5 Ways to Make a Valuable Contribution to Black Lives Matter if You Don't Know Where to Start
credit: @flattopphotography
It goes without saying (although it has become apparent that indeed, it has to be said) that the global black community endures a collective trauma at the hands of the police. The tragic murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has once again illuminated the issue of police brutality against black men and women in America, igniting a scourge of protests in every one of its 50 states and prompting overwhelming displays of solidarity echoed throughout the rest of the world.
The injustice that is Floyd's death is not an isolated incident, but instead a reflection of far too many stories that are fatally similar: for black people in America, an interaction with the police could very likely leave them dead. In fact, Black Americans are two and a half times more likely to die at the hands of the police than their white counterparts.
At the core of Black Lives Matter is the aim to dismantle the oppressive structures that have a complete and utter disregard for the value of black life in the United States. It is a deeply rooted and multi-faceted issue, one which includes the police but also extends to the government, relies on mass incarceration, infiltrates the workplace, and seeps into every other facet of life that makes it dangerous for black people to leave their homes every day hoping to make it back in one piece.
If this is news to you, welcome. But we need your help.
1.Open Your Purse
A revolution requires some serious funding. The masses are speaking up against billion-dollar corporations as well as the American government-all in the midst of a global pandemic that is disproportionately killing black people in the US. From reparations, to bail funds and securing college funding for the children of the black men and women who have died at the hands of police, here are some important causes that could use your money:
Run by the brother of Mr. Floyd, this fund is set out to “cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist our family in the days to come as we continue to seek justice for George. A portion of these funds will also go to the Estate of George Floyd for the benefit and care of his children and their educational fund.”
Say Her Name is an extension of the African American Police Forum that advocates for black women who fall victim to criminal injustice and police brutality in the United States. It highlights the susceptibility of black women to police violence and seeks justice for the families of black women who lost their lives in police custody.
Founded by three black women (Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi) in 2013 and initially as a response to the death of Travon Martin, The Black Lives Matter movement is in its seventh year, and has remained at the forefront of advocating for the true liberation of black people from the systematic oppression under a racist country, rooted in both slavery and white supremacy.
“We appreciate your support of the movement and the ongoing fight to end state-sanctioned violence, liberate Black people, and end white supremacy forever.“
Bail Funds for Protestors
This Bail Fund provides a comprehensive list of where you can donate to cover the bail of people who have been arrested at Black Lives Matter protests across the United States. It provides and updated, by city list in conjunction with the National Bail Fund Network to ensure that the people who are fighting the good fight are able to get back to advocating for black lives as soon as possible.
2. Sign Your Name
credit: Shirien Damra
One of the most simple (and not to be undervalued) ways of contributing to the Black Lives Matter movement is to sign the petitions that are at the forefront of demanding justice for the countless black lives that have been lost as a result of police violence and brutality.
Petitions hold great value in bringing about change. It is a tangible representation of just how many people stand behind the humanization of black bodies and who have added their name to the list of people who are seriously advocating for the black community. Moreso, it is an essential component of holding oppressive structures, and those who enforce them accountable for the loss and damage to black lives and livelihoods.
“On February 23, 2020, 25 year-old Ahmaud Arbery was chased and gunned down while jogging by Travis McMichael, son of retired Brunswick investigator Greg McMichael, under the father’s and son’s pretenses of witnessing a burglary in Satilla Shores of Glynn County.”
“Breonna Taylor was an award-winning EMT and model citizen. She loved her family and community. She worked at two hospitals as an essential worker during the pandemic.
[On March 13th 2020], a division of the Louisville Police Department performed an illegal, unannounced drug raid on her home. Not a single officer announced themselves before ramming down her door and firing 22 shots, shooting Breonna 8 times, killing her.
Not only were the police at the WRONG HOUSE, but the man they were looking for had already been arrested earlier that day.”
“George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. George was handcuffed and restrained and being completely cooperative when this all went down. The officer put his knee on George’s neck choking him while George screamed that he could not breathe. Bystanders begged for the police officer to take his knee off George’s neck, but the officer didn’t listen and continued to choke him.”
“We call for an end to the systemic racism that allows this culture of corruption to go unchecked and our lives to be taken.
We call for a national defunding of police. We demand investment in our communities and the resources to ensure Black people not only survive, but thrive. If you’re with us, add your name to the petition right now and help us spread the word.”
3. Pass the Mic
If you are in any position to amplify a black voice, make room for a black colleague to be seen, heard and fairly remunerated, in some shape or form have influence over funding, hiring and elevation in the workplace, this is how you use that privilege. Do your research in order to make room, provide a platform, employ, empower and consciously place black people in positions where they can emit real change. In other words, pass the mic.
4. Show Up
It’s important to do ~the work~ beyond social media activism to get involved in the things that will produce tangible change for the black community. This could be as simple as showing up (and out) for the black people in your immediate community through organizing, standing in solidarity with protest and resistance, and publicly condemning structures, corporations, and individuals in positions of power that further the economic and social discrimination, exclusion and violence against black people.
5. Educate Yourself
Malcom X, 1963. Captured by Gordan Parks
Seriously. Feeling like you “don't know enough to have an opinion” just doesn’t cut it when your silence is directly complicit in the unjustified deaths of black people every day. In the age of the internet, there is a wealth of information at your fingertips. See below for a start on what to watch as you commit yourself to a life of advocating for black lives.
No Excuses: Educate Yourself on Black Lives Matter Through Film & TV
Wanting to make a contribution to Black Lives Matter starts with the knowledge that it unequivocally has to be a lifelong commitment and that you need to champion for the cause beyond periods of hypervisibility which we are experiencing right now- because whether it’s in the news or not, black people are dying simply for being black every single day.
Supporting Black Lives Matter means consciously and continually taking action to amplify Black voices, Black art, and making room for the realization of a world which centers, embraces, and protects the people who have had to carry the rest of the world on their backs for too damn long.
