Fellow White People, Especially White Queers — These Are Some Anti-Racist Learning Links
by Alyssa Sileo
As white people who are anti-racism, it is our responsibility to share resources with each other by authors, artists, and activists of color. This moment of history is marked by uprisings of black communities for the fight for liberation, and it is imperative to focus on learning from those same black communities. On this LGBTQ+ blog, I would be remiss in neglecting to adding in this introduction, during these early days of Pride Month that any and all rights that the LGBTQ+ community enjoys in this country are thanks to the uprising of black queer and trans women during the Stonewall Rebellion. White people, if we consider ourselves LGBTQ+ activists and allies, we must do the work to be an ally and accomplice to black and African American people in their demonstrations and resistance. Any act short of that is not only dishonoring Marsha P. Johnson, Stormé DeLarverie, Miss Major, and countless others, but is more so…just not doing the right thing.
If you don’t know where to start, do not ask for the free emotional labor of black folks in your lives to explain it all to you. It’s our job as white people to seek out the education that is readily available in multiple mediums.
These resources I am going to outline are all free, and are focused on targeting anti-blackness, colonialism, and imperialism. They are created by black authors, or are products of collaboration that center black authors.
- Revolution Playlist — consisting of speeches, addresses, and songs written/inspired by Black Freedom Fighters and Activists, curated by Rachel Cargle.
- “Do The Work” anti-racism series provided by Rachel Cargle, with a sign up link here.
- “Experiences Embodied in Language and Flesh,” from the Cite Black Women Podcast (S2E4) narrated by Michaela Machicote with an interview with Dr. Dora Santana.
- “What is the Meaning of Justice?,” performed by Khaleb Brooks.
- “A Decade of Watching Black People Die,” featured on NPR’s podcast Code Switch, narrated by Gene Demby and featuring the writing of Jamil Smith.
These resources are free for the purpose of getting your education in as quickly as possible, but the labor of black people is not free. Invest in these authors’ work. Their websites or social media are hyperlinked with their names. Thank them for their work.
About the Author:
Alyssa Sileo’s Thespian identity comes first and foremost in anything she carries out. As a member of the Drew University Class of 2022, she studies theatre arts, women’s and gender studies, and Spanish. She’s a proud NJ Thespian Alumni and member of their state chapter board. She is the leader of the international performances network The Laramie Project Project, which unites worldwide productions and readings of the acclaimed Tectonic Theater Project play and encourages community-based LGBTQ+ advocacy. Alyssa is humbled to serve as the 2017 Spirit of Matthew Award winner and as a Youth Ambassador for Matthew Shepard Foundation. She believes there is an advocacy platform tucked into every piece of the theatre catalogue and intends to write outreach into the canon.
