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It’s Not Enough to ‘Not Be Racist’. Be Anti-Racist.

It's not enough to not be racist. We need to be anti-racist

Co-writer – Tiffani Lee 

 

This past week has been weighing heavily on my heart. There were many moments when I didn’t know what to say or what to do. The hurt, pain, suffering and injustice we are seeing against the Black community makes me so upset and it would be wrong to stay silent. I know this is not something that I normally write about on my blog but this is MORE important than ever. 

The past week, social media and the news have been flooded with news of protests and conversations on race- specifically the systemic racism that lives on towards the Black community. On Instagram, many influencers and businesses have gone MUTE to their own content and instead using their platforms to lifting up the voices of our black brothers and sisters. 

With my platform, I hope that I can amplify Black voices and continue to educate myself and others on our own internal biases and how we can support those who need it most. 

This has been a time where I’ve personally found myself actively searching and researching on black owned companies, black influencers, causes supporting the black community and watching/listening to videos and movies on racism towards black people. My heart aches, my eyes are open and I’m absorbing as much as I can. 

Like many of you, this week has been a moment of reflecting on my own privilege. I’m an Asian female and despite being a person of colour, I’m not exempt from turning a blind eye or unknowingly a part of racist behavior.

In the past week, I’ve exposed myself to articles on racism that is ingrained into Asian households, the danger of the ‘model minority’ culture and yes, as an Asian, we are exposed to racism, BUT this is a time to stand for the black community. 

Through this week, and as the conversation and learning continues past this moment, 

 

You may be wondering, 

 

How can I help? 

 

I’m not sure what I can do? 

 

Or you may be feeling uncomfortable about speaking up about this when you may not be Black or a person of colour. 

I understand your fear but I also challenge you to reflect on why you feel that way. I’ve also felt like a fraud at times but this is a time to educate yourself and do what you can within the circles that you are a part of. 

These are tough conversations and we can’t have them alone. Now, where do we go from here? As social feeds go back to ‘regular programming’ and as the media slowly reverts back to other worldly issues, 

 

How can we show our support for the Black Lives Matter Movement, our Black brothers and sisters and that we stand with them continually? 

 

Get Educated About the Black Lives Matter Movement and Listen

 

If you don’t know much about anti-racism work and the Black Lives Matter Movement, I encourage you to research and get educated. I didn’t know much either and it has honestly been such a learning experience for me. 

 

But the learning doesn’t stop when the *trend to learn* stops, 

 

There are so many resources out there from amazing BIPOC people who are experts in the matter that we can all learn from. Whether you’re a reader, listener, or Netflix kind of person, there are resources and materials we can all absorb to better understand our own biases and how we can work towards understanding and empathy. 

 

Here is a list of resources I’ve been using, including many that have been shared around social media from the Black community and the Black Lives Matters Movement. I’ve also included specific resources for my community, as Asians, we need to show our solidarity as well.

 

Movies and Shows:

 

  • When They See Us (Netflix) 
  • 13th (Netflix) 
  • American Son (Netflix) 
  • Selma (Hulu) 
  • Dear White People (Netflix) 
  • The Hate U Give (Amazon Prime) 
  • If Beale Street Could Talk (Hulu)

 

Books:

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston 
  • Heavy: An American Memoir – Kiese Laymon 
  • I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou 
  • White Fragility – Robin Diangelo 
  • So You Want To Talk About Race – Ljeoma Oluo 
  • Why People of Colour Need Spaces Without White People – Kelsey Blackwell 

 

Podcasts:

  • All My Relations 
  • New York Times 1619 
  • Intersectionality Matters with Kimberlé Crenshaw
  • NPR’s Code Switch
  • Angela Glover Blackwell’s Radical Imagination 

 

Resources for my Asian Allies:

 

Some Notable IG Accounts to Follow on the Black Lives Matter Movement:

 

Don’t forget to share these resources with your networks as well. You can use the Instagram templates below to share on your social networks!

 

Encourage each other to use these resources to educate and use them to spark discussions together. Difficult conversations need to happen if we are going to make changes. 

 

Most importantly, listen to your friends and family who are a part of the Black community. As allies, we need to make this not about ourselves. They have experienced this first hand and we need to listen to their feelings, their experiences and their thoughts. We also need to understand that we will NEVER understand what it’s like. Support through listening. 

 

Take Action With Your Words, Presence and Wallet

 

While it is great to educate each other and start discussions, we also need to encourage one another to take real action. Whether it’s signing petitions, writing letters to the government, volunteering with anti-racism organizations, there is something you can do to help. 

 

For those who are able, consider donating to Black organizations who are doing the groundwork to support the cause and supplying important resources for them. There are also many groups to donate to that help with legal fees and bail for those who have been wrongly detained. 

 

While this is not a full list of petitions and organizations, these are ones I have seen from other allies and my Black community being shared. Please do your own research as well: 

 

Organizations To Donate To And Learn From:

 

Petitions To Sign To Make Your Voice Heard

 

 

Places And People To Call Or Write To:

  • Text FLOYD to 55-156
  • Text JUSTICE to 66-8336
  • Text ENOUGH to 55-165
  • Governor Tim Walz (612-201-3400)
  • Mayor Jacob Frey (612-348-3550)
  • Police Chief Arendondo (612-673-3550)
  • Minneapolis PD (612-673-3000)
  • MPD of Int’l Affairs (612-673-3074)
  • Minneapolis Dept of Civil Rights (612-348-3550)
  • Mike Freeman (612-348-3550)
  • Leave a message for Louisville Mayor and demand justice for Breonna Taylor 502-574-2003
  • Email: police@minneapolismn.gov
  • Email policereview@minneapolismn.gov
  • Email Your Local Government Representatives Demanding Change

 

Here Is What You Can Say:

Many black-owned small businesses are often more vulnerable financially than others. In times like this, it can be even more difficult to stay afloat. We can also support the Black community by supporting their businesses. 

 

Again, these are some businesses and companies other allies and Black brothers and sisters have shared. This is not an exhaustive list and I encourage you to do your research and find some Black-owned businesses in your community. 

 

I live in Vancouver, BC and many of these are from my local area: 

 

 

If You Can’t Donate At This Time:

 

Times are hard right now for many of us and I understand not everyone is in the position to donate. 

Instead, take the time to start conversations, sign petitions and raise awareness! It’s just as important to educate yourselves and others as we support the Black community.

 

—

 

I am still working on recognizing and acknowledging my own privilege and bias. I am still working on doing better, being better and being more informed about these serious issues. 

 

Join me in educating yourself and practicing love, empathy, and understanding. 

 

This is not the time to stand down or ignore the facts we are being shown each day; it is time to STAND UP. 

 

We need to do better. I truly believe we can as long as we do it together. 

 

To my Black brothers and sisters, I understand that I will never understand. However, I stand with you, I support you, and I am here to listen. I will do what I can to speak out against injustice and be your ally. 

 

In Solidarity, 

 

Sam

Black Lives Matter

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