Listening And Learning
We need to read, watch, listen and learn.
We’ve been reading [so much reading] and trying to educate ourselves [there is so much we truly don’t understand].
The video below is one I came across on my social media, and was riveted. It is so powerful. It really moved us, opened our eyes and hearts, and we feel has some valuable lessons for all of us. I'd love if you could take a few minutes to give it a watch.
Change is hard. Change that's necessary and required to fight injustice is even harder because it requires us to demand change in ourselves and others.
It can be overwhelming to know where to start — but it's imperative that we do.
Small actions, followed by another small action, leads to greater and more significant change.
Image credit: @ohhappydani
Words are important, but even more so, is the action that creates change.
We will be donating to @thelovelandfoundation in the US, and locally to #changetherecord
Here is a list of resources [by no means is this an exhaustive list] but one that will hopefully get you started on your quest for more knowledge.
When we know more, we can do more - and we can become better.
Image credit: @mommy_brain
Books to read
It is no secret that I love to read and these are my top 4 that I will be reading and learning from over the coming months.
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
Writer Otegha Uwagba said this book should be mandatory reading for white people. The book is about the reactions white people have when they are called out for their racism. It also looks into how we can move beyond just telling people off on Instagram for obvious racism and actually start to look at the practical granular level in which we can all change our behaviour.
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad
This book is all about teaching white people how to understand their privilege, dismantle it and to stop using it to inflict damage on people of colour, even unintentionally.
Layla’s book is in a 28 day challenge format and shares cultural and historical context to better understand the situations we now find ourselves in.
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
Winner of the Man Booker prize last year, this book is an exploration of black womanhood through the stories of 12 black British women.
Though a piece of fiction, the 12 interwoven storylines allows the reader to understand a plethora of black women’s experiences across time throughout Britain.
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Another work of fiction this novel depicts situations that were actually happening for black people in America. The novel is about a slave called Cora and her journey to escape slavery.
The book has been described as essential reading for all Americans. Eileen Battersby for the Irish Times said: “History and human experience as well as an artist’s obligation to tell the truth have shaped a virtuoso novel that should be read by every American as well as readers across the world. And it will be, it should be.”
Other book resources from @arloandco
Image credit: @arloandco
Children’s books
- recommended by @shamandurek
A Kids Book About Racism by Jelani Memory
Don’t Touch my Hair! By Sharee Miller
Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o
I am Mixed by Garcelle Beauvais & Sebastian A. Jones
Chocolate Me! By Taye Diggs
Mixed Me! By Tay Diggs
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
Little Leaders: Brave Men in Black History by Vashti Harrison
Other children book recommendations from @arloandco
Image credit: @arloandco
Resources to watch
This is another powerful watch:
James Corden - It's Time For A Change In The US
Shows on Netflix
13th - A conversation about why so many of America’s prisons are disproportionately filled with black people.
When They See Us - The dramatisation of the true story of the Central Park Five came out on Netflix last year. The story follows the trial of five teenagers black and Hispanic boys who were wrongly imprisoned and charged as adults for the rape of a white woman they did not commit.
The series depicts the injustice of America’s policing and justice system and Netflix also featured an interview with the five men who have now been released from prison
Strong Island - This true-crime documentary is directed by Yance Ford who’s brother was a black teacher shot by a white mechanic. Yance’s brother, William died and Mark P. Reilly was not charged for his crime by an all white jury.
Teach Us All - This documentary on Netflix examines American’s school system and how to this day it is still largely segregated. The film touches on the lack of funding and quality teaching for black children.
Podcasts to listen to
Code Switch - Code Switch is a weekly podcast by journalists of colour who discuss race and all the ways it interacts with society and culture. The podcast covers everything from the latest protests, to race and the intersection of coronavirus, to how Dora the Explorer mattered as a way to usher in multicultural children’s TV programmes.
No Country For Young Women - This BBC Sounds podcast is seasonal and is hosted by Sadia Azmat and Monty Onanuga. The two women discuss what it’s like being a British woman of colour in the UK today and all their experiences.
Say Your Mind - Kelechi Okafor’s podcast features weekly episodes discussing issues related to the black community. The episodes are usually at least an hour and a half long meaning you get a proper deep dive into a topic.
The podcast has just released an episode called “Would you switch places with a black person?”, it is over two hours long and discusses the death of George Floyd and the recent protests.
Witness Black History - The BBC’s podcast about black history features interviews with key figures from black and civil rights history. The episodes cover topics such as the Black Panthers, the Bristol bus boycott and black GI’s in World War Two. Each episode is around 10 minutes long, giving you the chance to learn a lot of black history in a short space of time.
All of this information is sourced from here.
Accounts to follow
Reach out and follow those driving a positive change. Stand behind our own Australians civil rights movements for our indigenous communities, as well as to all those who have suffered decades of social injustice all over the globe.
@theconsciouskid about talking to your kids about racism - it's not too early to talk to them.
@soyouwanttotalkabout - takes an honest look at white privilege
@rachel.carge - informative and educational
@commongroundaustralia - Sharing First Nations cultures, histories and lived experiences.
Petitions to sign
Addressing poverty that will help to free Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and end mass-incarceration. https://changetherecord.org.au/freeourfuture
Want to sign more petitions, click this link.
Rallies
We have included the date of national rallies of solidarity in Australia below - you can click here to see more information on individual rallies per state.
To donate
https://changetherecord.org.au/donate Change the Record - The rates at which First Nations People are experiencing violence, being put in prison, and dying in custody, has reached a crisis point. It doesn't have to be this way. We can change the record.
@healingourway - We are a national Indigenous organisation that partners with communities to address trauma caused by actions like the forced removal of children.
@antar_national - Justice, Rights and Respect for Australia’s First Peoples.
Loveland Foundation is committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. Our resources and initiatives are collaborative and they prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing. We are becoming the ones we’ve been waiting for.
@bailproject - We believe no one should be in jail because of poverty. We provide free bail assistance, reunite families, and restore the presumption of innocence.
Innocence project - assist the wrongly convicted and aid in criminal justice system reform. https://www.innocenceproject.org/
Colour of change - online racial justice organisation that fights for racial equality in our political systems. @colorofchange
Black lives matter global network - dedicated to ending white supremacy and violence inflicted on black communities. https://blacklivesmatter.com/
Image credit: @andyandcandis
Additional Resources
ZOELLA: Black Lives Matter Resources
FORBES: First, Listen. Then, Learn: Anti-Racism Resources For White People
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