Dive Deeper: Pain, Protest, 7 Actions

This past weekend has highlighted the fact that as a country we have never deeply examined ourselves or successfully deconstructed our organizations and institutions so that we can rebuild them to be anti-racist. The concerns and issues and emotions and pain and fear and anger are not new. They have been here since before the founding of this nation.

#BlackLivesMatter, #BlackLivesMatter, #BlackLivesMatter

Today June 1st is the first day of Pride month and I was planning on sharing a whole list of pride activities you might do each day, but taking into account the current moment I am changing my list to more fully highlight the African American experience.

(Note I am White and live in Chicago so if African Americans in your local community have different suggestions go with those, they have a better idea of what is needed to be done)

This list starts with opportunities offered by an organization I am apart of the Lighthouse Foundation which advances justice for Black LGBTQ+ individuals (And come from a friend's Facebook post). Since these are virtual opportunities even if you are not in Chicago you can join.

Listening to cultivate empathy & action:

The first, on June 6, is about using pandemic experience to cultivate empathy & action. It's interactive and midway breaks into 3 groups based on whether you're there in a personal capacity, on behalf of a faith community, or with a nonprofit. https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZIqcuGuqDMpH9MCZk5PoDm1HVyOG...

White Ally/Anti-Racism Training:

And June 20 is the return of our White Ally Training, led again by Smash (who is just so, so great)--this time called Anti-Racism for White Folks. For both of these, advance registration is required. They're both free. https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_HftJG_gDS8W3lqEBy1b-hg

Supporting Black nonprofits/organizations:

We've also set up a mutual aid fund: Lighthouse Foundation is distributing $100 grants to black LGBTQ+ people in Chicagoland who have encountered difficult times due to COVID-19 and the ramifications of white supremacist violence. If you're not sure what to do for Pride month, make this part of it. https://actionnetwork.org/.../black-queer-mutual-aid.../

Donating to bond funds:

And as always, support your local bond fund. Here's Chicago's. https://www.facebook.com/lightfoundchi/posts/878244652581042

Researching local politics:

Look up the public statements made by your local officials. Look up the budget of your police force, where the money is coming from, and if there have been any recent issues with their behavior.  Also, look at how resources are divided up within your community to see if some neighborhoods are benifiting more than others.

Learning the story of African Americans:

If you do not feel you understand the context of the pain that is erupting right now in our country it is your responsibility to put in the time and energy to learn that context.

• Listen to black media
• Learn the stories of blacks who have been killed by police or former police officers
• Learn the names of Trans Women of Color who have been killed
• Listen to full speeches by Martin Luther King Jr or Malcome X etc
• Read books such as The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

Get out of the way:

Finally, if an African American speaks to their experience know they know their own experience the best. Do not talk over them. Do not think you know their experience better than they do. Do not expect them to respond to their context in the same way you respond to your own. Instead of thinking you know better or having something to teach them simply ask questions such as where would you like me, what would you like me to do, and offer material or financial resources if asked.