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Black Lives Matter — Resources For Revolution

Elsie
Commons Transition
Published in
9 min readJun 30, 2020

Written 5th June 2020

I’m pretty sure if you’re receiving this you will be aware of what’s going on in the US and around the world right now, where the Black community are peacefully demonstrating for their civil rights and lives in the wake of the recent murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Nina Pop, George Floyd and Tony McDade and thousands of others before them at the hands of police and white supermacy. It’s certainly not new, but unlike the cases that have gone before, in the US and other countries around the world, it seems like white people and the mainstream are finding it harder than ever to ignore.

I’m not going to say anything else this week, other than expressing the fiercest love, solidarity and action with the Black community, people of colour and all those protesting; calling and fighting to dismantle white supremacy and oppressive systems everywhere — it’s the most important work we can do.

I share below non-exhaustive lists of resources for, primarily the Black community, but also people of colour and indigenous people who might find them useful to support self-care, community care and action in these times.

I also share other non-exhaustive lists of ways that primarily white people, but also non-Black people the world over can support the Black community at this time and forever more; with resources, care and taking action to educate ourselves and begin to dismantle white supremacy in ourselves and our communities; a practice for life. Even those of us who ‘think we’re not racist’ have serious work to do — we all benefit and are complicit in these systems and we must be actively anti-racist. Luckily, there are hundreds of years of books, writings, recordings, videos, docs, speeches and now videos, podcasts, content creators who have done so much work and emotional labour to create resources that can help with this. Those below are literally the very bare minimum — please do your own research.

With deepest respect and admiration,

Elsie

Self care, healing and joy for the Black community

For organising

Actions

Places to donate

There are several places to support the movement, communities and people financially. Please check before you donate — things are changing rapidly and some groups that are receiving funding are asking it to be spread around.

Alternatively, you can watch this video to support the movement without money, which uses the advertising revenue. You can also research Black-led groups, communities, campaigns and people to support in your own country, town or area and support Black-owned businesses.

Articles, docs and videos

Books and collated reading lists

Also a note that if you’re buying books on Amazon that they have just price gouged books by Black authors because they know it’s profitable right now so avoid if possible (via Aja Barber). Support your local bookshop!

  • Do the work: an anti-racist reading list by Layla Saad in The Guardian
  • An illustrated list by Jane Mount
  • @Rachel.Cargle Community POC Reading Recommendations
  • Revolution Reading List from Elizabeth’s bookshop and writing centre
  • Me and White Supremacy: How to Recognise Your Privilege, Combat Racism and Change the World by Layla Saad
  • Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
  • Antagonist, Advocates and Allies: The Wake Up Call Guide for White Women Who Want to Become Allies with Black Women by Catrice Jackson
  • White Spaces Missing Faces: Why Women of Color Don’t Trust White Women by Catrice Jackson
  • How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
  • The Good Immigrant by Nikesh Shukla
  • Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women White Feminists Forgot by Mikki Kendall
  • Don’t Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri
  • Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
  • Black and British by David Olusoga
  • Natives by Akala
  • White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
  • Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney
  • This Bridge Called my Back by Rosario Morales
  • Back to Black by Kehinde Andrew’s
  • Thomas Sankara Speaks
  • Black Skin, White Masks by Franz Fanon
  • The Wretched of the Earth by Franz Fanon
  • James Baldwin book list (via Oprah)

And loads of incredible fiction books by authors like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Maya Angelou, Octavia Butler, Toni Morrison, Chinua Achebe and many many more. It only takes a quick search.

Authors, writers, orgs and educators (with an online presence)

If you choose to follow and access their work — please respect their energy, time and boundaries (which are usually clearly stated), please also support them financially and amplify their voices

BlackLivesMatter
Racism
White Supremacy
Equity
Justice

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Elsie
Commons Transition

Written by Elsie

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