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Kirstjen

Veteran

I'm just going to put this here for others who may be interested.

75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice

https://medium.com/equality-in.....d18b0e0234

Many things on the list are about educating yourself.

5 years ago

Off Topic

10 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

rachylou

Veteran

It’s a pretty good link. I lived 15 years in a black neighborhood. It was quite mind blowing to experience the depth and breadth of systemic racism. It plays out in the most unimaginable, detailed little ways that pile up into a mountain.

5 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

I've been checking out these lists, and have started reading some of the books. My addiction, my time spent in the criminal justice system, even my time in 12 step recovery... all of these things opened my eyes more than the abstract concepts in a book. And yet I am reading Deray Mckesson's book, with others on my reading list, because these stories need to be heard. These authors deserve my dollars. I am committed to donating to bail funds every time I get paid until such time as bail funds for protestors are no.longer needed.

I'm starting to investigate black owned brands to support with my dollars, and I'm noticing which brands are putting their money where their mouths are. The day will come when i am able to join a protest in my own area, and i am more than willing to put my white body on the line between police and protesters.

And yet, all of this feels so inadequate. Nothing i could ever do would ever be enough to make up for the generational trauma, sadness, and exhaustion that people of color have lived for so long.

5 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks for posting this.

Cindysmith, bail funds are so important—unforgivable that we have debtors’ prisons.

5 years ago

suzieq

Active Member

I wish to write a letter to our elected officials about systemic racism in the criminal justice system. The thing is, I want my letter to be jam packed with substance, but I’m not a great writer. Is there a sample letter somewhere that I could use as a guide?

5 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

I reiterate the suggestion of Howard Zinn's Peoples History of the United States. I am not a history buff and was initially daunted by the thickness but I found it quite engaging.

Also, the suggestion of Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow. She put together a lot of fragments I already knew into one compelling read. Nearly as good if you learn better visually is Ava Duvernay's 13th. I think it is on Netflix.

Another shout out for Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility.

I did not really grasp life under Jim Crow until I read Isabel Wilkerson's The Warmth of Other Suns which traces black migration from the South. Beautifully written.

5 years ago

Sal

Veteran

We can all look at ourselves and the practical things we can do to learn and help and make things better for black people.

I find it challenging not being American - with a different history - and I worry I get the terms wrong. Here it is mostly our Maori and Pasifika communities that have unsafer lives and worse health, education and employment opportunities. And our immigrant communities such as Somali, Syrian and Fijian Indian.

5 years ago

Kirstjen

Veteran

I recently read White Fragility too, and I highly recommend it. I also read Ibram X. Kendi's book Stamped from the Beginning, partly because I am an historian by education. It was interesting and I learned a lot, but it was dense and probably would be off-putting by the average reader. I have a lot of the other books on my reading list.

5 years ago

jasmine

Active Member

Another recommendation for White Fragility.

5 years ago

Kirstjen

Veteran

@suzieq, I found this website on how to write letters to your elected officials.

https://www.lobbyists4good.org.....zkQAvD_BwE

I think you can perhaps follow that structure, and then just write from your heart. Maybe pick one issue and write about it - for instance, decriminalizing marijuana or supporting affirmative action.

5 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thank you for sharing.

5 years ago

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