As a white person in the United States, it’s easy for me to stay silent – if I wanted to. That’s my privilege. But I don’t want to, for many reasons. For the future of our country, for the Black and Brown students that I teach, for the lives that have been lost for no reason, for social justice, and for a future of equity.
It’s not fair or just that I can enter a store without worrying that someone is watching me. It’s not fair or just that I can be pulled over for speeding and not fear for my life. It’s not fair or just that I can go days without thinking about the color of my skin.
100% of the 5th graders that I teach on a daily basis are Black and LatinX. Everything I do affects my kids, everything I say affects my kids. And for them, and many other Black people who have suffered, teaching them is not enough. It is SO crucial that I use my privilege, my knowledge, and anything I can do to fight for social justice.
I understand we are all on our own paths to learning about the systemic racism in our country’s history. But I challenge you to stop turning your backs to the difficult conversations, our dark history, and on the turmoil happening as I write this. Make yourself uncomfortable, because it IS uncomfortable. Make yourself learn…because there is SO much to learn that you were never taught in school. Do something.
And if I haven’t convinced you yet, below is a text I received today from one of my students.
“I’m kind of scared of what’s going on to black people š I was crying yesterday night after I saw something on social media. I will show you.”
She’s 10. Do. Something.
Below is a list of ways you can take action. If you are unsure of what to say, donate. If you are unsure of how to learn, read.
Donate.
- Color of Change
- Minnesota Freedom Fund
- My Brother’s Keeper Alliance
- Brooklyn Community Bail Fund
- George Floyd’s Go Fund Me
- Black Visions Collective
- Reclaim the Block
- Project Safe Philly
- Baltimore Action Legal Team
- The Massachusetts Bail Fund
- Unicorn Riot
These are just a few places to donate, and just a starting list if you are unsure where to look. If you want to donate to a local organization, all you have to do is Google your location and “donate to black lives matter.”
Learn & Reflect.
- Check your white privilege here.
- Take the implicit association test.
- Learn from others:
- @laylafsaad
- @rachel.cargle
- @gracefvictory
- @ohhappydani
- @theconsciouskid
Read.
- Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- So you Want to Talk about RaceĀ by Ijeoma Oluo
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of ColorblindnessĀ by Michelle Alexander
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About RacismĀ by Robin DiAngelo, PhD
- I Know Why the Caged Bird SingsĀ by Maya Angelou
- How To Be An AntiracistĀ by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
Listen.
Watch.
- When They See Us –Netflix
- 13th – Netflix
- Dear White People – Netflix
- The Hate U Give –Hulu
This is just a starting list if you are lost and aren’t sure what to do right now. There are so many other things you should be doing.
Vote. Have difficult conversations. Sign a petition. Protest. Support Black businesses. Fight for social justice.
For even more resources on social justice, check out the Anti-Racism Google Doc.
Dani, thank you for sharing, especially these excellent resources. There is so much that each of us can learn and do. You are right that we can and have to do so much better.
Author
of course! i am so glad you read and appreciate these resources!