#kendis x ava

[grapecaseschoices]

♫ and Kendis, ♫ and Kendis + Ava, aaand ♫ and Irvin!

♫

Kendis: Two by Sleeping At Last [hehe*]

Kendis + Ava: Come on Eileen. NEXT! jkjk I WANT to say Poison & Wine by The Civil Wars; I don't think it's perfect but I also kinda feel it is. I need to ponder this more. And MAYBE when the party's over by Billie Eilish

Irvin: I THINK White Flag by Bishop Briggs; and because I'm not 1000% on that one, here is another [that isn't 1000% either]: COME WITH ME NOW by KONGOS

[auspicioustidings]

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge

How to be an Anti-Racist - Ibram X. Kendi

13th (Netflix) - Ava DuVernay

This truly is the last thing I want to say on this blog and then I'm done, but given how the fucking catastrophe started it's only appropriate this is how I end it—

You have racist bias whether you like it or not. Particularly if you are US American, racism was baked into your worldview no matter what kind of household, liberal or conservative, you grew up in. Racism is quite often far more covert than it is overt. It is not just a voluntary behavior; it is more often the subconscious ways you organize and hierarchize other cultures and people.

In the case of Gaz—sure, you might actively believe that he deserves to be more included. You think he's a good character and people really should think about him more! But you personally headcanon him a certain way, and really it's not a headcanon you're actually all that into, so that's why you don't talk about him as much. It's not because he's black, it's because he doesn't fit the thing you like talking about the most. The fact that he's black is really just a coincidence, you're not excluding him because of that. In fact, you're sure other people like him for exactly the reason you're not all that into him, and you'll just leave it to them to pick up the slack. Or you'll get to him later! In fact, you have some ideas for him. You just haven't gotten around to them yet.

Take that and multiply it by thousands of white women in fandom—not just this fandom, not just Gaz's character, but every fandom and every character of color. It doesn't matter that there's no active malice behind not personally liking black characters and other characters of color. Non-white characters still take a backseat to their white counterparts, because white women in fandom cannot wrap their heads around black, brown, indigenous, and Asian characters as complex, complicated characters worthy of their interest or frankly, their desire.

They cannot wrap their heads around this because they were conditioned not to by decades of racist culture.

Case in point; plenty of white women in this fandom have fallen head over heels for Makarov and Graves. The sins of these out-and-out villains are totally forgiven by virtue of their sex appeal, and because they are portrayed by attractive, charismatic men who put a lot of passion behind their performances.

But can we say the same for Hadir? Can we say the same for Hassan?

The sins of these two Middle Eastern characters do not outweigh those of their villainous white counterparts, yet how many angsty fix-it fics have been written exploring Hadir's complicated relationship with violence and imperialism? How many enemies-to-lovers or even lovers-to-enemies fics have been written about Hassan, the face of whose homeland has been irrevocably marred by US interference?

No one who points out the racism of this trend is accusing these white women of active, militant white supremacy. I'm not saying any of you even have to like Gaz, Hadir, or Hassan. But your preferences have been tuned for you by a culture shaped by slavery, imperialism, and white supremacy. That is not something you can escape merely because you support the BLM movement or reblog vetted Palestinian gofundmes.

The only way you can truly fight your own racism is to be actively anti-racist. It is about far more than who you give money to or what graphics you pin on your instagram. It is an everyday practice of learning how racism has shaped your worldview for you.

This is not work that is done in a week, a month, or a year. Becoming anti-racist takes as much time as it took to make you racist in the first place. For some of you, the work may turn out to be easy. For others, it may be hard. You must do it either way.

Some good places to start:

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Ain't I a Woman? by bell hooks

We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity by bell hooks

A Burst of Light by Audre Lorde

The Body Is Not An Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor

Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

Being Palestinian edited by Yasir Suleiman

[kawuli]

In “things I never thought I’d see” (but in a good way):

I just got an email from the Presidents of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, THE main organizations for mainstream agriculture research in the US. Sure, there’s enclaves of weirdos like me, but the bulk of their work is your typical Big Ag.

From the email, subject line “A Message from our Societies' Presidents“:

“The American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America stand united against the systematic and institutionalized racism that has caused inequality and injustice across our communities. We will not remain silent as violence and oppression continue to inflict pain, destroy lives, and systematically repress opportunities for many.   We know we must do more to enhance the diversity and equality across our scientific community for strength, creativity, and innovation in science. We acknowledge a lack of diversity and representation across our Societies -- and we must take additional action now. “

(emphasis in the original!!!)

Additional resources on how you can help through learning about systemic issues of racism here:  

13th by Ava DuVernay (Netflix)

I Am Not Your Negro directed by Raoul Peck (Amazon Prime)

So You Want to Talk about Race by Ijeoma Oluo (YouTube)

TedxTalk by Anthony Peterson on race (YouTube)

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi (book)

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (book)

Usually I’d expect them to say nothing (because ~science isn’t political~), or at most a bland statement about how sad they are that bad things are happening and they hope less bad things will happen in the future. Where you can’t tell if they’re talking about the police murders or the protests, and they probably can’t either.

Instead they’re recommending books and other media by Black people, and not NICE ones. Not “let’s not upset anyone.”

No, this doesn’t make them suddenly Woke. It doesn’t really change how I feel about the organization.

What’s shocking is what it says about what’s happening right now. Big, conservative, mainstream organizations think it’s in their best interest to send something like this.

[orlagartlands]

tagged by @elizabethxolsen! thank you abbie!!

rules: tag people you want to catch up with or don’t know well

last song: pretending by orla gartland

last movie: 13th by ava duvernay

currently reading: the obelisk gate by n.k. jemisin, stamped from the beginning by ibram x. kendi

currently watching: ncis & fmab

currently craving: the will to be productive!

tagging (no pressure!) @stars-n-light @elleroodles @sapphicstruggles @gothwyfe @islandellis @minikate--24-05 @whycantwegivellove

[artbyjarin]

I’ve posted this on Instagram a while ago, thought I’d share this here too. It’s never too late to make an effort and get educated ❤️

Creating this painting has made me feel so heartbroken. How can you hate someone so much for their skin colour? Being someone who has experienced a lot of racism my whole life I still can’t fathom the brutality some of us are facing in the rest of the world. I am hoping this post will get people together and start a discussion. Because I know a large part of my followers probably don’t know what’s going on or don’t care. If you think none of this has to do with you because you don’t live in America, you are so wrong. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣I am aware that there are many other horrible things happening in the world and that is hard to keep up and care about all of them. But racism is something you can’t just ignore. It’s been here for so long and it won’t go anywhere anytime soon. It’s something someone either experiences it as a victim or an assailant. Then there’s the people in between. Which is probably a lot of you reading this. You might not be either one of them, but you might know someone who knows someone else and on and on. And till this issue is put down, which probably won’t happen during our lifetimes, it needs to be called out. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣I have been asking, begging, for people to speak up. If you feel scared or don’t have the words, share posts. Bring awareness to those around you. Help yourself and others grow. Take time to listen, to read. Talk to your family members and friends. Take time to support organisations and petitions and donate if you can. That is all I’m asking for.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣

I took some time and gathered some resources I have found through other people. By all means this list is absolute. There is tons of other information you can look up yourself.

If this post gets to even only one of you I will be grateful.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

Books

⁣Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge⁣

Brit-ish - Afua Hirsch ⁣

Me and White Supremacy- Layla Saad⁣

White Fragility - Robin Diangelo ⁣

How To Be An Antiracist - Ibrahim X. Kendi⁣

⁣

Documentaries

⁣13th ⁣

I am Not Your Negro ⁣

The Rachel Divide ⁣

The Central Park Five ⁣

The Black Panthers - Vanguard Of The Revolution⁣

⁣

Accounts (Instagram)

⁣Rachel Cargle - @Rachel.cargle⁣

Mona Chalabi - @monachalabi ⁣

Munroe Bergdorf @munroebergdorf

Candice Brathwaite - @candicebrathwaite⁣

Akala - @akalamusic⁣

Layla F. Saad - @laylafsaad⁣

No White Saviors - @nowhitesaviors

Ava DuVernay - @Ava⁣

The Conscious Kid - @theconsciouskid⁣

Reni Eddo-Lodge - @renieddolodge⁣

Check Your Privilege - @ckyourprivilege⁣

Donation Pages

⁣Official George Floyd Go Fund Me Page. https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd⁣

⁣

Minnesota Freedom Fund: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate⁣

⁣

Run With Maud: https://www.gofundme.com/f/i-run-with-maud/donate⁣

⁣

Black Lives Matter: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019⁣

Grassroots Organisations In Need Of Funds.

Reclaim The Block: https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2

Black Visions Collective: https://secure.everyaction.com/4omQDAR0oUiUagTu0EG-Ig2

Petitions

⁣Justice For Floyd: https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd⁣

⁣

Color Of Change: https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/justiceforfloyd_george_floyd_minneapolis

Justice for Breonna Taylor: https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor

[bard-llama]

Juneteenth Resources for People Who Never Learned About It

So, if you’re like me, your history classes NEVER taught you about Juneteenth. I genuinely didn’t know it was a thing that existed until a couple of years ago, and that is unacceptable.

I’m sharing these links that were gathered by my work for anyone else who needs to learn about it.

Experience

Learn more about Juneteenth and find a celebration near you at Juneteenth.com

6/19 - Reflections on Juneteenth and America's Racial Legacy Lectures from Rice University

6/19 at 2pm ET - How to Build an Anti-Racist Movement with Ibram X Kendi

Read

Article: Why Celebrating Juneteenth is More Important Now Than Ever

Book: Juneteenth by Ralph Ellison

Watch

13th - Documentary by Ava DuVernay on Netflix

Teach Us All - Documentary on Netflix

Listen

Juneteenth Special episode of the “Yo, is this racist?” podcast

This Day in History Class Podcast episode: Abolition of slavery announced in Texas

Again, these resources were put together and shared by my organization. I’m sharing here because I imagine other people like me may have never heard about Juneteenth.

[choosekindnesstoday]

What to do

All I know, is that I don’t really know anything. I find myself in these crazy times being absolutely ignorant on the matter. And I do not like it.

I don’t feel privileged, maybe because I’m a woman living in a third world country where a woman is killed every 23 hours. But with this, I find that I am, and I need to acknowledge that so I can bring people up with me. I feel like there’s a scale on privilege, and the more white and more male you are the higher you are on that scale. This needs to stop. We fight this together, recognizing where we stand, and going up, all of us, as equals.

If you’re feeling something similar, let’s educate ourselves, so we can try our best to understand (even if we might never reach a 100% of understanding), and help in any way we can. It’s the only path to go, the only thing that’s right. 

I’m sharing all of this resources I found. I didn’t make this list, but I found it helpful.

Please, if you read this and find something offensive about what I said, bring it up to my attention gently. As I said, I am ignorant, but I don’t want to be, I want to learn.

Here’s the link to the original list to check for updates.

Sign These Petitions

#DefundThePolice

Justice for Breonna Taylor

Justice for Tony McDade

Justice For Big Floyd

Justice for Ahmaud Arbery

Hands Up Act

Murder Charges for all 4 Officers

More Petitions to Sign

Donate

Black Visions Collective

Reclaim the Block

NAACP Legal Defense Fund

Black Lives Matter

National Bail Out Fund

George Floyd Memorial Fund

Showing Up for Racial Justice

Campaign Zero

The Loveland Foundation

The Marshall Project

Color of Change

Bail Out Fund Google Doc

Follow, Listen & Amplify Black Voices*

Rachel Cargle

Ava Duvernay

Akilah Hughes

Clint Smith

Erika Hart

Brittany Packnett Cunningham

Layla F. Saad

Kendriana Washington

Charlene Carruthers

Ibram X. Kendi

Candace Reels

Ashley Ford

Reni Eddo-Lodge

Myisha T. Hill

*Do not DM or email these people looking for further help. Instead read & learn from the resources they’ve provided. Amplify their voices, give credit, and pay them for their work if you are able to.

Show Up & Protest*

Protesting Safely

White People: Create a Physical Barrier

*If you can’t show up physically, you can still show support by donating to the National Bail Out Fund, or your local Bail Out Fund & sharing these resources on social media

Shop Black

Buy From a Black Woman Directory

Reparations Club

BLK + GRN

Black Owned Market

We Buy Black

Shoppe Black

Black Owned Fashion on Insta

Black Owned Chicago

Shop Black Artists/Designers*

Ade Hogue Shop

Jade Purple Brown Shop

Aurelia Durand Shop

Monica Ahanonu Shop

Shantell Martin Shop

Kendra Dandy Shop

Rinny Perkins

Laci Jordan Shop

Darius Frank Shop

Reggie Black Shop

Candace Reels Shop

Nubia Art Shop

Sophia Yeshi Shop

Cheryl Shop

Sabrena Khadija Shop

Franceta Johnson Shop

Levi Shop

Vocal Type

Nikkolas Shop

Camille A. Shop

Morgan Harper Nichols Shop

Niki Dionne Shop

*This is far from complete, please DM me if you have more names to add the list

Organizations to Follow

Audre Lorde Project

Color of Change

The Conscious Kid

Equal Justice Initiative

Showing Up For Racial Justice

NAACP

No White Saviors

Required Reading & Further Action

75 Things White People Can Do

End Police Violence in America

How to Be Actively Anti-Racist

Rachel Cargle: The Great Unlearn

Anti-Racism Resources

Layla Saad: Me & My White Supremacy

Anti-Racism Articles, Books, Films, Podcasts

An Antiracist Reading List

Black Lives Matter Resources

Stop Saying “All Lives Matter”

Black-Owned Restaurants

New York City

DC, Maryland, Virginia

Los Angeles

*Install Skip Redirect on Chrome to avoid redirect links

[googly-eyed-seraph]

I want to revisit the topic of compassion fatigue.

There is a popular notion that there is very little that your average white person can do to help Black Lives Matter, and that as such, it is not worth thinking too much about it. After all, why worry about what you cannot change, if it will only stress you out?

As a white person in America, you have the ability to opt out of talking about Black Lives Matter. This is expected of you. What is right of you to do is not to let yourself complacently ignore the suffering of Black Americans. 

That being said, you do not have to put yourself at the forefront of the movement. You do not have to spend 100% of your time working to dismantle the American police force. Not only will you burn yourself out in no time, there is every chance that you will only make things worse. You do not have to go to every protest and fling yourself onto every police officer. Not only will you only make things worse for the Black protesters, who do not have the same shield you do, you will not help the perception of the protesters, and you will not help the cause. You do not have to shout at your loved ones at the dinner table every moment of every day. Not only will you not change their minds, you will very likely put yourself in danger for nothing.

But you cannot stay silent.

If you can go to a protest, then do. Recognise the protection that your whiteness gives you, and do not risk the safety of the Black people beside you. Research how you can keep others safe.

If you can donate to organisations that help Black people get out of jail, pay legal fees, etc., then do. Make sure that your money is going to a legitimate organisation.

While doing the above, and especially if you cannot do the above, you must educate yourself. White people do not have the inherent knowledge of being Black in America. We do not face the same struggles. We do not know better than Black people. Look into books on race written by Black authors (So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo; How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi; Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-Create Race in the Twenty-First Century by Dorothy Roberts; The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, etc.). Look into documentaries produced by Black people (13th dir. Ava DuVernay; The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.; Slavery By Another Name dir. Samuel D. Pollard, etc.). Additionally, look into resources specifically about becoming antiracist as a white person - I recommend Jane Elliott’s work, as well as White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo.

Furthermore, approaching the Black Lives Matter movement as a way to fulfil your masturbatory idea of becoming a selfless martyr feeds into the white saviour idea and places the focus of activism onto white people. White guilt helps nothing, and the idea that the only acceptable way to help Black people is by making a big show of dying for them is incorrect. You’ll support others better alive than dead.

You as a white person do not have to spend every moment of every day thinking about the treatment of Black people in America. Recognise this, and spend time every day trying to unlearn white supremacist ideas. Spend time reading the news, and assisting others however you can - ask your Black loved ones how you can help them. If you are feeling compassion fatigue, imagine how tired they are. If they ask for you to shut up and listen, then shut up and listen. If they ask to be left alone, leave them alone. Their safety and wellbeing is more important than your comfort. 

You are not as helpless as you think you are, and you have a job to do.

[visitdunedin]

Anti-Racism Resources

 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. Feel free to circulate this document on social media and with your friends, family, and colleagues.

Here is a shorter link: bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES

To take immediate action to fight for Breonna Taylor, please visit FightForBreonna.org.

Resources for white parents to raise anti-racist children:

Check out these books for children and young adults from the list of Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners

Listen to the Parenting Forward podcast episode ‘Five Pandemic Parenting Lessons with Cindy Wang Brandt’

Listen to the Fare of the Free Child podcast

Read PBS’s Teaching Your Child About Black History Month

Follow The Conscious Kid on Instagram

Articles to read:

“America’s Racial Contract Is Killing Us” by Adam Serwer | Atlantic (May 8, 2020)

Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement (Mentoring a New Generation of Activists

”My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant” by Jose Antonio Vargas | NYT Mag (June 22, 2011)

The 1619 Project (all the articles) | The New York Times Magazine

“The Intersectionality Wars” by Jane Coaston | Vox (May 28, 2019)

Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups developed by Craig Elliott PhD

”White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Knapsack Peggy McIntosh

“Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi | Atlantic (May 12, 2020)

Videos to watch:

Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives: Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett, Charlene Carruthers (50:48)

"How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion" | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26)

Podcasts to subscribe to:

1619 (New York Times)

About Race

Code Switch (NPR)

Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw

Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast

Pod For The Cause (from The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights)

Pod Save the People (Crooked Media)

The Combahee River Collective Statement

Books to read:

Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper

Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon

How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

Redefining Realness by Janet Mock 

Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century by Grace Lee Boggs

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe Moraga

When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira Katznelson

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PhD

Films and TV series to watch:

13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix

American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix

Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent

Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent

Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix

Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent

I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — Available to rent or on Kanopy

If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu

Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent

King In The Wilderness  — HBO

See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix

Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Available to rent

The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Hulu with Cinemax

When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix

Organizations to follow on social media:

.

Antiracism Center: Twitter

Audre Lorde Project: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 

Black Women’s Blueprint: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Color Of Change: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Colorlines: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

The Conscious Kid: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Families Belong Together: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

MPowerChange: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 

Muslim Girl: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

NAACP: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

National Domestic Workers Alliance: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

RAICES: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

SisterSong: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

United We Dream: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

More anti-racism resources to check out:

75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice

Anti-Racism Project

Jenna Arnold’s resources (books and people to follow)

Rachel Ricketts’ anti-racism resources

Resources for White People to Learn and Talk About Race and Racism

Save the Tears: White Woman’s Guide by Tatiana Mac

Showing Up For Racial Justice’s educational toolkits

“Why is this happening?” — an introduction to police brutality from 100 Year Hoodie

Zinn Education Project’s teaching materials

Document compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker, Alyssa Klein in May 2020.

[valerybrennan]

What I’m Reading

I’ll be honest, it’s hard to write right now. Lately, I’ve spent a lot of time going through resources to learn more about being a good ally, and refreshing myself on a lot of history I learned in college. That being said – I’ve also been diving into my library list pretty hard.

One of my first blog posts EVER way back in 2014 was about ebooks and how to check them out from the library and, spoiler alert, that’s still how I get my books! Lately I’ve been loving audiobooks – my brain has been struggling a bit, so audiobooks are a great way to keep reading even when head isn’t in the best spot. I’m also focusing on books by Black authors right now, I try to have a nice variety of topics and I think I have a pretty good balance at the moment. Here’s what I currently have checked out.

Redefining Realness by Janet Mock (audiobook) – If you’re unfamiliar with Janet Mock, she’s an amazing trans activist, writer, director and more. This autobiography is so beautifully written but I’ll be honest, I had to take a little break due to some pretty graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse.

Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper (audiobook) – I haven’t started this one yet but I’m so excited to dive in. I’m actually reading it with a Facebook group and I’m eager to discuss it with them.

You Can’t Touch My Hair by Phoebe Robinson (audiobook) – I’m about halfway through this one and really enjoying it! It’s a nice balance of humor, pop culture, conversations about race, and autobiography. I have never listened to the Two Dope Queens podcast, but I’m glad I decided to pick this one up. It’s nice when I need something a little lighter.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (ebook) – I’ve been watching a lot of Trevor Noah clips lately and had the pleasure of seeing him live this past February so when I saw his book while I was browsing Libby I knew I had to place a hold! Thankfully I finally got my hands on a copy and am so excited to get started.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (audiobook) – Somehow I’ve never read this book, and what better time to start than now?

And just for fun, here’s what’s on my “Holds” list (but clearly I have enough to keep me busy for a couple of weeks with the above books!)

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

Untamed by Glennon Doyle (not by a Black author, but it’s been on my list for some time now)

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

How to Be Less Stupid About Race by Crystal Marie Fleming

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

And lastly, if you need some resources for being a good ally and/or learning more about racial injustice in this country here are some good starting points:

http://bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES

https://alittlebrittoffun.com/anti-blackness

13th (documentary directed by Ava DuVernay) – available on Netflix or free on Youtube

What’s on your reading list right now?

xoxo Valery

The post What I’m Reading appeared first on valery brennan.

from What I’m Reading

[grapecaseschoices]

Hey! For the OTP asks, either Ava x Kendis or Nate x Nai for any of 49, 51 or 54 !!

Keva and Kat [ aka Kendiis/Ava, Kai/Nat]. I need to occupy the brain til sleep hits, so I shall two and both. Ty for the ask! :-DD

49) Does either of them have a hard time being away from the other?

Keva: Not really. Though, Kendis is one for regular [though not always frequent] check ins --- particulary if either of them will be gone for a while. Ava's main hard time is knowing that her partner may get to something foolish and think its a good plan not tell her. It is easier to find these things out when she is around.

It is different if it was something with no communication -- then they'd both become insufferable at whoever thought that was a good plan.

Kat: No ish. I think Nat doesn't have a hard time PER SE, but there is worry. There is concern. But she manages. Her mind wanders but she manages. It helps a lot that Kai wouldnt mind nightly calls, but she manages for him. It becomes a Thing when he is gone either weeks on end or with minimal to communication.

Kai doesn't... but he strangely has more of a time than I would expect. He just likes knowing where Nat is. Check ins woud've been fine but thankfully he has a gf who would tackle cellphones for him, so. That said, he'd panic less if Nat went on a long mission than vice versa.

51) What’s a non verbal way they say I love you?

Kat: By existing? Nat is the one more likely to say the words. I think Kai would say it at most twice a year, but Nat NEVER doubts. They are both quality time folk -- so that Nat would walk into an Apple Store, that Kai would go to some fancy event and dress up, that they can just sit together and do their own thing? That's I Love You. Everyday, every week.

Keva: Kendis likes to do things for Ava, especially things Ava does not do for Ava's self. They also take care of each other -- Kendis does deeds [though they are there for an ear and advice], Ava does pillar of strength. It works because Ava is on top of everything and Kendis ensures it runs smoothly [Ava's desk is neat with some flowers in a vase, her blood is warmed the way she likes when she's too focused or tired, etc]. And Kendis doesn't like leaning on people but Ava has this way of giving the right quiet support as well as understanding, she is also ready to be the bad guy [even if it does suck when Kendis is mad at her].

[raincityathletics]

#TheShowMustBePaused

View the source here

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. Feel free to circulate this document on social media and with your friends, family, and colleagues.

Here is a shorter link: bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES

To take immediate action to fight for Breonna Taylor, please visit FightForBreonna.org.

Resources for white parents to raise anti-racist children:

Books:

Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults

31 Children's books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance

Podcasts:

Parenting Forward podcast episode ‘Five Pandemic Parenting Lessons with Cindy Wang Brandt’

Fare of the Free Child podcast

Articles:

PBS’s Teaching Your Child About Black History Month

Your Kids Aren't Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup from Pretty Good

The Conscious Kid: follow them on Instagram and consider signing up for their Patreon

Articles to read:

“America’s Racial Contract Is Killing Us” by Adam Serwer | Atlantic (May 8, 2020)

Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement (Mentoring a New Generation of Activists

”My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant” by Jose Antonio Vargas | NYT Mag (June 22, 2011)

The 1619 Project (all the articles) | The New York Times Magazine

The Combahee River Collective Statement

“The Intersectionality Wars” by Jane Coaston | Vox (May 28, 2019)

Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups developed by Craig Elliott PhD

”White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Knapsack Peggy McIntosh

“Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi | Atlantic (May 12, 2020)

Videos to watch:

Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives: Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett, Charlene Carruthers (50:48)

"How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion" | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26)

Podcasts to subscribe to:

1619 (New York Times)

About Race

Code Switch (NPR)

Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw

Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast

Pod For The Cause (from The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights)

Pod Save the People (Crooked Media)

Seeing White

Books to read:

Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper

Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon

How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold

Redefining Realness by Janet Mock

Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century by Grace Lee Boggs

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe Moraga

When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira Katznelson

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PhD

Films and TV series to watch:

13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix

American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix

Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent

Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent

Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix

Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent

I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — Available to rent or on Kanopy

If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu

Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent

King In The Wilderness  — HBO

See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix

Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Available to rent

The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Hulu with Cinemax

When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix

Organizations to follow on social media:

Antiracism Center: Twitter

Audre Lorde Project: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Black Women’s Blueprint: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Color Of Change: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Colorlines: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

The Conscious Kid: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Families Belong Together: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

MPowerChange: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Muslim Girl: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

NAACP: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

National Domestic Workers Alliance: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

RAICES: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

SisterSong: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

United We Dream: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

More anti-racism resources to check out:

75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice

Anti-Racism Project

Jenna Arnold’s resources (books and people to follow)

Rachel Ricketts’ anti-racism resources

Resources for White People to Learn and Talk About Race and Racism

Save the Tears: White Woman’s Guide by Tatiana Mac

Showing Up For Racial Justice’s educational toolkits

“Why is this happening?” — an introduction to police brutality from 100 Year Hoodie

Zinn Education Project’s teaching materials

Document compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker, Alyssa Klein in May 2020.

[transjoyblog]

6 Personal Values That Will Hurt Your Business

Photo by Ava Sol on Unsplash

Everyone has their own set of personal values by which they live their life. These can be consciously chosen, or be created by default. Usually, everyone has some combination of chosen, and default values and beliefs, but no matter how you came to them, every single one of your values should be examined and judged as to how it supports your goals, or wellbeing. Anyone who has adopted this practice of active self-reflection has found some values to be incongruous with living well. The same is true for building a business. There are simply some values that will get in the way of building a lasting, stable business, that works for both you and your employees. That is not to say that one cannot make money if you have any of these values. In fact, capitalism can bring some of the following values out in even the best of us, which is why you should be aware of these values and how to avoid relying on them.

1. You put yourself first. Either the customer or your employees or (ideally) both must come first when seeking to get value out of a business i.e. paying yourself for the time and effort you put into the business. I mean this in both the abstract and very real legal sense of the word. When a business is having cash flow issues, you are still legally obligated to pay your employees on time. If you do not you are in violation of federal law, and probably whatever state law governs your business practices. This is the basic order of operations to use when thinking about how your business provides value. You are always last. Even when filing Chapter 7 liquidation, secured debt (debt backed by collateral) is given the highest priority when paying back creditors, followed closely by pay owed to employees.

How to Avoid This:

Make a list of values that you would like your business to embody. Refer to this when you need some clarity on a big, values driven decision i.e. What is the business' family leave policy?

Keep your eye on the ball - why are you doing business? The answer should be to provide something of value to others, and making money should be side effect of a great product or service.

2. You shirk responsibility in the face of tough decisions. You may feel that you are happy to accept a leadership position, and would gladly take on everything that comes with that. But have you ever had to make the decision to fire someone? And I don't mean someone who is incompetent or otherwise underperforming. Have you ever had to fire a loyal, high performing person with whom you have worked very closely to build something in which you both believe? This is a situation in which you may find yourself, and you would do well to prepare for this possibility. I suggest reading The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz to learn more about the tough spots in which you could find yourself should the business grow beyond just yourself.

How to Avoid This:

Consciously start choosing to cultivate decisiveness. If someone asks what you would like for dinner, provide a real answer, instead of a middling, "I'm good with whatever anyone else wants". When asked your opinion, give it, thoughtfully, and only when asked. There are a ton of other ways to improve your decision making skills, most of which are probably just a Google search away.

3. You tend to be suspicious in the face of ambiguity, you rarely give the benefit of the doubt or worse, you tend to fall for the logical fallacy called argument from ignorance. This is a false dichotomy fallacy that asserts that a proposition is true because it has not yet been proven false or a proposition is false because it has not yet been proven true. For example, I once had a boss think that our dishwasher was lying about having to leave early from work. He claimed that he had to get a court mandated drug test at a facility just down the road from our work. My boss supposed that because he could be lying, and she did not have positive proof that he was being honest, he must be trying to get off early, at least sometimes. Please don't do this. This guy was being completely honest. I had to pass the route he took to this facility in order to make my way home, and I almost always saw him on his way to where he said he was going.

How to Avoid This:

Educate yourself on the principals of logical fallacy, and proper argumentative techniques. One of the best books I have ever read on this subject was actually a textbook in my college speech class. It was Thank You for Arguing by Jay Heinrichs. I also recommend you educate yourself on proper research techniques, and how to discern a reliable source of information, from an unreliable one. Training yourself on generally accepted information sourcing techniques is invaluable and can help you with everything from politics to your personal relationships.

4. You believe learning is finite and time bound. I once heard someone proudly announce that they didn't read books anymore because they had received their Master's degree, and therefore had done all the reading they needed to do. This may be an extreme example, but a lot of people do not truly value learning as much as they value credentialing, or "education". Businesses must learn to survive. Actively learn. Meaning, leaders need to propose hypotheses, run experiments, collect data, and analyze this data to reach a conclusion on the hypothesis. That is the only way a business can continue to grow and thrive in the current business climate.

How to Avoid This:

You can read The Lean Startup by Eric Reis for more information on the role that learning plays in the success of a business. Study the theories proposed in this book, and use them to inform your own company culture.

You can make learning a priority in your life. Not just as another thing to check off your to-do list. Keep up on your reading, even if you only like reading so-called "trashy" fiction. Reading is reading, and there have been some studies that support the idea that reading fiction can help us improve our ability to "walk a mile in someone else's shoes".

5. You're racist, sexist, or otherwise discriminatory or prejudiced. This includes things like having a preference for hiring a certain type of person for specific roles in the organization. You may catch yourself or others saying things like "I agree that she may be a good fit, but she is so young," or, "He should be applying for something in the back, we can't have men running the register." The latter was a common refrain in certain parts of the food service industry for a long time.

Also be sure to look out for the ways in which you judge others' appearances. I recently listened to episode 433 of the Smart Passive Income Podcast, entitled "Black Entrepreneurs Speak Out, Volume 2". In this episode we hear from James Shannon, who tells us about a time that he was told not to wear a hoodie to work because he "looked like a thug." This is explicitly racist behavior. It is the kind of behavior that is so hard to call out when you are on the receiving end, because it is so easy to argue against, especially when the person committing this offense is in a position of authority over you and your livelihood. Get the full story by listening to the podcast, it is definitely worth your time.

How to Avoid This:

We all have an obligation to educate ourselves on the reality of others. By this I mean, each and every one of us have a societal obligation to "walk a mile" in as many types of shoes as we can. While you may (hypothetically) be a cisgender, heterosexual, Hispanic man, plenty of people are not. And understanding the struggles, traditions, problems, and joys of people who are not similar to you will help you develop an understanding of how you, and your decisions fit within "the larger picture" of society. This understanding can help you connect with anyone better, as people will respond to those who make a genuine effort to understand and respect their experience. If you're working on your reading habit, be sure to read books by people who encourage critical thinking, respect for others, and offer new perspectives on large issues, such as How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, or Histories of the Transgender Child by Jules Gill-Peterson.

6. You lie. Whether it is a simple habit of hyperbolic gossip, or outright deception there is no place for dishonesty at work. The tendency to lie is a human one, and I do believe that there is some place for small lies that have become a part of polite American small talk i.e. answering "I'm just fine." when someone asks how you're doing because you don't feel like explaining that you had a terrible fight with your wife that morning and you, in fact, feel like a dumpster fire. What I mean by lying is any form of knowing misrepresentation, deception, or fraud. This is not only damaging to your reputation, this habit can get you into serious legal trouble. Fraud is a serious charge that could land you in federal prison depending on the nature of your lies.

How To Avoid This:

Value honesty and plainness of speech. I try to refrain from using technical language as best I can, so as to retain the utmost clarity when making a point. You may feel like everyone is inflating themselves, and you have to do the same to compete. Do not do this. Openness and honesty will open more doors than it will close, and the doors it does close may very well be worth closing.

Wrapping it all up

If you find that you have given into any of these default values, you're not alone. I have been guilty of all of these to some degree, but the important thing is to identify these influences, and work to understand the pressure they exert over your decisions. You can change the things that you value for the better, and improve your business as a consequence of your pursuit.

There is also so much more you can do to actually affect change within society as a whole. Even if you are like myself, and can't even attend a protest, let alone help organize one, there are still ways in which you can help. I am looking into opportunities to lend some data entry assistance to my County's COVID-19 vaccine administration sites. We can all step up, and do what we can, with what we have, where we are!

What are some other values and beliefs that hinder businesses and their owners' success? I am always interested in expanding my perspective, so let me know in the comments!

[trascapades]

🖤🎨#ArtIsAWeapon #BlackHistoryMonth

#TheBlackRenaissance

Reposted from @ibramxk Introducing the Black Renaissance. I partnered with @TIME on this special project to celebrate the beauty and power of Black creativity, of Black art.

@MichelleObama has a resplendent interview with the phenomenal poet @amandascgorman who is featured on the @TIME cover in her signature yellow. “We’re living in an important moment in Black art because we’re living in an important moment in Black life,” Gorman says to Obama.

In my introductory essay to the project, I maintain: “If the Harlem Renaissance stirred Black people to see themselves, if the Black Arts Movement stirred Black people to love themselves, then the Black Renaissance is stirring Black people to be themselves. Totally. Unapologetically. Freely.”

A panel of judges selected the 25 defining works of the Black Renaissance. The panel included @Ava, @MatthewACherry, @FKAtwigs, dream Hampton, @THEKIDMERO, @desusnice, @Lynnnottage, @TessamaeThompson and @Jesmimi.

@rebeljunemarie spoke with three leading Black women novelists: @britrbennett and @jasminepics and @jacqueline_woodson.

The package also includes pieces on Black music, Hollywood, and an essay by @chadsand with some striking art. And it features typography from Tré Seals, the founder of @vocaltype.co, which specializes making type inspired by communities of color and social justice movements. The cover photograph is by @awolerizku for @TIME.

The Renaissance is Black

•

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#TimeMagazine #TheRenaissanceIsBlack #IbramXKendi #BlackArt #BlackArtists #BlackCreatives #HarlemRenaissance #BlackArtsMovement #AmericanHistory #AmamdaGorman #BlackMusic #BlackWriters #BlackPoets #TraScapades #BlackGirlArtGeeks

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tracy (@trascapades)

[dipulb3]

This is pop culture's moment of reckoning on matters of race | Appradab

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/this-is-pop-cultures-moment-of-reckoning-on-matters-of-race-appradab/

This is pop culture's moment of reckoning on matters of race | Appradab

However by no means fairly like this.

Popular culture has at all times been fast to replicate shifting public moods. And Individuals have grappled with cultural works about race and brutality since earlier than Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit.”

However Black students say there’s been a way in latest weeks that Individuals’ attitudes on race and tradition are altering for actual this time — and that entertainers who ignore them achieve this at their peril.

“It’s a long-overdue reckoning,” says Karsonya Wise Whitehead, a documentary filmmaker who teaches African American Research at Loyola College Maryland. “It is a second to do a radical reshaping of how we’re seen.”

In a number of methods, it is already taking place.

There’s renewed curiosity in Black-themed artwork and leisure

Books about race have been topping the bestseller lists: This contains each fiction and nonfiction. At one level earlier this month, 15 of the top 20 bestselling books on Amazon have been about race, racism and White supremacy within the US.

Demand for titles that assist White folks perceive racism has spiked: Books corresponding to Ibram X. Kendi’s ” be an Antiracist” and Robin Diangelo’s “White Fragility: Why It is So Laborious for White Individuals to Discuss About Racism” have sometimes been out of stock.

“We have now been writing, singing and rapping about these societal ills for years,” says Whitehead, the Loyola professor. “This isn’t new. It is simply being lastly observed by the White group.”

Streaming platforms have been prominently that includes Black-themed content material: Netflix has been selling a new “Black Lives Matter” collection to prospects within the US, that includes dozens of flicks and sequence about racial injustice and the lives of Black Individuals. Amongst them are Ava DuVernay’s documentary “13th,” about racism within the prison justice system, and Spike Lee’s new drama “Da 5 Bloods,” about Black troopers returning to Vietnam to seek out the stays of their fallen squad chief.

Curiosity in these and different Black-themed content material has spiked. Demand for the Netflix sequence “Pricey White Individuals” has surged greater than 446% over the previous 30 days, according to Parrot Analytics, which measures the recognition of TV programming. “When They See Us,” DuVernay’s 2019 miniseries concerning the wrongly convicted Central Park 5, additionally acquired a large bump.

“New audiences look like turning to those tales as a type of schooling and understanding of the Black expertise in America,” says Ashley Alleyne-Morris an insights director at Parrot Analytics.

Audiences are turning to podcasts about race: On the earth of podcasts, Apple’s charts present audiences are gravitating towards the New York Occasions’ “1619,” concerning the historical past of slavery in America, and NPR’s Code Change, which options journalists of coloration speaking about race.

Audiences looking for to channel their anger over police brutality and different points raised by the George Floyd protests are looking for out non-Black content material as nicely. Streams of music by rock band Rage Towards the Machine, identified for his or her revolutionary political beliefs, have surged over the previous month.

It is tempting to counsel that the newfound recognition of all this woke content material will result in significant social change. However Vincent Stephens, director of the Popel Shaw Heart for Race & Ethnicity at Dickinson Faculty, urges warning.

“We should be cautious to not mistake gross sales for social reform,” he says. “Translating the data and content material from books and digital media into on a regular basis antiracist practices is the one significant method for this renewed consideration to affect society.”

Persons are reappraising racist or inappropriate cultural content material

Hollywood has had an uneasy relationship with race relationship again to “The Start of a Nation,” the landmark 1915 silent movie that glorified the Ku Klux Klan.

Problematic content material is being pulled: “Gone With the Wind,” one of the crucial standard motion pictures ever made, has lengthy been criticized for its legendary depictions of slavery however remained a TV staple till this month, when HBO Max pulled the 1939 film from its slate of choices.

On Wednesday the streaming service — owned by WarnerMedia, Appradab’s dad or mum firm — brought back the movie however with two extra movies that debate its historic context.

Disney has taken an identical strategy to the unique animated “Dumbo,” which incorporates a character named Jim Crow, voiced by a Caucasian actor utilizing a stereotypical African-American accent. On the Disney+ streaming service, “Dumbo” is presented with a disclaimer saying the film “could comprise outdated cultural depictions.”

Kevin Willmott, a professor of movie and media research on the College of Kansas who received an Oscar for co-writing “BlacKkKlansman” with Spike Lee, says movies like “Gone With the Wind” ought to include warning labels that place them in historic context and educate viewers about racism.

“The extra you realize about our racist historical past, the extra you perceive what is going on on now,” he says. “We’re on this popular culture second proper now. America is struggling about what sort of nation it needs to be.”

However Wes Jackson, an educator at Emerson Faculty and co-founder of the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Competition, has no persistence for dated cultural works with racist caricatures.

“Get ‘Dumbo’ off Disney Plus. I do not wish to see any extra ‘Little Rascals,’” he says. “A teachable second? You have been in a position to educate this second for 500 years, and you have not,” he says. “So I would like it gone. It is insulting to me.”

Stars are apologizing for their past use of blackface: This week Tina Fey, creator and star of the Emmy-winning sequence “30 Rock,” asked streaming services to remove four of the show’s episodes that function White actors in blackface. Fey apologized for the episodes and the “ache they’ve precipitated.”

Discuss present host Jimmy Kimmel and radio persona Howard Stern have additionally not too long ago addressed carrying blackface throughout previous TV sketches.

Persons are viewing long-established acts and exhibits by way of a brand new lens: Actuality exhibits about cops, together with “Live PD” and “Cops,” have been canceled over criticisms that they glorified police violence.

Whitehead, the Loyola professor, says she’s been revisiting exhibits like “Seinfeld” and “Mates,” which featured no main characters of coloration, with extra essential eyes.

“You take a look at this and assume, ‘The place are the Black characters on this present?’” she says. “How has this been OK?”

This revisionist considering has even prolonged to the names of musical acts. Nation music trios Woman Antebellum and the Dixie Chicks each modified their names this month.

Sure, issues are altering. However will it final?

That relies on who you ask. However cultural observers are cautiously optimistic.

Requested why popular culture appears to be changing into extra racially enlightened in latest weeks, Wes Jackson has a easy reply: cash.

The Emerson Faculty professor says enterprise executives regarded on the sheer breadth and variety of the George Floyd protesters and realized there was cash to be made.

“Somebody pulled out a spreadsheet and mentioned, ‘We higher get on the opposite facet of this,’” he says.

As educators, Jackson and Willmott, the Kansas professor, each say they’ve one more reason to be hopeful: their White college students, who respect Black tradition and do not tolerate racism of their leisure.

“These are White youngsters coming in right here, progressive and engaged,” Jackson says. “These are individuals who grew up on Obama and Beyoncé and Jay-Z. They’re like, ‘Yeah, in fact Black lives matter — when did they not?’”

Some students say they sense a seismic cultural shift concerning pop-culture portrayals of individuals of coloration. However others warning it is too quickly to say whether or not that is greater than only a fleeting second of media wokeness.

“We have now to be very cautious about saying that one second clearly represents a completely new shift in media,” says Rebecca Wanzo, an affiliate professor at Washington College in St. Louis who research African-American literature and tradition.

Wanzo sees the current second as only one in a sequence of historic moments by which activism has spurred folks to look at African-American artwork and literature that addresses oppression.

“There has by no means been a second, nor can I think about there’ll ever be … when everybody within the nation ‘wakes up’ to racism,” she provides. “The warfare towards antiblackness has lasted for hundreds of years, and it’s a sluggish chipping away.”

“The motion is doubtlessly thrilling, however the jury continues to be out on substantive change,” says Bridgette Baldwin, a professor of legislation at Western New England College who has studied the intersection of race and social justice. “A few of the change is being fueled by model administration within the want to look political but stay secure,” she provides.

“Proper now, cultural critics and Black figures are en vogue. Everybody needs to get the Black perspective and carry a ‘Black Lives Matter’ signal. However we’ll see if persons are nonetheless listening when the buildings cease burning.”

Some observers say that actual, lasting change when it comes to race and illustration in popular culture will solely occur when the leisure trade hires extra folks of coloration as writers, producers, administrators and showrunners.

As if to drive residence that time, greater than 300 Black actors, artists and executives, together with Issa Rae, Michael B. Jordan and Viola Davis, signed an open letter Tuesday urging Hollywood to “show Black Lives Matter” by now not telling tales that glorify police brutality and by investing in anti-racist content material and the careers of Black inventive figures.

“Resulting from Hollywood’s immense affect over politics and tradition, all the racism, discrimination and glass ceilings Black folks in Hollywood expertise regularly have direct implications on Black lives in every single place,” it says.

“…this offers us much less management over our narratives (and) continues the legacy of white supremacy’s affect over our tales.”

The reckoning is right here.

[echotunes]

[TRANSCRIPT (with links):

Here’s a mish-mash of several resources that could be useful at this time.

This site (communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory) has a directory to all the bail funds you can donate to.

Can’t donate? That’s okay, you can browse petitions at change.org. But keep in mind they’ll ask you to donate at the end and that’s the change.org, not the petition. Already signed? Share those petitions with friends and family.

Wanna educate yourself? 13th is a documentary by Ava DuVernay that can open your eyes to the issues with mass incarceration in the US, and that’s on Netflix (and YouTube). Honestly, there’s a lot of TV and film you can watch:

Just Mercy - can be rented

American Son - Netflix

Clemency - can be rented

Dear White People - Netflix

Fruitvale Station - can be rented

Queen and Slim - can be rented

LA 92 - Netflix

Rosewood - can be rented

Into cartoons and wanna support something fun with lots of Black representation? I highly recommend Kipo.

Here’s a handful of podcasts:

Code Switch

Still Processing

1619

Pod Save the People

Here’s some books to check out, and you can purchase them from some Black-owned book distributors:

Heavy: An American Memoir - Kiese Laymon

White Fragility - Robin DiAngelo

How We Fight White Supremacy - Akiba Solomon

How to Be Antiracist - Ibram X. Kendi

The New Jim Crow - Michelle Alexander

Ain’t I a Woman - Bell Hooks

The Niceties - Eleanor Burgess

Women, Race and Class - Angela Davis

Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston

Here’s but a fraction of the talented creators you can support on Twitter and YouTube:

MissDarcei - YouTube

Nyma Tang - YouTube

tiarra monet - YouTube

glambymykaila - Twitter

imani_barbarin - Twitter

aaronphilipxo - Twitter

Oneika the Traveller - YouTube

Chanel Ambrose - YouTube

The Budgetnista - YouTube

Jouelzy - YouTube

Nia the Light - YouTube

charlycheer - YouTube

Do some research into Black-owned businesses that you can support.

The app EatOkra helps locate Black-owned restaurants in your area.

If you have any helpful recommendations, please leave them in the comments. I’m still learning what I can do with my privilege, and I’m sure others are, too.

June, Pride Month, is a celebration of the gay rights movement. Stonewall, the thing that sparked the gay rights movement, was a riot against police brutality led by Latina and Black trans women.

People today are protesting for equity, which could lead to equality, and any route you can take helps. Stay in form, take breaks, stay safe, and stay strong.

End transcript.]

@lovegood-ravenclaw @five-falseh00ds-ph0nated

Just some resources if you need them! Thank you to my friends @dahlialiketheflower, Terrence, @tallykat3, and Quil for assisting! 💜