The last week has been filled with heavy hearts and hopelessness. What can WE do?? What concrete actions can WE take?? It's really easy to feel small amidst the national struggle. I am working on my own action plan and thought I'd share some thoughts on concrete ways white people can support marginalized communities. Many of us have taken to posting on Facebook or wearing safety pins to show our solidarity or signing any and every change.org petition. While all of those things certainly can't hurt the cause, it's important that we step up and do more. But what?
Get Involved: Fighting for social justice is not a new thing. There are many organizations doing this work already. If you are unsure where to start, consider connecting with an established group. SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) organizes white people for racial justice, while collaborating with local and national racial justice organizing efforts. They are a national network with local chapters in several major cities. Consider attending a local chapter meeting, or if they aren't in your area connect via social media or sign up for their newsletters. They regularly send out action steps that I've found very useful.
Give Money: Consider donating money to the things you care about that may be at risk. Worried about women's rights? Give to Planned Parenthood. Support Black Lives Matter? Buy a yard sign (just make sure it's from an official BLM affiliate, don't waste your money on internet sellers). Concerned about the climate? Donate to Sierra Club. A couple of great local organizations that I've offered my financial support to are Neighborhoods Organizing for Change and Headwaters Foundation for Justice. Search for organizations led by marginalized voices and show that you support their mission and organizing efforts. Want to be a super contributor? Organizations like these thrive on sustaining gifts, consider giving an affordable amount every month. These recurring payments make a big impact on their bottom lines.
Protest: There are a lot of opinions out there about how effectual protests and marches are. I personally think protests draw attention to the issues and open dialogues, but at the very least I'll tell you this - When you are feeling a little alone, a little small and a little helpless joining a protest can be a powerful reminder of why this work is important. Let's be honest, fighting for social justice can be depressing work. Standing in unity with thousands of others for a common cause is loving feeling, a unifying feeling and a motivating feeling. A protest can lift your spirits and reinvigorate your soul to do even more.
Listen: It is so important that we are listening and hearing the voices of the people we aim to support. Be receptive to their feelings and their experiences. We have to take the supportive role here. We don't get to tell, project or assume the reality of a person of color. I'd also challenge white people to find more voices to listen to. What does your social media feed look like? Do you follow any Muslim voices? Are following any LGBTQ voices? How about Native American voices? Actively seek out new and differing perspectives from your own. Here are a few of good follows: Shaun King @ShaunKing, Deray McKesson @deray, Everyday Feminism @EvrydayFeminism, Linda Sarsour @lsarsour, Unicorn Riot @UR_Ninja, Ljeoma Oluo @IjeomaOluo, Sopan Deb @SopanDeb.
Tell Your Legislature: Make your voice heard and write, call, or even tweet your local lawmakers to ask their stance and present your views on the issues that matter most to you. You can find your elected officials HERE. Remember, they are representing you, so let your voice be heard!
Find A White Ally: There is a lot of dialogue right now that can be difficult to unpack alone. Find a white ally to have these tough conversations with. Challenge one another's thinking and push each other to dig even deeper. It is our job to investigate our own white privilege. It is not the job of the POCs in our lives to educate us, this is work we need to do for ourselves.
Talk To Your White Friends And Family: With the upcoming holidays, there will be plenty of opportunity for conversation. Find a way to talk through problematic or divisive language in a loving way. Unsure how to do that? Practice! Maybe role play with that white ally of yours. We need to find ways to educate each other without blame or generalizations. It's important we find the words to point out bias rhetoric without going to the extreme and labeling each other as racists. So maybe avoid having this conversation at the dinner table with the whole family as witness, and instead pull your loved one aside later in a safe place and the two of you have a heart to heart without spectacle. Prejudice actions end when prejudice thinking ends. Some of us are further down the path of acceptance than others, so let's try to educate and connect through love.
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