Here’s How You Can Still Educate Yourself On The #BlackLivesMatter Movement

Aanya Khan
Linens N Love
Published in
7 min readJul 19, 2020

In the United States and many other countries, Black people have lived through a long history of racial marginalization, injustice and senseless, institutionalized violence. This is not their battle to fight alone. Here’s how you can help in the fight for equality and worldwide racial justice.

Surely, media coverage of the nationwide #BlackLivesMatter protests may have fizzled down, but racism has not ended overnight.

Image provided by The Economist

Become An Ally to the Black Lives Matter Movement

George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor.

Only a month ago, these four human beings were stripped of their lives due to no reason but the mere color of their skin. They follow countless before them.

This is not a phenomenon.

It’s only just now, thanks to the likes of modern technology, cameras, and social media, that the wider world is bearing witness to the horrors that Black people face on a daily basis.

It has to stop.

It is time for us to all step up and show our solidarity and support. We need to listen, learn, and act. Black people should not have to be in this fight all alone. This is a movement that requires all of us.

Remember, this is a movement, not a moment.

Educating yourself on racial inequity and injustice can help eradicate blind spots and bias while becoming more empathetic and globally aware.

If you want to help, but are unsure, here’s a good jumping-off point. A few sources have been compiled below which we can all use to become better allies of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement.

Image provided by The Scotsman

1. Acknowledge Your Blind Spots

We all have implicit biases — and it’s okay to admit it! However, civilization is about working against our baser instincts and not towards them. We will not be able to change our prejudices until we address that we have them in the first place.

Harvard’s Project Implicit allows you to take a series of tests to see where your unconscious biases lie — the test looks at race, gender, weight, age, disability as well as sexuality.

Learn about what it means to have racial privilege (often coined as “white privilege”). Courtney Yahn does an excellent job of breaking down the basics of white privilege. You should also be able to understand the covert forms of white supremacy that you may not even know you are engaging in. Here is a powerful guide to get you started. If any of these terms appear to look unfamiliar to you — do make sure to look them up. Educating yourself relies solely on you.

Images provided by Amazon

2. READ!

There are some incredible resources out there. From the in-depth history of the deep-rooted stem of racial injustice in the United States to guides on what you can do right now. Here’s a good place to start:

  1. “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander

This book has been endlessly cited as one of the top reads on the widespread discrimination against black people in the criminal justice system. Legal scholar Michelle Alexander speaks to how Black men were targeted during the War on Drugs, and how the justice system has been decimating Black communities.

2. “Policing the Black Man: Arrest, Prosecution, and Imprisonment” by Angela Davis

The essays in this book cover all topics related to racial injustice — from statistics and analysis of the disproportionate killings of Black men to testimonies from those who saw it first hand. As Davis states in her conclusion, “Black men aren’t the only people mistreated by police, but they do have a unique relationship with them.” The essays in this book unravel that relationship. Although reading essays may not sound interesting to you, this one’s surely teaching readers more about how policies and the attitudes from the past and present harm Black men today.

3. “Between The World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates

This book is written in the form of a letter from author Ta-Nehisi Coates to his young son, detailing the history of Black People in the United States — from the Civil War to the South Side of Chicago — and answering questions like, “What is it like to inhabit, and live with, a black body?”

A scene from “When They See Us” by director Ava DuVernay / Image provided by Forbes

3. Not a Fan of Reading? Watch Something!

There are plenty of resources to get learning. Emmy-Nominee Ava DuVernay has launched ARRAY101, a companion to her Netflix series, “When They See Us” about New York’s Exonerated Five. The project provides learning materials to help viewers understand the prison system and systematic injustice.

Another great way to learn about injustices in the criminal justice system would be to watch the Netflix Original, “13th”. This documentary touched upon the shocking institutionalization of Black men in prisons during the War on Drugs and more.

Many recent podcasts are having important conversations about racial injustices in the United States. “1619” is a great one to look into. In 1619, a ship carrying enslaved Africans arrived upon the coast of Virginia. This was just the beginning of 250 years of slavery. The New York Times and journalist Nikole Hannah Jones tell the story of the roots of slavery in America.

Image provided by Medium

4. Songs To Listen To

Don’t restrict yourself to learning through only written or visual forms of work. Music is a great way to lay back and relax while educating yourself in only a few minutes. Here are some songs that express Black culture, heritage, and racial injustice by Black artists.

  1. The Blacker The Berry by Kendrick Lamar
  2. New Slaves by Kanye West
  3. Americans by Janelle Monae
  4. XXX. by Kendrick Lamar feat. U2
  5. Letter To The Free by Common
  6. Black Rage by Lauryn Hill
  7. Freedom by Beyoncé
  8. Changes by 2pac ft. Talent
  9. This is America by Childish Gambino

5. Do More… Donate If You Can

A lot of organizations and groups are doing amazing work in galvanizing the public to take action on issues of race. Here are just a few to name:

Let Us Breathe Fund was created in the wake of the murder of Eric Garner. They provide funds to Black and multiracial organizations fighting structural violence and racism in New York City.

Equal Justice Initiative works to provide legal representation to those wrongly convicted or unfairly sentenced.

Black Youth Project 100 is a national organization consisting of Black 18–35-year-olds working towards racial justice through direct-action organizing, advocacy, and political education.

6. Petitions, Petitions, Petitions!

Petitions are the best way to bring supporters together, raise the organization’s profiles, and increase impact. Petitions are one of the oldest forms of advocacy and continue to have real sway with the powers that be. If you are unable to donate — signing a couple of petitions — which only takes a matter of minutes — would be a great alternative to fight for change from even the comfort of your own home.

Here are few petitions that you can sign now using this BlackLivesMatter.Carrd link

A Reminder…

Remember, Black people face aggressions daily. Seeing the state of affairs lately will, understandably, take a mental health toll. Check-in with your friends. Make sure they are doing OK. Be a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen when needed.

Be careful when sharing images and videos. Seeing visuals of violence can be triggering and insensitive to many. Take care to be sure you are helping, not hurting.

By taking the time to read up on resources and educate yourself, you are already taking care to be a beneficial, thoughtful, and well-educated ally. Go you!

Now, take action.

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Edited by Rena Watanabe, Director of Research Bloggers

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