What Can White Allies Do to Support the Protests and People of Color?
The George Floyd Protest in Boulder, CO 05/30/20
I’ve spent a chunk of my day looking for ways to support the George Floyd protesters, Black Lives Matter, and people of color. Because, between the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter/George Floyd protests, and the total and utter lack of leadership coming from our president on any front, it seems disingenuous to write about romance right now (much as I know we’re all going to need a HEA at some point soon).
So, I’ve included links to some excellent resources below.
I’m no expert on any of this, though I’ve been doing my best to educate myself on racism and bias and white supremacy and how I’ve been complicit. Hopefully these links will be helpful to you too.
Peacefully protesting–and learning–in Boulder, Colorado
First, though, I want to share a few impactful statements from one of the speakers at the peaceful protest held on Saturday here in Boulder, Colorado. Boulder is a mostly white, mostly affluent, mostly well-educated small city of about 100,000 in its own liberal bubble. Yet roughly 500 people turned up downtown and marched almost 3 miles through town, chanting and carrying signs.
Maurice Cox, a black man from nearby Louisville, spoke most eloquently about how his wife holds him tighter now every time he leaves his home. How every time a cop passes him in his car he wonders if it’ll be him today. How he lives in a separate reality from the people in Boulder most worried about when the stock market will rebound.
Here are a few of his poignant and powerful words on what white allies can do to help:
“I wanted you to know that the people of color who walk in this community as marginalized people walk around in another America facing other trauma that you will never have to experience. But we will never be at the dinner table with your racist uncle. We will never be at be at the kitchen table with your spouse who says something like, ‘those blacks’ or ‘those (racial slur),’ but you’re there. The places that you occupy and take up space — you need to say something. Do something! It’s going to cost you that friendship … it may cost your job. But guess what? It’s been costing our lives.”
White supremacy, the patriarchy, and everything that comes with is a white problem. It’s up to us to own it and do everything we can to fix it.
Things You Can Do to Support the Black Lives Matter Movement, POC, and Ending Police Brutality
Support Authors of Color
As an author, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that you should buy books and leave reviews for authors of color. Not sure where to find said books? Here are a few lists:
https://bookriot.com/2019/01/08/a-book-by-a-woman-and-or-aoc/
https://bookriot.com/2019/02/21/read-harder-2019-an-historical-romance-by-an-author-of-color/
https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/aoc
Protest
If you are willing and able to protest, you might check out this article from VICE on how to protest safely in the time of Coronavirus.
Donate, Support, Get Involved
Donate to organizations that proved bail and legal assistance to incarcerated protesters, call your local, state, and national legislators and demand police reform.
https://www.obama.org/anguish-and-action/ The Obama Organization is a great resource if you want to get educated, find more ways to take action and donate, and connect to social justice organizations.
https://apple.news/A7EO3tgpsTLu672RKH67mfg Here you can find links to donate to a fund to help George Floyd’s family cover funeral costs, where you can donate to organizations working to end police brutality, how you can help with post-protest cleanup, and more.
Since the Minnesota Freedom Fund and Brooklyn Bail Fund recently started asking donors to give to other non-profits due to an outpouring of donations, they also list some other great options.
Know of any other useful resources? Please do share in the comments below…
Comments
Leave a Reply
*
Be the first to comment.