George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Anthony McClain, Ezell Ford, Rayshard Brooks, Tamir Rice, Atatiana Jefferson, Botham Jean, Stephon Clark. Black lives matter. 

George Floyd, who allegedly tried to use a counterfeit $20 bill, died as he was handcuffed on the ground, with a police officer kneeling on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds.
Breonna Taylor was shot and killed eight times while asleep, when plainclothes officers entered her home on a no-knock search warrant, and gunfire was exchanged as Breonna’s boyfriend believed the officers to be intruders.
Atatiana Jefferson was shot through the window of her own home, as police officers responded to a neighbor’s call who reported that her front door was left open.
Stephon Clark, using his phone while standing in his grandmother’s backyard, was shot more than twenty times because police officers believed him to be holding a gun. 

These are just a few of the countless people who have lost their lives for no reason other than the color of their skin.

Standing in solidarity

As Black Americans and Black people all over the world take to the streets and social media to righteously resist racism, many white people might find themselves in a state of re-evaluation.
We might ask ourselves how we can not only stand in solidarity with the Black community but how we can effectively and proactively take action that is anti-racist. 

As a starting point, however, we need to acknowledge that we will never be able to entirely comprehend systemic racism. As we are experiencing white privilege, we are benefitting from the oppression of others. 

We need to be aware of internalized racism and practice self-introspection and self-examination. To increase our awareness, it is imperative for us to educate ourselves by listening to and amplifying Black people’s voices.

Books to read

For white people, being proactively anti-racist and standing in solidarity with Black people starts with education.
To read about first-hand accounts of racism, and to educate yourself on topics such as white privilege, white supremacy, or systematic racism in the United States, the books listed below are a good place to start.

• ‘So You Want to Talk About Race’ by Ijeoma Oluo

Oluo explores the systematic racism embedded in the American economic, political, and social system. Further, Ijeoma Oluo delves into matters such as police brutality, white privilege, and the Black Lives Matter movement. 

• ‘How To Be an Antiracist’ by Ibram X. Kendi

Ibram X. Kendi proposes that it is not enough to not be racist. Instead, he rather invites us to think about and understand what an anti-racist society looks like, and how we as individuals can become proactively anti-racist. In his book, he explores subjects ranging from sexuality to social class in history, law, and ethics. Referencing a range of topics, Kendi creates a new understanding of racism and of what a truly equitable society looks like. 

• ‘Killing Rage: Ending Racism’ by bell hooks

Comprising of twenty-three essays, ‘Killing Rage’ is written from a Black feminist perspective and discusses racism in the United States. bell hooks addresses topics such as internalized racism, racism in the media, trauma among African Americans, and everyday racism.

• ‘Between the World and Me’ by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Written as a letter to his son, Coates reflects on his experience as a Black man in the United States. ‘Between the World and Me’ explores America’s history of slavery and segregation. Coates further discusses matters such as police violence, disproportionate incarceration of African Americans, and institutionalized racism. 

• ‘Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race’ by Beverly Daniel Tatum

A renowned expert on the psychology of racism, Tatum explores racial identity and identity development in childhood and adolescence. Analyzing race in the public education system, Tatum examines everyday racism and self-segregation, enabling communication across ethnic and racial divides.  

• ‘Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race’ by Reni Eddo-Lodge

Originating from a blog post about her frustration with how conversations on racism are primarily led by people who aren’t affected, Reni Eddo-Lodge’s bestseller book examines race relations in the United Kingdom. Moreover, Eddo-Lodge delves into matters such as white dominance, the relationship between class and race, and whitewashed feminism.

• ‘Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment’ by Patricia Hill Collins

Featuring the work of Black feminist thinkers, including Audre Lorde and bell hooks, Patricia Hill Collins discusses how Black feminist thought fosters the empowerment of African American women. Functioning as an overview of Black feminism, Collins’s book addresses themes like oppression, nationalism, and heterosexism. 

• ‘Me and White Supremacy’ by Layla F. Saad

Originating from an Instagram challenge encouraging people to share their racist behaviors, Saad’s book helps readers analyze and dismantle internalized white privilege. Saad discusses concepts a range of concepts, such as white fragility and tone policing. Structured as a 28-day guide, the book offers readers an opportunity to reflect at the end of each chapter.

Media to watch

• When They See Us 

A Netflix true-crime miniseries, ‘When They See Us’ is based on the events of April 19, 1989. Thirty years ago, five teenagers of color were arrested and charged with raping a white female jogger in Central Park. This Netflix miniseries recounts how they were coerced into giving false confessions while exploring white privilege and systematic racism. 

• 13th 

‘13th’ is a Netflix documentary film titled after the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The film focuses on a loophole in the clause, legalizing slavery as a punishment for criminals. ‘13th’ analyses and critiques the American governmental and political system, and explores how its criminal system affects and disadvantages people of color. 

• Dear White People 

Following a group of Black students at a predominantly white and fictional Ivy League university, ‘Dear White People’ is an American Netflix TV-show that satirically explores race relations and Black identity. 

• The Hate U Give 

‘The Hate U Give’ is an American drama film following a teenage girl witnessing her Black friend getting murdered by the police. Based on the eponymous novel by Angie Thomas, the movie explores racism, activism, and police brutality. 

• Who Killed Malcolm X? 

A Netflix documentary miniseries, ‘Who Killed Malcolm X?’ follows the investigative work of historian Abdur-Rahman Muhammad. The series examines various theories surrounding the killing of racial justice and human rights activist Malcolm X. 

• I Am Not Your Negro 

Inspired by James Baldwin’s unfinished script ‘Remember This House’, Raoul Peck’s documentary explores the history of racism in the United States. Following Baldwin’s reminiscence of civil rights leaders like Malcolm X and Medgar Evers, the film examines the history of Black experience in America. 

 

Podcasts to listen to

• QueerWOC 

Exploring the intersection between blackness and queerness, each episode of ‘QueerWOC’ spotlights a different queer woman of color. The podcast is led by co-hosts Nikeeta and Money, a Black feminist, and a mental health expert focusing on queer women in marginalized communities. 

• Code Switch by NPR

Focusing on the United States, ‘Code Switch’ takes on historical and contemporary racism. Moreover, the podcast offers both a careful analysis of race and culture, and personal stories. 

• About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

In her podcast, Reni Eddo-Lodge, author of ‘Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race’, features different key authorities and voices from the anti-racist activism community.

• BBC Witness: Black History

Each episode focuses on a historical period or event particularly pivotal in shaping our understanding of race and racism today. Featuring matters such as the LA riots or Rodney King, the podcast includes firsthand accounts of both violence and racism. 

• Have You Heard George’s podcast?

In his podcast, George The Poet analyses how systematic racism operates in the United Kingdom. While addressing matters like police brutality, the podcast flips between forms, using poetry, fiction, and music.

Supporting the Black Lives Matter movement

Only collective action can ultimately facilitate change.
Educating yourself on white privilege, oppression, systematic racism, joining protests, and supporting black-owned businesses are good places to start showing alliance with the Black Lives Matter movement.
However, as Angela Y. Davis said, ‘In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.’
We must be proactively anti-racist, including self-introspection, listening to the voices of people who are affected, and having conversations with family and friends.
If you are able to, consider donating to the Black Lives Matter movement, and continue to educate yourself. Great resources include the New York Times reading list or the information compilation by Black Lives Matter.

 

Written by Samira Rauner, blogger at Safe Harbor International Ministries. For more articles, visit our blog page at https://safeharborim.com/articles/.