BLACK LIVES MATTER. We’re all saying it, but now let’s talk about ways we can do the real work of learning and unlearning. Our social media feeds have been flooded with incredible resources for educating ourselves, talking to our children, supporting Black-owned businesses and donating to the cause. (And we hope yours have been, too!) We've decided to compile much of what we’ve found in one place, so it’s easy to keep track of and refer back to often. Please feel free to add any additional resources in the comments. We’ll be happy to continue updating our list.
photo: @alohakaala
FOR GROWN-UPS:
- The 1619 Project // an ongoing initiative by New York Times Magazine that aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.
- A White Families’ Guide for Talking About Racism
- The Great Unlearn: Unlearning America’s Birth Story // curated by Rachel Cargle
- Are Your Kids Too Young To Talk About Race?
- Why Parents Need to Do More than Just Talk About Racism
- 10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship
- New Era of Public Safety // an advocacy toolkit for fair, safe and effective community policing
- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Olou
- White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
- Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
- The Bluest Eye by Tony Morrison
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- Sign up for a 3-, 6- or 12-month subscription and receive a diverse board book each month
- A list of 31 children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance
- A roundup of 10 more children's books.
- Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi (board book)
- A Kids Book About Racism
- You Matter by Christian Robinson
- An ABC of Equality by Chana Ginelle Ewing (board book)
- Skin Again by Bell Hooks
- When We Were Alone by David A. Flett
- The Little Leaders + Dreamers series by Vashi Harrison (scroll to see additional diverse books she’s illustrated)
- All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
- Only a Tree Knows How to Be a Tree by Mary Murphy
- The Daily (NYT) // “The Systems That Protect the Police”
- Code Switch (NPR) // explores impacts of race on every aspect of society
- Pod Save The People // a show on activism, social justice, culture and politics
- First Name Basis // “How to Talk to Your Children About Racism”
- Fare of the Free Child // a series centering BIPOC in liberatory living + learning practices
- Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism // a town hall for adults + children from CNN & Sesame Street
- Let's Get to the Root of Social Injustice // a TedTalk with Megan Francis tracing the root causes of our current racial climate
- For White People Asking What Can You Do? // the entire series of his 5-minute daily IGTV videos are worth a watch
- The Hate U Give (Hulu)
- Just Mercy (available to rent; free for the month of June)
- When They See Us (Netflix)
- 13th (Netflix)
- Selma (available to rent)
- Sign a petition. Here is one for George Floyd. Here is one for Breonna Taylor. Here is one for Ahmaud Arbery. Here is one calling on major retailers to pledge 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses.
- Make a call. // 5 Calls makes it easy—just type in your city and select your issues of interest, and it will provide phone numbers for your local officials + representatives (and even scripts if you need help knowing what to say).
- Vote. // Click here to make sure you’re registered. It only takes a couple minutes!
- Keep researching. // Here are additional links to community bail funds, memorial funds, political education resources, organizations to put on your radar as well as general advice/tips for people attending protests or using social media as an organizing tool
- The Loveland Foundation // brings opportunity and healing to communities of color, and especially to Black women and girls, by providing financial assistance to Black women and girls nationally seeking therapy
- Black Mamas Matter //a Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance working toward a world where Black mamas have the rights, respect, and resources to thrive before, during, and after pregnancy.
- Color of Change // leads campaigns that build real power for Black communities by challenging injustice, holding corporate and political leaders accountable, commissioning game-changing research on systems of inequality, and advancing solutions for racial justice
- NAACP // works to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) // works to protect voting rights, demand that vulnerable people in prisons, jails and immigration detention centers be released, and fight to ensure reproductive health care remains open and accessible to all who need it
- Black Visions Collective // a Black, trans, and queer-led organization that is committed to dismantling systems of oppression and violence, and shifting the public narrative to create transformative, long-term change
- Reclaim the Block // coalition that advocates for and invest in community-led safety initiatives in Minneapolis neighborhoods
- Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) // committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
- Campaign Zero // online platform and organization that uses research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America
- Jamaa Birth Village // a non-profit midwifery, doula & maternal health organization located in Ferguson, Missouri, with a goal of lowering the infant and maternal mortality/morbidity rates that are significantly higher for African-American women
FOR MAMA:
- Greenhouse Mercantile // something for everyone + every home
- Krystal Festerly // beautiful + inspirational garden wares + apparel
- Aliya Wanek // ethical women’s clothing
- 828 Clothing // women’s, maternity + nursing apparel (and some baby, too!)
- Lolly Lolly // handmade ceramics
- Ebi // organic plant-based postpartum care sets
- Linoto // 100% linen bedding
- Bright Black // candles
- Garden 24 // art prints
- Onyx Fiber Arts // hand-dyed yarns
- The Honey Pot // plant-based feminine care products (including some especially for pregnancy + postpartum)
- Boo-B // vegan lactation products
- The Zen Succulent // local plant shop
- And here’s a list of more cosmetics, skincare, jewelry, fashion, home and other brands.
- Kido // toys, clothing, books (love literally everything in this shop!)
- Brave & Kind // indi kids bookshop
- Little Nomad // baby + mama clothes, books and toys
- Taylor + Max // quality-focused + planet-conscious children’s boutique
- Le Petit Organic // children's concept store focusing on eco-friendly, handmade + vintage
- Pretty Please Teethers // beautiful teethers, bibs, pacifier clips
- Harperiman // handmade linen keepsake dolls
- Opal + Fig // heirloom dolls
- Mercharis // handmade dolls
- Shop Sacko // small-batch hand-dyed garments using natural plant extracts
- Zuri Olivia // darling children’s clothing
- Tippy Tot Shoes // luxury toddler footwear
- Sun and Lace // handcrafted boots and moccasins
INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS FOR ACTIVISM, EDUCATION AND RESOURCES:
- @theconciouskid
- @rachel.cargle
- @colorofchange
- @jessicawilson.msrd
- @blackandembodied
- @ohhappydani
- @laylafsaad
- @ckyourprivilege
- @blklivesmatter
- @mspackyetti
- @antirascmctr
- @firstname.basis
- @alex_elle
- @latonyayvette
- @stylefitfatty
- @theblackdoula
- @alohakaala (her beautiful photo is pictured at the top of this post)
- @thejadababy
- @hashtagbigfamily
- @lifewithmomma
- @krystalfesterly
- @houseofcaruso
- @love.little.sampsons
- @daniellehdavis_
- @jennagrahamm
- @sincerely_sheda
- @domsmama20
- @glowmaven
