In addition to peaceful and much-needed photos of Black people at rest, there are great takedowns of how harmful grind/hustle culture can be to our health.

13. OmNoire: Self-described as "a social wellness club for women of color dedicated to living WELL," this mental health resource actually just pulled off a whole virtual retreat. Follow along for affirmations, self-care tips, and images that are inspirational, grounding, or both. (Full disclosure: I went on a great OmNoire retreat a year ago.)

14. Saddie Baddies: Gorgeous feed, gorgeous mission. Along with posts exploring topics like respectability politics, obsessive-compulsive disorder, self-harm, and loneliness, this Instagram features beautiful photos of people of color with the goal of making "a virtual safe space for young WoC to destigmatize mental health and initiate collective healing."

15. Sad Girls Club: This account is all about creating a mental health community for Gen Z and millennial women who have mental illness, along with reducing stigma and sharing information about mental health services. Scroll through the feed and you'll see many people of color, including Black women, openly discussing mental health-a welcome sight.

16. Sista Afya: This Chicago-based organization focuses on supporting Black women's mental health in a number of ways, like connecting Black women to affordable and accessible mental health practitioners and running mental health workshops. It also offers a Thrive in Therapy program for Illinois-based Black women making less than $1,500 a month. For $75 a month, members receive two therapy sessions, free admission to the monthly support groups, and more.

17. Transparent Black Girl: Transparent Black Girl aims to redefine the conversation around what wellness means for Black women. Its feed is a mix of relatable memes, hilarious pop culture commentary, beautiful images and art of Black people, and mental health resources for Black people. Transparent Black Guy, the brother resource to Transparent Black Girl, is also very much worth a follow, particularly given the stigma and misconceptions that often surround Black men being vulnerable about their mental health.

Directories and networks for finding a Black (or allied) therapist

Here are various directories and networks that have the goal of helping Black people find therapists who are Black, from other marginalized racial groups, or who describe themselves as inclusive. This list is not exhaustive, and some of these resources will be more expansive than others. They also do different levels of vetting for the experts they include. If you find a therapist via one of these sites who seems promising, be sure to do some follow-up searches to learn more about them.

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44 Mental Health Resources for Black People Trying to Survive in This Country

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Black mental health matters, and it's suffering under the weight of life in this country. Here are Black mental health support resources if you need them.

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The Best Places On The Internet For People Of Color To Talk About Therapy

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The Best Places On The Internet For People Of Color To Talk About Therapy

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"These resources...can be a place to go to give yourself the motivation and information you may need to begin your mental health journey and learn that there is a therapy style (and a therapist) for everyone."

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In December 2017, Joy Harden Bradford noticed there was a need among Black women for a place to unpack their lives and seek help for their mental wellness. So, she started a Google doc with the names of therapists who specialize in the unique needs of Black women.

"I spend a lot of time online and I catch these conversations over and over again about Black women looking for Black women therapists and I thought there must be some way where we can organize this," Bradford, a clinical psychologist and podcast host, told HuffPost. "So I made a Google doc and put out a call on Twitter and Facebooksaying, 'Hey, if you've had a good experience with a therapist and you're a Black woman, give me their name and I'll compile it into a list where other people can find them as well.'"

From that Google doc, Therapy for Black Girls was born. Today, Therapy for Black Girls has grown into a podcast, a blog, an expansive directory for therapists and psychologists and an online hub for all things melanated mental health. It's one of the go-to places on the internet where Black women (and men) can openly discuss the benefits of therapy and mental health care without shame, stigma or code-switching.

"I think for a lot of Black people, therapy is still such a foreign concept," Bradford said. "A lot of us have been raised to feel like whatever goes on in this house stays in this house, and the idea of talking to a stranger feels very weird and like something you wouldn't do. There's comfort in feeling like if I'm going to take this step, I want it to be with someone who is going to get me."

It's not easy for people of color to find medical professionals who understand their cultural nuances, their unique life experiences or even their language. There are substantially fewer therapists of color than there are white practitioners, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And even if people of color do manage to find a therapist who's a good match, many barriers to treatment may still stand in their way.

"People of color have a really hard time finding a therapist," explained Bradford. "Therapy can be very expensive even with insurance so when people are looking at their finances sometimes it doesn't feel like that is going to be a priority. Some people live in very rural areas so the number of therapists, let alone therapists of color, may be very limited."

Of course, social media and websites like Bradford's provide a way for people of color to seek the help they may need, find a community to share their journeys with and lift the stigma around mental health care that still plagues many communities of color. HuffPost rounded up nine online resources to help people of color learn about and talk about therapy, wellness, trauma and personal growth.

These resources are NOT a replacement for professional mental health care or medical care. But they can be a place to go to give yourself the motivation and information you may need to begin your mental health journey and learn that there is a therapy style (and a therapist) for everyone.

Joy Harden Bradford's brainchild has grown into a podcast, blog, booming social media network and one-stop shop for Black people of any gender to find a therapist that is right for them.

Similar to Therapy for Black Girls, Therapy for Black Men is a directory and social network dedicated to helping men and boys of color find mental health guidance or professional support. On the website, founder Vladimire Calixte shares that she founded the forum to break the stigma of Black men seeking mental health care: "I n the Black community, Black men are told to be strong, walk it off, don't cry, and to man-up. With TherapyForBlackMen.org, you do not have to go on this journey alone."

"The Friend Zone" is a weekly podcast about all things mental health, mental wellness and mental hygiene ('cause who in the hell wants a musty brain?). Every Wednesday, hosts and real-life friends Fran, Dustin and Assanté share often-hilarious stories about their personal growth and lessons learned along the way on subjects like conflict resolution, parenting their inner child, discovering their love languages and much more.

"The Read" is a popular podcast (and soon-to-be television show) about analyzing (and often dragging) celebrity and entertainment culture. But in a newer segment titled Crissle's Couch, co-host Crissle West shares lessons she's actively learning in therapy while answering listeners' letters and offering her own advice for growing through a setback, trauma or misunderstood mental health issues (and sometimes Kid Fury will chime in with his own advice).

Brown Girl Therapy is a social media platform founded by HuffPost editor Sahaj Kohli that provides a wellness community for South Asian and first-generation women. This pro-therapy page provides advice, affirmations and a safe space to share the unique experiences of being a first-generation American.

Therapy for Latinx provides resources for the Latinx community to "heal, thrive, and become advocates for their own mental health," according to its website. Founded by Brandie Carlos, the site provides a directory of Latinx therapists from all over the country to help with the healing process. The Instagram page offers reminders and affirmations to encourage the Latinx community to stay on the therapy journey.

Latinx Therapy is another directory and social media platform dedicated to destigmatizing mental hea lth care in the Latinx community. Founded by Adriana Alejandre , the platform offers a bilingual podcast and extensive therapist directory for those seeking help or reassurance as they explore their mental health.

The National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) is a healing justice organization that works to transform mental health for queer and trans people of color. Since May 2016, NQTTCN has been building a network of mental health practitioners as well as a Mental Health Fund for those in need of financial assistance. They share resources for organizations seeking to uplift the community of trans people of color through healing justice initiatives.

MannMukti, which is Hindu for "mental liberation," is a place for South Asians to speak up and normalize mental health care in their communities. A self-described storytelling platform, MannMukti seeks to "encourage healthy, open dialogue of mental health issues in an effort to remove stigma, improve awareness and promote self-care." Interested parties can join the community forum to get started sharing their own mental health journeys.

You Should See Someone is a HuffPost Life series that will teach you everything you need to know about doing therapy. We're giving you informative, no-B.S. stories on seeking mental health help: how to do it, what to expect, and why it matters. Because taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body. Find all of our coverage hereand share your stories on social with the hashtag #DoingTherapy.

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The Best Places On The Internet For People Of Color To Talk About Therapy

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In December 2017, Joy Harden Bradford noticed there was a need among Black women for a place to unpack their lives and seek help for their mental wellness. So, she started a Google doc with the names of therapists who specialize in the unique needs of Black women.

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10 Actions [White People] Can Take To Promote Racial Justice In The Workplace

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10 Actions [White People] Can Take To Promote Racial Justice In The Workplace

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LightRocket via Getty Images

Racial injustice in 2020 isn't fundamentally a black problem, arguably it's a white problem. Our most recent racial injustice reminders - George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Amy Cooper, Omar Jimenez - while abhorrent and despicable, for most black people sadly weren't all that shocking. For us, it wasn't news. It was just a peek into the reality with which we're all too familiar. This is why so many feel a sense of activism fatigue (whether they're an activist or not) and why many insist that the onus really lay with white people to decide that enough is enough and decide to pick a side either racist or anti-racist. As executive director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center Ibram X. Kendi insists, "There's no such thing as being 'not racist.' We are either being racist or antiracist."

Many civil rights commentators argue that the broader tragedy of these incidents is the reminder that the Amy Coopers of the world aren't unicorns. They're around us everywhere - our doctors, judges, politicians, teachers, little league coaches, workplace colleagues, and bosses. So while this time of unrest will certainly pass, racial injustices will remain and therefore the question becomes - what will you do to improve your environment?

I've been heartened to have white friends reach out to me in the past couple days to ask how they can help or what should they do (not just in the aftermath of the George Floyd tragedy but to support racial justice overall), and I truly appreciate the question. Were I a white person I doubt I would know how to respond or what to do so I offer this list of 10 actions white people can take in their workplace in particular to promote racial justice.

#1 - Get to Know More People of Color

Fear is often the root of bigotry and one of the best antidotes for erasing fear is knowledge and familiarity. The saying is Know Me - Like Me - Trust Me, and that trust building process starts with simply knowing people better. It's so much easier to fall victim to bigoted thinking and stereotypes when you don't personally know people from that community and are completely ignorant of their culture, so get to know more people of color. For as much as we like to pat ourselves on the back for supporting "diversity in the workplace," our society continues to be remarkably segregated. Pick a church on Sunday morning, a nightclub on Saturday night or a neighborhood subdivision any day and you'll typically find them to be either predominantly one of color or white (rarely both). While there are exceptions, we tend to live and play in pretty segregated realities.

How can you intentionally get to know more people of color? If you carpool, look for someone of color to share the ride. You'll be surprised what you can learn and how you can bond during a commute to work. If your workplace has communal seating, periodically join a group of strangers for lunch - first listen, then share. Get in the habit of sitting next to someone you don't know well during business meetings and break the ice by asking them what they did over the weekend. You'll be surprised how just a small bit of initiative can make a big difference.
#2 - Call a friend of color this week to discuss the current state of protest and upheaval
If it takes you more than 15 seconds to think of someone to call, see tip #1. Many would argue that ultimately this issue won't just be resolved through laws and policies (while those are admittedly critical), but also at the human to human connection level. While these incidents of brutality and injustice are theater for some, for people of color this is a tiring day to day reality and it's important that "friends" demonstrate empathy and start a critical dialogue. I was so proud of a few white friends who reached out to express concern and discuss the situation. Just as you'd call a friend if they had a death in the family or lost a job, you should reach out now as well. These incidents wear on the psyche of so many people of color as we worry not just for ourselves but for our children and broader community, and it's important for friends to demonstrate not just compassion but sincere interest in doing what they can to help.
#3 - Join a diversity committee. If there isn't one, start one.
If you're struggling to step outside your comfort zone, this is an easy way to take action. It doesn't take much effort to join a diversity committee at your workplace, but it does send a signal to those around you that you have some level of empathy and interest. Participating on a diversity committee doesn't just create opportunities to meet new people; it also provides an opportunity to learn a lot and begin to see issues from a different perspective.
#4 - Talk to your kids about race
One of my friends said that she grew up in a white neighborhood with one black family, and race was not really discussed in her household. She said she didn't even find out about the holocaust until they taught it in school when she was 16 and then was so traumatized learning of the injustices that she ended up missing several days of school and ultimately skipping the class altogether. She recalls it as a real trauma in her childhood particularly because she didn't have adults around her to help her process it. Indeed, too many white (and black) kids grow up in their own little bubble with little understanding of the complexities of the outside world.

It's critically important that kids begin to learn about issues of race and equity early (in an age appropriate manner) so they can begin to develop their own awareness of injustice. While we may think of these issues are purely adult ones, equity issues often show up for kids quite early on the playground or in the classroom or cafeteria. I'm most proud of my kids when they tell me about seeing something that wasn't right at school and deciding to do something to make it better. When their brains begin to think that way when they're young, they'll tend to make similar values based life decisions as they mature. If you don't feel prepared for these sensitive discussions, seek out other resources.
#5 - Mentor a person of color
If you're in a leadership position in your organization, don't wait for a mentoring program. Find a young person of color in your organization who is doing great things and take them under your wing. Even better - encourage your peers in senior ranks to do the same. We all know the critical importance of access to power. Break that vicious cycle by providing that valuable access to some who may never otherwise have it.
#6 - Encourage objective selection processes
Subjectivity is often the death knell for people of color. Too often when selection processes or other decisions are made without clear cut objective criteria, people of color end up getting the short end of the stick. Indeed, unconscious bias often encourages decision makers to prefer one candidate over another - "I just feel like I connected better with Becky. She just seems like she would be a better fit with our team." Or maybe the subjectivity leads to a preference for one vendor over another. "Jack's proposal just felt more professional. I can't put my finger on it, but he just seems to have a better product." Reduce unconscious bias by insisting on blind review processes and clearly defined objective criteria that's confirmed before the options are presented.
#7 - Don't work for companies that aren't diverse
It's 2020. Barring a few extreme anomalies, there's simply no reason for companies of any significant size to not be diverse. Period. One of the most soul stripping feelings is knowing that you're working in an environment that isn't consistent with your values so if you value racial justice and human rights and know that your company does not, leave.
#8 - Insist on diversity on leadership teams
Similarly, in 2020 there's no real excuse for leadership teams with little to no diversity. In some cases this happens because the overall organization has so little diversity (see tip #7). Otherwise, simply point this out to the group. "I'm noticing that our team isn't too diverse. Is anyone else concerned about that?" The next step is critical - listen and see how they respond. If you get backlash or crickets, see tip #7, but this might just be the opening or the spark for someone else to speak up who didn't have the courage to say something previously. Once there is increased diversity, make sure there's real inclusion as well.
#9 - Challenge your own stereotypical beliefs
Changing your behaviors and actions starts with changing your thoughts. Challenge yourself to identify your own deeply embedded stereotypes or bigoted thoughts. Did your parents make disparaging remarks about people of color while you were growing up which may have caused you to think of black people as lazy or not as smart. If you haven't had direct experiences in college or graduate school (for example) to challenge that thinking, you may subtly maintain those stereotypes. While I'm thrilled to see that MIT has elected its first black female student body president ever (159 years), I can't help but shake my head at the thought that it took that long.
#10 - Speak up publicly
Microaggressions and inequities are pervasive in the workplace, and it's so important for white people to speak up when they happen. The simple truth is that most corporations do have a bit of a corporate caste system, and when those in positions of power stay silent, little changes. So when you see something, say something. Don Lemon was widely praised on social media for using his platform to lovingly but publicly call out celebrities who had contacted him privately in the aftermath of these racially charged events but ostensibly hadn't taken action or voiced outrage publicly, and he is so right.

Real change happens when we are willing to stick our neck out and say something publicly - not whispering in the break room or sending private chat messages on the conference call. So the next time you're in a meeting and you can tell that the one or two people of color can't get a word in edgewise or their comments seem to be easily minimized, offer support. It might sound like this - "Jeff, if you don't mind before we move on, I'd like to revisit Leon's idea. I think that's an innovative approach that we hadn't thought about and it would be smart if we spent a bit more time unpacking that."

Let me be clear for anyone who wants to pat themselves on the back for forwarding a racially conscious social media meme in recent days. It's not a profile in courage to comment on a horrific video, then just continue on with business as usual. In this moment, we all have some level of responsibility. As Martin Luther King famously said, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

... Read More

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Dear White People: Here Are 10 Actions You Can Take To Promote Racial Justice In The Workplace

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Racial injustice in 2020 isn't fundamentally a black problem, arguably it's a white problem. Our most recent racial injustice reminders - George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Amy Cooper, Omar Jimenez - while abhorrent and despicable, for most black people sadly weren't all that shocking. For us, it wasn't news.

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Colorofchange.org: Justice for Breonna Taylor 

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Colorofchange.org: Justice for Breonna Taylor 

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Demand that the police officers who killed Breonna Taylor must be FIRED.

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The FBI has announced an investigation into the murder of Breonna Taylor. We're still demanding Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer fire the officers now! Sign the petition and dial the mayor at 844-298-2731 to demand #JusticeforBre.
-------------------------------------------- **UPDATE 5/30/20** The charges against Kenneth Walker, Breonna Taylor's boyfriend has been dropped!
We are still demanding #JusticeforBre by calling for Mayor Greg Fischer to immediately fire all three officers for murdering Breonna. Keep fighting with us. Sign the petition.
--------------------------------------------- Breonna Taylor. Say her name. And remember it.
Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was in her home in Louisville, KY on March 13th when officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department barged in without a warning nor announcement and broke through her door, fired off more than 20 bullets, and ultimately took Breonna's life.

Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, thought someone was burglarizing their home and fired his gun to defend himself. But in turn, the officers responded with a hail of bullets and turned an average morning into a tragedy. The police were at the wrong house. There was no search warrant that gave them the right to be there in the first place.

Despite the clear and egregious misconduct of the police officers, Kenneth Walker is being charged with attempted murder and the murderers who killed Breona Taylor are walking free without any consequences. Instead of being transparent about their fatal misconduct, the police and commonwealth attorney conspired to make it look like this was a routine drug raid. LMPD even continued to falsely refer to Breonna as a "suspect" in the media for weeks though she had done nothing wrong. Nothing.

A recent lawsuit filed against the officers reveals that police were actually searching for another person more than 10 miles away, who had already been arrested that morning. This is an affront to Black people, our communities, and Breonna's family. They are charging her boyfriend with a crime to cover up, distract, and deflect from the fact they murdered a young Black woman in cold blood.

All too often, Black women face police harassment and violence at the hands of bloodthirsty racist cops who see no value in Black lives. Breonna, her boyfriend, and their families deserve more. She was an EMT that lived her life on the frontlines as an essential worker, and when we need people like her the most during this pandemic, cops ended her young life. Let's honor Breonna and hold the officers responsible for this tragedy accountable.

We're calling for the three police officers, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove, to be fired and charges for murder against all of them. These officers are threats to our communities and as long as they're allowed to wear badges Black people are not safe.

Here is the Petition:

Dear Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer ,

I am outraged and horrified that Breonna Taylor was gunned down and shot more than eight times while in her home after officers barged in with no warrant and illegally took her life. More than two months after cops murdered her, they have faced no consequences and despite being responsible for the tragedy, they are still employed by the LMPD.

The LMPD officers, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove took Breonna's life as she was just resting in her home doing nothing wrong. No warrant, no announcement, and no need to be in her home in the first place. These officers must immediately be fired for illegally entering her home, their egregious misconduct, and taking Breonna's young life.

I am calling on you to fire and charge them now!

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#JusticeforBre: Police officers who killed Breonna Taylor must be FIRED.

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The FBI has announced an investigation into the murder of Breonna Taylor. We're still demanding Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer fire the officers now! Sign the petition and dial the mayor at 844-298-2731 to demand #JusticeforBre. -------------------------------------------- **UPDATE 5/30/20** The charges against Kenneth Walker, Breonna Taylor's boyfriend has been dropped!

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Our mission is to advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders.

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Standwithbre.com: Justice for Breonna Taylor

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Standwithbre.com: Justice for Breonna Taylor

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We’re calling on the Louisville Metro Police Department to terminate the police involved, and for a special prosecutor to be appointed to bring forward charges against the officers and oversee all parts of this case. We’re demanding that the Louisville Metro Council pass new rules banning the use of no-knock raids like the one used to break into Breonna’s home.

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This is Breonna Taylor
She was brutally shot and killed by police in her own home. She did nothing wrong. Our fight for justice for Breonna begins today. Click below to get started or call 502-735-1784 to demand justice for Breonna right away.

Breonna Taylor: Say her name

On March 13th, in the middle of the night, Breonna Taylor was killed by Louisville police as they illegally executed a drug raid at the wrong address for a person they had already arrested earlier that day. An aspiring nurse, she had dedicated her whole life to serving others. Until her death Breonna had been working as an EMT in Louisville when the coronavirus pandemic hit, working at two hospitals to save lives in her community. She survived repeated exposure to COVID-19 only to have her life cut short by senseless police violence. She and her family deserve justice-Join us in this fight and #StandWithBre!

As a full-time EMT for two hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky, Breonna Taylor was a beloved and respected essential worker during the coronavirus pandemic. That police brutality killed her, and not the virus, is a painful reflection of the state of America.

A loving daughter, caring sister, and a kind and giving friend throughout her short life, she had a servant's heart and dedicated her entire life to helping people.

Breonna and her hard-working family moved to Louisville, Kentucky 12 years ago looking for a better life together. They found better jobs, a welcoming community, good schools, and were happy to call Louisville their home.

Breonna was always caring and thoughtful of others. At an early age she decided to dedicate her time to helping people. She worked with children with disabilities right after she graduated high school and spent the last several years working as an Emergency Medical Technician as she prepared to become a full-time nurse.

As proud as her family was of the good she did, they were concerned by the risks she faced serving patients impacted by the coronavirus. As an employee of not just one but two medical centers, she was living out her dream of serving others. She was truly on the front lines of the pandemic response, risking her own life every day to protect the community that she had come to love, and that loved her.

Stand with Breonna

Breonna was asleep at home when a rogue task-force of the Louisville police broke down her door in the middle of the night and murdered her. They were attempting an illegal drug raid in the wrong neighborhood for a suspect that they'd already arrested earlier that day.

It's been 75 days. The police officers have yet to be arrested or charged. Breonna's family saw no progress in their fight for justice, so they reached out to our team at the Action PAC. We're hoping to do for Breonna in a few days what it took weeks to accomplish for Ahmaud Arbery. That means we need all hands on deck!!!

Since the launch of this petition, Commonwealth Attorney Tom Wine has recused himself from the investigation into the LMPD conduct that night, the FBI is now investigating the killing of Breonna Taylor, the LMPD Police Chief, Steve Conrad, announced his retirement, and all charges have been dropped against Breonna's boyfriend, Kenny Walker, but our work is not done.

We're calling on the Louisville Metro Police Department to terminate the police involved, and for a special prosecutor to be appointed to bring forward charges against the officers and oversee all parts of this case. We're demanding that the Louisville Metro Council pass new rules banning the use of no-knock raids like the one used to break into Breonna's home.

This is a special super-petition. When you complete it, it emails every elected official and government office who can make a decision in this case.

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She was brutally shot and killed by police in her own home. She did nothing wrong. Our fight for justice for Breonna begins today. Click below to get started or call 502-735-1784 to demand justice for Breonna right away.

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We are trying to reach the attention of Mayor Jacob Frey and DA Mike Freeman to beg to have the officers involved in this disgusting situation fired and for charges to be filed immediately.

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0 have signed. Let's get to 15,000,000!

George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer.

George was handcuffed and restrained and being completely cooperative when this all went down. The officer put his knee on George's neck choking him for minutes on minutes while George screamed that he could not breathe. Bystanders beg for the police officer to take his knee off George's neck, but the officer didn't listen and continued to choke him.

Not that it would matter at all, but George was not even wanted for a violent crime. A grocery store that he was signing a bad check.

We are trying to reach the attention of Mayor Jacob Frey and DA Mike Freeman to beg to have the officers involved in this disgusting situation fired and for charges to be filed immediately.

Please help us get justice for George and his family!

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0 have signed. Let's get to 15,000,000! George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. George was handcuffed and restrained and being completely cooperative when this all went down. The officer put his knee on George's neck choking him for minutes on minutes while George screamed that he could not breathe.

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This document is intended to serve as a resource to white people and parents to deepen our anti-racism work. If you haven’t engaged in anti-racism work in the past, start now.

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Black Women Meditation: How to Reduce Stress w/ Meditation

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Black Women Meditation: How to Reduce Stress w/ Meditation

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Black Women Meditation: How to Reduce Stress w/ Meditation

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Make a Donation to The New Georgia Project

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Make a Donation to The New Georgia Project

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TNGP is a Black-led effort to register and civically engage Georgians.

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The New Georgia Project is a nonpartisan effort to register and civically engage Georgia population to vote

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A collection of YA fiction and nonfiction titles curated by the 7th & 8th grade Humanities teachers and school librarian at the Fayerweather Street School in Cambridge, MA.

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YA/Middle School Book List by BIPOC Authors

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UNDERSTANDING AND DISMANTLING RACISM: A BOOKLIST FOR WHITE READERS

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UNDERSTANDING AND DISMANTLING RACISM: A BOOKLIST FOR WHITE READERS

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Below is a list which is designed to meet a broad variety of reader's needs and experiences.

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Since Trayvon Martin was murdered in 2012, we have seen a renewed investment from white people in our community who want tools to help gain a foothold in their struggles to understand the ways that racism and white supremacy opperate in their minds, their families, and the larger world. The most recent police killings have renewed the urgency of the struggle in the minds of many white people and we are getting lots of calls and requests for help. Below is a list which is designed to meet a broad variety of reader's needs and experiences. Some of these books, like The Charleston Syllabus address our contemporary moment, some like Waking Up White, How I Shed My Skin, and White Like Me, are first person accounts of how individual white people came to understand themselves as white and to desire an end to white supremacy. These are books we recommend which are all currently in print and available online from us 24/7 or in our store at 1189 Euclid Ave. NE Atlanta, GA 30307. (404) 524-0304. We also released a book list for teens and children, which you can find here. There is no time for inaction. We have all the tools we need. Only white people can end white supremacy.

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Understanding and Dismantling Racism: A Booklist for White Readers

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Since Trayvon Martin was murdered in 2012, we have seen a renewed investment from white people in our community who want tools to help gain a foothold in their struggles to understand the ways that racism and white supremacy opperate in their minds, their families, and the larger world.

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A black girl's reading list: 10 books to inspire and challenge

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A black girl's reading list: 10 books to inspire and challenge

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"Being able to see our realities reflected in the books we read has made us who we are. Some of these books were difficult to read and forced us to confront difficult truths about our place in the world. But we also found joy, and these books gave us permission to dream."

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efore university, during our years there and in the time since, the books that we have been exposed to have shaped our ideas, our writing - and ultimately how we see the world. Being able to see our realities reflected in the books we read has made us who we are. Some of these books were difficult to read and forced us to confront difficult truths about our place in the world. But we also found joy, and these books gave us permission to dream.

Reading stories about lives like ours gave us the confidence to tell our own. That's exactly what we aim to do in Taking Up Space: The Black Girl's Manifesto for Change, which ends with a list of our favourite reads to inspire black girls everywhere to look beyond a canon that may not include them. Here are some of them.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Adeyemi has described her novel as "an allegory for the modern black experience, for people who aren't black to understand what it's like to walk in our shoes". Using both history and fantasy, she whisks you away into the world of Orïsha, full of magic and family betrayals. Her descriptions are vibrant and vivid; so many scenes lingered in my mind and followed me into my dreams. Chelsea Kwakye

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittney Cooper
The "angry black woman" trope is tired and boring, but as black girls we have to prepare ourselves for a world that is going to think of us this way. Cooper gives us permission to not only be angry but to use our anger. She invites other black women to share in her experiences, including desiring men while often feeling let down by them; finding a balance between her faith and her feminism; and learning the art of self-love in a society plagued with misogynoir. OO

Taking Up Space: The Black Girl's Manifesto for Change by Chelsea Kwakye and Ore Ogunbiyi is published by #Merky Books. To order it, go to guardianbookshop.com. Free UK p&p on orders over £15.

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A black girl's reading list: 10 books to inspire and challenge

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efore university, during our years there and in the time since, the books that we have been exposed to have shaped our ideas, our writing - and ultimately how we see the world. Being able to see our realities reflected in the books we read has made us who we are.

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10 Books About Race To Read Instead Of Asking A Person Of Color To Explain Things To You

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10 Books About Race To Read Instead Of Asking A Person Of Color To Explain Things To You

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If you really want to be a better ally, if you really want to be on the front-lines in the war against racism and discrimination in the United States, you have to take the initiative to educate yourself. It isn't up to people of color to inform or reform white people, as 'White people, stop asking us to education about racism,' a collective piece from an African American voice on Medium, so clearly explains: 'Don’t ask us to provide the information for you. Instead, participate in your own education. We’ve already given you enough of our free labor. Don’t ask us for anymore."'

If you're trying to unlearn the American biases designed to keep people of color down, here are 10 books about race in America you can start with:

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In today's current political and cultural climate, it's crucial that everyday Americans engage in important conversations about race, bias, discrimination, and privilege. For people of color, these conversations are nothing new; they are a requirement in communities where experiences of racism, bias, and bigotry are a part of everyday life. But for many white people who have never been burdened by a system built specifically to keep us down, these conversations can seem confusing, uncomfortable, and awkward, which is what makes them even more necessary. If you're not sure how to talk about issues of race in America, try picking up one of the many incredible books about race instead of asking people of color to explain it to you.

If you really want to be a better ally, if you really want to be on the front lines in the war against racism and discrimination in the United States, you have to take the initiative to educate yourself. It isn't up to people of color to inform or reform white people, as " White people, stop asking us to education about racism," a collective piece from an African American voice on Medium, so clearly explains: "Don't ask us to provide the information for you. Instead, participate in your own education. We've already given you enough of our free labor. Don't ask us for anymore."

If you're trying to unlearn the American biases designed to keep people of color down, here are 10 books about race in America you can start with:

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10 Books About Race To Read Instead Of Asking A Person Of Color To Explain Things To You

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In today's current political and cultural climate, it's crucial that everyday Americans engage in important conversations about race, bias, discrimination, and privilege.

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10 Books Every Black Person Should Read in 2020

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10 Books Every Black Person Should Read in 2020

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Black literature, in general, is a genre too often underrepresented and ignored. Often times books detailing Black lives and struggles only take up a small section of a local library, closed off and secluded from other novels, reinforcing the idea that our lives and experiences are inferior to whites. Only through textbooks and school teachings, we are taught through the eyes and mouths of white people, a history that is based on lies and deception. Black authors, however, have slowly gained notoriety through their work and have dedicated themselves to tell the world the true story of black lives. Here are ten books every black person should read this year.

1. Policing Black Bodies

By Angela J. Hattery & Earl Smith

This is an excellent book that references well-known occurrences of police brutality to scrutinize the institutions that aggrieve Black people in America. Among criticism of the systems and cycles of oppression is a confrontation of the coping mechanism where Black people engage in grey area or complacency.

2. Lifestorming

By Alan Weiss & Marshall Goldsmith

This is an interactive read that challenges one's comfort zone and thought processes. This book will ignite an honest conversation about the trajectory of our lives and what direction we're headed in.

3. When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir

By Patrisse Cullors & Asha Bandele

Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Khan-Cullors elaborates on the childhood events that led to her activism. This book illustrates the manner in which black youth are criminalized for engaging in similar behaviors as their white counterparts. It humanizes the generalizations and statistics that non-blacks often reference.

4. Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires

By Shomari Wills

Aside from being a historical recounting of the 'rags to riches' narrative, Shomari Wills highlights how six business pioneers used their earnings to help advance the black community as a whole.

5. This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America

By Morgan Jerkins

The black woman is the misnomer of society. Author, Morgan Jerkins, invites readers of all backgrounds into the psyche of simply wanting to BE.

6. All the Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of The Wire

By Jonathan Abrams

The issues, causes, and events of today are worth capturing and retelling to future generations. All The Pieces Matter is a worthwhile reference for those seeking to share their perspective with the world.

7. The Color of Hope: People of Color Mental Health Narratives

By Vanessa Hazzard

Mental health is a relevant, yet taboo subject in the black community. The Color of Hope does a great job of humanizing the realities of mental illness without singling out a specific race or gender. Mental health is an issue that isn't going away any time soon. Though published in 2015, it is worth revisiting.

8. The Cross and the Lynching Tree

By James H. Cone

Rather than cleave to the extremes of fervor or abhorrence, James H. Cone explores the institution of religion, symbolism and the black faith experience.

9. Speak No Evil

From the author of Beasts of No Nation, Speak No Evil is relevant coming of age novel that addresses whom we are, versus who others wish us to be. It is about finding self and learning to deal with the consequences of actions.

10. Spare the Kids: Why Whupping Children Won't Save Black America

By Stacey Patton

Author Stacey Patton addresses the controversial topic of corporal punishment as it pertains to black families and communities. Though not often thought of as an institution, this book takes a historical look at this go-to punishment. It challenges the perceptions we have of self, of our children and the outside world
*All images from https://www.barnesandnoble.com SEE ALSO: 5 Atlanta Black-Owned Businesses Founded By Black Women
Copyright ©2018 The Black Detour All Rights Reserved.

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10 Books Every Black Person Should Read in 2020 - The Black Detour

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Black literature, in general, is a genre too often underrepresented and ignored. Often times books detailing Black lives and struggles only take up a small section of a local library, closed off and secluded from other novels, reinforcing the idea that our lives and experiences are inferior to whites.

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"...We need to read books that are difficult or unorthodox, that don’t go down easily. Books that force us to confront our self-serving beliefs and make us aware that “I’m not racist” is a slogan of denial.

The reading list below is composed of just such books — a combination of classics, relatively obscure works and a few of recent vintage. Think of it as a stepladder to antiracism, each step addressing a different stage of the journey toward destroying racism’s insidious hold on all of us." - Ibram X. Kendi

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Ibram X. Kendi’s Antiracist Reading List (Published 2019)

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Ibram X. Kendi on books to help America transcend its racist heritage.

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10 Books I Wish My White Teachers Had Read

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10 Books I Wish My White Teachers Had Read

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I can only remember having two non-white teachers during my time in school. From my early years at underfunded public schools comprised mostly of black and Latino students to my later years at private schools with largely white populations, my experience as a black student learning from white teachers has ranged from incredibly inspiring to incredibly damaging.

As a black student in public schools, I had a white art teacher give me a failing grade on an essay project because, as he explained to me, "graffiti isn't art." I was kicked out of classrooms for "having an attitude," rolling my eyes, playing with my braids, or wearing a gang-related shirt (it was FUBU). Once, I was kicked out of class for telling (and attempting to show) an incredulous math teacher that I already knew how to do the work he was condescendingly explaining... again. I had white principal who refused to sign the recommendation letter I needed to complete my application for a private high school. Let's not forget the metal detectors, police officers, and zero-tolerance treatment that make many of these public schools feel more like prisons than learning centers.

But fancy private schools aren't off the hook, either. As one of few black students at the private schools I attended, I had white teachers show photos of apes and compare them to African women. I had a history teacher touch my braids and ask, in front of the entire class, "Is this horse hair? I hear that's how they do that." But I was lucky. The experiences of many other students of color in schools often includes dropouts, pushouts, arrests, and even violence at the hands of their educators.

Being a teacher is tough. Being a white teacher of students whose experiences are mostly foreign to yours is probably even harder. But I've had amazing white teachers, too. I've had white teachers who came to my birthday parties, even though I lived in "the hood." White teachers who encouraged me to explore topics about my culture within the curriculum. White teachers who didn't treat me like a unicorn for solving a math problem. In fact, my favorite teacher was one who, after my principal essentially sabotaged my application to private school, explained the situation to the school and managed to get them to let me test in despite the incomplete application. She was white, too.

Unfortunately, the whole U.S. education system is broken, especially for students of color. But what one teacher does in her own classroom can make a world of difference. Teachers have a responsibility to examine their own prejudices, and to learn about the experiences of (and oppressive forces working against) the students they are teaching. Because when we walk into a classroom, both as teachers and as students, we don't magically leave our struggles and life experiences at the door.

Maybe you can't change the whole system. Maybe rigid curricula and standardized tests have your hands tied. But, as some of my teachers showed me, reading a book can go a long way. These are some of the books that I wish my white teachers had read.

Why, oh why, couldn't this book have been published ages ago? The strategies put forth in Emdin's book are brilliant for any teacher, but its call for white teachers "in the hood" to reassess the ways that they see students versus how students see themselves is especially crucial. An educator himself, Emdin offers real solutions to help white teachers check their privilege and connect with their students.

This book! So many of the things in this book resonated deeply with my own experience. Morris shines the light on a group that is often neglected in discussions of education issues. She highlights the many ways that Black girls are misunderstood, neglected, and criminalized, not just by the system as a whole, but also by teachers who fail to see past stereotypes of black women as "sassy" or "loud." She also touches on how the experiences of black women outside of the classroom play out inside it.

Yes, it is crucial to look at black students as actual humans, rather than just data points or statistics. but that doesn't mean you shouldn't know your stats, too. Morris' heavily researched book looks at black life by the numbers, busting up stereotypes and biases with figures which prove that certain commonly held beliefs are flat-out wrong. Additionally, the New Press actually followed this with a Latino Stats book by Idelisse Malavé and Esti Giordani.

There's a reason this book is a bestseller. It's one of the most poignant works on black life today. Coates' writing about the experience of growing up and raising a young Black son in today's climate articulates the feelings of a whole generation.

There's a reason protesters at Black Lives Matter events are holding up copies of this book. The New Jim Crow reveals how mass incarceration has systematically disenfranchised, segregated, and stolen the lives of massive percentages of the black population. With the school-to-prison pipeline putting more and more black youth behind bars, it's a crucial read for any educator.

The Mis-Education of the Negro was published in 1933. Sadly, much of what Woodson describes is still relevant today. Woodson points to how a Eurocentric education system, which teaches black students to think of themselves as inferior, invisible, and detestable, hinders them throughout the rest of their lives. You don't even have to buy the book; you can read it online over at History is a Weapon.

The eight stories in Drinking Coffee Elsewhere tell of people looking for truth, trying to fit in, having big dreams, or just trying to make it. Yes, most of these characters are black. Yet, despite the absurd notion that black characters are unrelatable, these stories are profoundly human. Is it sad that we need reminders that black people are people? Yep. Do we still need it? Yep. It's also just a beautiful collection.

While the story Alexander tells here is one of loss, it is also one of love and joy and family. Black people don't see enough of stories and images of black love, joy, and family, so I know white people aren't seeing enough of these stories, either.
The Light of the World , $15, Amazon
All too often, the gaze with which white people look upon black lives is one of pity. With all the negative portrayals, hard realities, and racism, it's no wonder. But black people are not community service projects, and pathologizing black students or looking at them like wounded animals can be damaging, too. The Sisters Are Alright counters the stereotyped narratives of black women, celebrating them instead of disparaging, pitying, or insulting them.

If you want to change your future, you've got to know your history. Goldstein's look at the history of teaching and schools in the United States takes on the hard topics, including the issue of race in the classroom and the necessity of teachers of colors in the classroom.
The Teacher Wars , $11, Amazon Image: Paramount Pictures

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I can only remember having two non-white teachers during my time in school. From my early years at underfunded public schools comprised mostly of black and Latino students to my later years at private schools with largely white populations, my...

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Book Lists
According to a 2016 study by the US Department of Education, 82% of teachers are white. With white students only making up 49.5% of US public school enrollment, there is a huge disconnect between the reality of teacher diversity and student diversity.

If you're a white teacher, chances are there are students in your room who don't look like you. As a white teacher of black students, I understand how difficult it can be to start openly talking about race and understanding the ways that it affects your teaching practice. Through reading some of these books, I learned that teachers of color may sometimes also encounter a cultural clash within the walls of their classroom. Teaching through a lens of social justice is important, and it's equally important to understand that everyone's journey may look a little different. Even after completing my Masters in Urban Pedagogy, I'm still far from the point where I feel 100% comfortable helping other educators tackle race head-on in the classroom. Every time I read a new book, I feel one step closer to getting to that point, and also feel more comfortable teaching my kids.
1. For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood... and the Rest of Y'all Too by Christopher Edmin
It's currently Spring Break, so I wanted to read a book instead of a journal article. If you follow me on instagram, you may have seen I spent the week reading Other People's Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom by Lisa Delpit. This book, along with a few others, are ones I'd highly recommend if you're looking to create a classroom culture that's more inclusive and empowering for students of color.
2. "Multiplication Is for White People": Raising Expectations for Other People's Children by Lisa Delpit
This book is not only highly informative, but it's also a very pleasurable read. Christopher Emdin's style of writing ignites a fire within you. If you have a long commute in the morning, I highly recommend listening to it as an audiobook. My favorite chapter is called "Teach Without Fear" and I definitely felt more confident teaching after reading a book full of strategies you can literally implement the next day.
3. Other People's Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom by Lisa Delpit
This book was actually written after the other book I'm recommending by Lisa Delpit, but I definitely would suggest you read this one first. It's full of hot-ticket discussions surrounding education in politics, such as the achievement gap, Teach for America, charter schools, and being "color blind". Chances are if you've seen a friend share a Facebook post about it, it's in this book. It'll help you educate not only yourself, but that guy from your high school who writes a post about "what's wrong with schools these days", despite never stepping foot in a classroom within the past 10 years.

This book discusses some of the cultural conflicts both white teachers and teachers of color alike may face in the classroom. It also does a great job of explaining some of the political issues that put students of color at a disadvantage. This is a great book to read if you're looking for fast answers to questions you may have encountered surrounding politics in education.

4.Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond

This is a great strategy-based book that will basically provide you with a professional development session. It's a great book to read and keep alongside your favorite reading and writing strategies books, because even the greatest reading teachers can only be considered great when they are culturally responsive in their approach.

5. Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Friere

This book is a required read in many graduate-level education courses, as it should be. Although it's more rooted in theory than the previous books on the list, I highly highly recommend it. In this book, Paulo Friere discusses systemic oppression and the need for shared power in the classroom. After reading this book, I was able to restructure my classroom in a way that was less focused on teacher talk and more focused on shared power.

If you have any suggestions for books in this category, please leave them in the comments below! Have a great weekend!

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Book Lists According to a 2016 study by the US Department of Education, 82% of teachers are white. With white students only making up 49.5% of US public school enrollment, there is a huge disconnect between the reality of teacher diversity and student diversity.

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Teaching While White put together an long list of texts for educators, white people seeking to educate themselves, and for anyone involved in antiracist work.

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Foundational Texts - Teaching While White

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Tatum, Beverly Daniel. (2017). Why Are All the Black Children Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations about Race . 20th Anniversary Edition. Basic Books.***

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Sign up to receive daily emails to keep your anti-racism practice persistent and consistent. Each will include:

An urgent and tactical action you can take to practice anti-racism each day

Insights on the systemic and interpersonal practices that uphold white supremacy and systems of oppression

Clear and tangible resources to support your education

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This is a work in protest.

Anti-racism work doesn't start and end when the protests do. It's a practice, which means we do it consistently, over time and with vigor. Racism is our default practice. Therefore, we need to consciously commit to practicing anti-racism in all that we do.⁣

As part of my commitment to my own work, I'm going to share what I've learned and discovered in a daily email with a clear and tactical action to take in your relationships, office, yoga studio and everywhere else. It's free, and all funds generated will support the scholars, leaders and activists already doing so much work.

Sign up to receive daily emails to keep your anti-racism practice persistent and consistent. Each will include:

An urgent and tactical action you can take to practice anti-racism each day

Insights on the systemic and interpersonal practices that uphold white supremacy and systems of oppression

Clear and tangible resources to support your education

Let's get to work.

- Nicole Cardoza, Interim Editor-in-Chief

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Anti-racism work doesn't start and end when the protests do. It's a practice, which means we do it consistently, over time and with vigor. Racism is our default practice.

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These infographics explain the white fragility, weaponized white fragility, and the differences between authentic allyship and performative allyship.

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Recommended by Standing Up for Racial Justice (surj.org)

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The last few weeks, and really, the last few centuries, have been exhausting for Black Americans. The violent cycle goes: trauma -> invisibilization -> normalization -> repeat. How do we stop the runaway train that is white supremacy? There's no one answer-a complex problem needs many solutions. But the question I consistently pose to those who claim to support Black people is, "When is the last time you read a book written by a Black person of your own volition?"

The answer I often receive is silence and an averted gaze. But these books contain so many of the answers. Black people have been yelling and writing about the many paths to true equity since before this country was formally founded. Spoiler alert: the 28 days in Black History Month are not enough time to acknowledge this scholarship. Our contributions to this great nation cannot be confined to one short month, and your allyship cannot be proven with a few social media posts. The best way to show your commitment to the Black community today and every day is by genuinely engaging with us. That starts with the books.

As James Baldwin said, "It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive." There's no better time for stillness, independent learning, and empathy for those disproportionately impacted by systemic issues than right now. Below is a list of recommended reads from some of the greatest Black American authors, thinkers, and leaders. Hopefully you'll find an answer to my first question. You'll certainly find that many of your questions about the Black experience are already answered around you.

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1 "Recitatif" by Toni Morrison

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The last few weeks, and really, the last few centuries, have been exhausting for Black Americans. The violent cycle goes: trauma -> invisibilization -> normalization -> repeat. How do we stop the runaway train that is white supremacy? There's no one answer-a complex problem needs many solutions.

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Week of Action in Defense of Black Lives - IRL Options

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Week of Action in Defense of Black Lives - IRL Options

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While the official Week of Action has ended, the ideas and resources here never expire! This is an opportunity to uplift and fight alongside those turning up in the streets and online.

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The time for action is now, people are taking to the streets, flooding social media, calling local officials and demanding justice for those who have been killed by the police all over the county and now is the time to join them.
M4BL WEEK OF ACTION

As we mentioned, some actions carry more risk than others, and especially during a pandemic. We encourage you to take all safety precautions and to listen to best practices from your local public health officials. Each day for the week of action represents one of our demands. We offer some ideas for you, your family, and friends to take action in your community and resources to learn how. Given the public health crisis, each idea is segmented by level of risk. Green is low risk, Yellow is medium risk, and Red is high risk. We trust you will make the best decisions for yourself and your community.

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The time for action is now, people are taking to the streets, flooding social media, calling local officials and demanding justice for those who have been killed by the police all over the county and now is the time to join them. As we mentioned, some actions carry more risk than others, and especially during a pandemic.

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Image: Spencer Platt/Getty

UPDATE: June 2, 2020, 5:08 p.m. PDT Original story: If you are specifically looking for George Floyd protests near you, check out our new informational post on the topic.
If you feel a policy, law or even a world leader needs changing, the first step is simple: you protest.

Protesting has long been a way for marginalized communities to combat oppression. But the act of defiance and dissent is currently having a mainstream moment, thanks to the newly minted presidency of Donald J. Trump.

With many progressives passionate about contesting Trump's policies and actions, marches and protests have been popping up across the U.S. on a weekly - and even daily - basis. It's now common for at-risk communities and their allies to take to the streets after work, between errands and around their regularly scheduled lives.

But keeping up with the latest protests, both spontaneous and planned, isn't an easy task, especially if you're just starting to plug in to your local activist community.

If you want to stay in the know about the latest movements in your area, check out these four ways to navigate the protest scene online.

1. Check up on local protest calendars

Many major cities - and some smaller, politically engaged towns - have dedicated resources that compile lists of local protests. These sites can help you connect with planned protests that span a variety of social issues.

The best part is that these sites do the heavy lifting of sorting through hashtags, event pages and nonprofit websites for you.

To find some of the marches and activist events happening in major cities around the country, the pages below are a good place to start.

2. Connect with local activist groups

Image: Branden Camp/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Local activist groups are the powerhouses behind organizing efforts, having the knowledge and expertise for mobilizing passionate advocates for a cause. Activist groups often have prior knowledge of when and where protests will pop up, given their connections within resistance movements.

Consider joining the mailing lists of your favorite local organizations to stay up-to-date with protests and essential information on the issues you care about. Many activist groups and nonprofits will send out email alerts for upcoming or last-minute protests to their mailing list subscribers.

If you want to tap into the movement more, consider donating your time at your favorite organization. Most social justice groups could use the help of passionate supporters, and you'll also get insider information on protests from the connections you make.

Plus, you'll be fighting for the communities and issues you care about on a regular basis - not just when someone else organizes a demonstration.

3. Keep up with activism on Twitter

When Trump signed an executive order restricting travel for non-citizens from several Muslim-majority nations, advocates swarmed major international airports to protest the ban. These unplanned national protests were announced on social media just hours in advance, leaving social network users to do the work in getting the word out.

Being tapped into activist groups on Twitter is crucial to staying in the loop about spontaneous protests. Plug into your local go-to activist groups on the social network to see which events they're planning or attending.

And when breaking news compels you to take to the streets, do a quick Twitter search of your location and keywords like "protest" or "activism." If you want to take action, others near you probably are, too.

4. Search events on Facebook

Facebook event pages are an easy way for organizers to deliver information about their movements and planned protests to the masses. This tactic was used with the Women's March on Washington, which quickly went viral and ultimately became one of the largest marches in American history.

Use the "Events" tab to search with keywords like "protest" or "march," along with your location. A clear perk of finding protests through Facebook is the ability to save them to a calendar within the social network, automatically setting up reminders in the days and hours leading up to them.

You can also search for activist-oriented Facebook groups or pages in your area that support the issues you care about, helping you discover events already on their radar.

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How to find protests in your city when you don't know where to start

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UPDATE: June 2, 2020, 5:08 p.m. PDT Original story: If you are specifically looking for George Floyd protests near you, check out our new informational post on the topic. If you feel a policy, law or even a world leader needs changing, the first step is simple: you protest.

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Safety Tips for Protesting during COVID-19

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Safety Tips for Protesting during COVID-19

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The good news, according to epidemiologists and doctors, is that there are many ways (besides wearing a mask) to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus or being infected in the streets while exercising the right to protest. The risk will not be zero, but protesters can minimize harm to themselves and others. PLEASE EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN ATTENDING PUBLIC GATHERINGS.

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As protesters take to the streets in dozens of US cities to mourn the death of George Floyd, resist police violence, and demand justice, many are wondering whether it's possible to participate safely with the Covid-19 pandemic still spreading and taking lives.

On social media, there's been a lot of discussion of the intersecting risks: how protesters risk retaliation from police, risk violence at the hands of counterprotesters, and risk Covid-19 infection, which they could then spread to others. And many have judged the protesters harshly for taking all of these risks.

But looming above it is the long history of police violence as a wretched public health crisis of its own.

1 in 1000 Black men and boys will be killed by police in their lifetime.

1 in 1000 is also the mortality rate of measles, a risk deemed so deadly, it has near constant public health surveillance and prevention.

That we don't treat police violence the same is a form of racism.
- Rhea Boyd, MD (@RheaBoydMD) May 31, 2020

As the basketball legend and writer Kareem Abdul-Jabbarwrote in the LA Times, "African Americans have been living in a burning building for many years, choking on the smoke as the flames burn closer and closer. Racism in America is like dust in the air. It seems invisible - even if you're choking on it - until you let the sun in. Then you see it's everywhere. As long as we keep shining that light, we have a chance of cleaning it wherever it lands."

And protesters are considering the risks in their decision to go out. As August Nimtz Jr., who joined protests in Minneapolis on Tuesday, told Time, "I'm a 77-year-old African-American male. I've gotta be concerned [about catching COVID-19], but at the same time there's the importance of coming out into the streets. We had to do this. If we don't do it the cops will get away with it again."

Fears that the protests may lead to more Covid-19 infections, and set the US back further in its fight against the virus, are understandable. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told CNN Sunday she was particularly worried the protests might fan outbreaks in communities of color already disproportionately impacted by the virus. "I'm extremely concerned we are seeing mass gatherings," Bottoms said. "We're going to see the other side of this in a couple of weeks."

One obvious reason the gatherings may be risky is that it can be very hard, if not impossible, to maintain at least 6 feet of distance in large groups of people. Some health departments are still urging people to try:

Plan to protest? Here are tips to reduce the risk of spreading #COVID19:
✔️Wear a face covering
✔️Wear eye protection to prevent injury
✔️Stay hydrated
✔️Use hand sanitizer
✔️Don't yell; use signs & noise makers instead
✔️Stick to a small group
✔️Keep 6 feet from other groups
- nychealthy (@nycHealthy) May 30, 2020

The good news, according to epidemiologists and doctors, is that there are many ways ( besides wearing a mask) to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus or being infected in the streets while exercising the right to protest. The risk will not be zero, but protesters can minimize harm to themselves and others. So what should you bring to a protest?

Eleanor Murray, an epidemiologist at Boston University, summed up the tips in this Saturday tweet:

Harm reduction for protests in a pandemic:
*wear your mask + eye protection + heat resistant gloves
*yelling can spread droplets, choose signs, drums, or similar noise makers
*stick with a buddy group to keep your unknown contacts low
*carry water + hand sanitizer + bandages
- Ellie Murray (@EpiEllie) May 30, 2020

As they've disseminated this advice, Murray and several other health experts have been accused of hypocrisy - for condemning the anti-lockdown protests of April and early May as a Covid-19 risk, but not doing the same for the police violence protests.

Murray clarified her position: "Yes, I condemned the anti-lockdown protests," she wrote. "Yes, I support the #BlackLivesMatter protests. No, those aren't contradictory views. COVID is a public health emergency. So is racism. We need to fight both."

Here's how Tara Smith of Kent State University put it:

From several commenters, "why aren't you yelling about these protestors?"

I'm worried about them, yes. But if you see no difference between people protesting for their ability to get a haircut during a pandemic vs. fighting against being murdered by police, I can't help you.
- Dr. Tara C. Smith (@aetiology) May 31, 2020

Other health experts have been jumping in with additional helpful advice for protesters, who may be exposed to pepper spray and rubber bullets in confrontations with police:

For all the protestors, pepper spray is oil based. If you get sprayed DO NOT rub your eyes. Immediately blink as much as you can to wash out some of the oil with your own tears. Then, wash your eyes with baby shampoo and rinse copiously with water. Be safe.
- Dr. Glaucomflecken (@DGlaucomflecken) May 31, 2020

To protect the eyes from rubber bullets, protections like face shields, umbrellas, safety glasses, and goggles are recommended:

Meanwhile, some protesters are reminding each other that they should stay home if they feel ill or have a fever, helping to reduce the risk of spread for everyone.

Lastly, DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU FEEL ILL. Take your temp before you leave the house if you can and if you have a fever STAY HOME.
- Saba M (@gimmiemosab) May 30, 2020
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How to more safely protest in a pandemic

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As protesters take to the streets in dozens of US cities to mourn the death of George Floyd, resist police violence, and demand justice, many are wondering whether it's possible to participate safely with the Covid-19 pandemic still spreading and taking lives.

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As an organization dedicated to Black liberation and to collective liberation, we need a radical and ongoing investment in our own healing. By claiming love for our own bodies, our own psyches, our own experiences, and by building the resources we need to integrate healing justice into all that we do, we are insisting on conditions that can carry us towards the next generation of work, and towards a deeper place of freedom for all of us.

Powerful Campaigns

BLVC is committed to a long term vision in which ALL Black lives not only matter, but are able to thrive. What we know to be true in order to create this world is that oppressed people, especially Black people, need to build collective power in order to create systems transformation. Through the development of powerful strategic campaigns, we seek to expand the power of Black people across the Twin Cities metro area and Minnesota. This can look like delivering mobilization and action goals as part of a national coalition in which Black lives are centered, but it most often looks like visioning and leading targeted collaborative local campaigns that advance a concrete impact for people's lives here, while also advancing a shift in public narrative that connects to transformative long-term change.

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As an organization dedicated to Black liberation and to collective liberation, we need a radical and ongoing investment in our own healing. By claiming love for our own bodies, our own psyches, our own experiences, and by building the resources we need to integrate healing justice into all that we do, we are insisting on conditions that can carry us towards the next generation of work, and towards a deeper place of freedom for all of us.

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Understand the Difference Between Being Non-Racist and Anti-Racist

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Understand the Difference Between Being Non-Racist and Anti-Racist

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Speak On It is a Teen Vogue column by Jenn M. Jackson, whose queer Black feminist perspective explores how today's social and political life is influenced by generations of racial and gender (dis)order. In this article, she examines how the lack of response to the repeated killings of unarmed Black people stems from a deep fear of dealing with racism head-on.

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As the world continues to unpack the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, the horror of this moment is a reminder of some of the ugliest aspects of our society, offering a chance to ask how we can end the racist system that has made killings like this all too familiar. Now, as before, the difference between being non-racist and anti-racist remains vital.

On February 26, 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was killed by vigilante George Zimmerman while walking back to his father's fiancée's home in the city of Sanford, Florida. Trayvon was leaving a local convenience store carrying Skittles and an iced tea with him when Zimmerman followed him through the neighborhood. In a 911 emergency call placed that night, Zimmerman referred to Trayvon as " suspicious " before confronting and killing him.

I've never looked at hoodies or Skittles the same way since that day.

That was eight years ago. Sadly, racism and violence against Black people in the United States remains heartbreakingly similar nearly a decade later.

News broke last week that 25-year-old Arbery was killed under eerily familiar circumstances as Trayvon. Arbery was shot and killed on February 23 in Brunswick, Georgia. He was jogging in his own neighborhood when 64-year-old Gregory McMichael and his 34-year-old son, Travis, grabbed two guns, got in their truck, and pursued Arbery. After a brief confrontation, McMichaels and his son shot Arbery several times, killing him. Local authorities did not arrest the McMichaels until May 7, after footage of the killing went viral. Both men have been charged with murder and aggravated assault, according to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Both Trayvon and Arbery were on what should've been unassuming trips through familiar streets. They were both running away from their armed assailants before they were killed. Both killings set off a wave of pain and mourning online as people try to raise awareness about their deaths and the grisly details break their hearts.

In both instances, it took this kind of public outcry to pressure local officials into making an arrest. It took a lot of publicity, including activists creating an online petition calling for his arrest, before Zimmerman was charged and taken into custody in April 2012. Then, he submitted himself to police on June 3 that year, after being released on bond. Martin and Arbery were killed in neighborhoods they frequented or lived in. Neither of them were strangers there. Yet, because of the color of their skin, armed assailants deemed them criminal, dangerous, and out of place. And, when they were killed, the officials meant to bring their killers to justice at first did nothing. No arrests. No big press releases. No disruptions to the status quo.

That's what happens in a racist society that sees the killings of Black people as par for the course.

Unfortunately, as these killings persist, many white Americans remain silent. Rather than engaging in behaviors that disrupt the anti-Blackness facing Black Americans seemingly continuously mourning the loss of Black lives, they disengage from "race-related" issues altogether.

It was freedom fighter Angela Y. Davis who said, "In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist." And, there are important differences between non-racism and anti-racism. To be non-racist is to simply abstain from participation in racist beliefs or actions. It is the decision not to participate in racist ideas about others. That's it. It has no social component. No manifestation within one's social networks. It's a laissez-faire political attitude on race that might prevent further harm, but does nothing to repair existing damage.

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Ahmaud Arbery's Killing Is a Reminder We Must Be Anti-Racist

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As the world continues to unpack the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, the horror of this moment is a reminder of some of the ugliest aspects of our society, offering a chance to ask how we can end the racist system that has made killings like this all too familiar.

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Because IFSEL is uniquely positioned to reach many schools across the world, we have collected resources compiled by groups and individuals who are dedicated to dismantling racism and white supremacy.

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Anti-Racism Resources for Educators (compiled from other sources by IFSEL)

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Our overriding mission is to pursue the answers to these critical questions:

What are the best practices for making whiteness explicit in classrooms?

What skills are needed to become racially literate both for teachers and students?

How does investigating whiteness impact the identity development of white students?

How does investigating whiteness in the classroom relieve or create stress for students of color?

How do teachers, who do not understand their own racial impact, cause stress for students?

How do racially literate teachers ease the burden for students?

How do we measure success - what does it look like, sound like, feel like to be "racially literate"?

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Our overriding mission is to pursue the answers to these critical questions: What are the best practices for making whiteness explicit in classrooms? What skills are needed to become racially literate both for teachers and students? How does investigating whiteness impact the identity development of white students?

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"[Teachers of color] are committed to our work, but the toll is high and often paid from fading reserves — literally and figuratively. For those of us who persevere despite these obstacles, how can we survive and help our students thrive in today’s toxic environment?

Welcome to our Starter Survival Kit for Teachers of Color."

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It really does take a village to raise a child. And although we are only one part of that support system, our impact as teachers is life changing. However, teachers of color often lack the support needed to thrive. When teaching is overwhelming, don't wait until you reach the tipping point for support. It's essential to recognize when we need help and find resources to provide what we can't (both inside and outside the classroom). Here are some resources and opportunities to connect with and build a support network of other teachers like you: For all teachers of color:

Check out these 5 action steps from Urban Education Mixtape - A Village of Support for Teachers of Color to help prevent burnout and cope with the added tolls on our time and emotional/intellectual labor. Enter your email address to keep up-to-date on their blog and follow UrbanEdMixTape on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram.

Get activated by getting involved with EduColor, a POC-founded collective of educators that started as a support group for advocates of color and now seeks to elevate the voices of educators of color on equity and justice in education. Sign up for their newsletter and connect with other teachers and activists of color by following them on Facebook and Twitter.

Follow and/or join these other groups led by and for teachers of color to collectively support one another and help address issues of educational justice in their students' lives:

For Black teachers: For Latinx teachers: For Asian-American and Pacific Islander teachers:

Since Asian-American teachers are severely underrepresented among K-12 public school educators, consider joining the Philadelphia-based Asian American Educators which hosts networking and socializing events throughout the year.

Follow the Minnesota-based Coalition of Asian American Leaders, which is dedicated to advocacy for Asian students and teachers.

Sign up for The Association of Chinese Teachers' mailing list to be a part of an organization dedicated to affirmative action, bilingual education, and equity.

Follow the Asian American and Pacific Islander Educators Network, a California-based networking group for AAPI teachers.

Become a member of the Filipino American Educators of Washington, a Seattle-based professional organization of Filipino American educators that empower, support, and promote each other's growth, recruitment, development, advancement, and contributions in the schools and communities they serve. You can follow FAEW on Facebook and find their membership information here.

For Native/Indigenous teachers: For non-native English speaker teachers (NNEST) and ESL teachers:

1. Badass Teachers of Color (BTC) on Facebook and Twitter (connect with other educators addressing race issues)

2. National Association for Multicultural Education and Rethinking Schools Facebook groups (connect with other teachers of color)

3. The People's Education Movement on Facebook and Instagram (connect with a collective of educators countering the oppressiveness of miseducation)

4. Education for Liberation Network on Facebook (connect with a community of educators who are working toward education as a tool of liberation for students, especially low-income youth and youth of color)

You can't give from an empty cup so incorporate self-care into your daily routine:

Review our guide on how people of color can foster mental health and practice restorative healing here.

Check out these tips on Surviving & Resisting Hate: A Toolkit For People of Color from #ICRaceLab. Read how other educators of color are defining, processing, and attending to self-care on this chat transcript moderated by #EduColor. Remind yourself that teaching is an act of resistance with Teaching to Transgress, bell hooks's collection of essays about "education as the practice of freedom."

Take time to celebrate your victories in the classroom and your professional achievements. But don't forget you have a life outside of school! Stay connected with family and friends and make time to pursue your non-work related passions.

Create a classroom environment and culture that is decolonized, anti-racist, and harassment-free (for yourself and students of color):

1. If You Think Racism is Too Political For Your Classroom, Think About What Your Silence Says underscores the importance of engaging with your students and your own preparation.

2. Read 7 Ways Teachers Can Respond to the Evil of Charlottesville, Starting Now and this guide from Colorlines to how to talk to kids of color about white supremacy.

3. Access free resources to help you prepare classroom activitiessuch as the Black Lives Matter at School Resource Toolkit for elementary and secondary level students.

4. Teaching Tolerance's searchable database by topic and grade level for lesson plans, free video teaching kits for K-12, and resources for discussions about police violence. For high school students, SPLC offers short videos about systemic racism and this lesson plan, Visualizing School Equity.

It's no secret that teachers are grossly underpaid and classroom resources are lacking. Teachers of color in particular are leaving at much higher rates than their white counterparts, in part, due to the financial hit. When school resources are scarce, get creative! Find non-traditional ways to receive funding and offset personal costs. Start with these suggestions:

Get funding for your ideas and teaching projects: For tech-savvy K-12 teachers interested in technology-based learning projects, stay up-to-date with this listing of grants and sign up for The Journal's newsletter. Apply for an Educator Grant from Teaching Tolerance for equity projects at the K-12 school, district, or classroom level.

Get funding for your classroom: Here are a few listings of a wide variety of grants and funding resources: The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources from Edutopia; Classroom Enrichment and Student Achievement grants; and Teachers Count. Check out Reparations: Requests & Offerings, a Facebook page where people of color request financial assistance from white people. Create your own request for classroom funds on Donors Choose, a free site for teachers.

Tell us your needs: There are people who want to support teachers of color, so don't be shy! If you have created a fundraiser for your classroom for school supplies, computers, or other things you need, drop us a line at SolidarityWOC@gmail.com and we'll get the word out.

Lacking resources, minimal support, and cultural incompetency in majority-white spaces means that teaching takes more of an emotional, physical, and mental toll on educators of color. There is often a disconnect with other white educators regarding our experiences and ideas about education, especially when speaking about students of color. Consequently, we feel alienated and sometimes resentful of white colleagues when we are consistently required to be the "token minority" voice for our communities. It's a fine balancing act for teachers of color: we want to show up for our students - especially students of color - while taking care of ourselves. Here are some tips to sustain that balance:

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Threads of Solidarity: WOC Against Racism

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Back to School: A Survival Guide For Teachers Of Color

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It really does take a village to raise a child. And although we are only one part of that support system, our impact as teachers is life changing. However, teachers of color often lack the support needed to thrive. When teaching is overwhelming, don't wait until you reach the tipping point for support.