I sit here writing this as my wrist aches from the weight of my iPhone. I have spent countless hours over the last week responding to eager friends and followers who want to know how to help. I can’t sleep. I am worried and I am scared but I am also grateful and hopeful. I have tried to take a break from Social Media and the news for my mental health but I can’t. George Floyd and all of the hundreds of other black people that have died at the hands of the police cannot die in vain. Black men and women cannot continue to be murdered at the hands of those entrusted to serve and protect them, to protect us.
I have the ability to sit in my home, safe and without concern for the safety of my family. I have the privilege to take the time to write these words in peace so I will use as much of my time and my money to help continue to find a solution. Over and over again. Over and over again, until we find a solution.
We at Coco & Cowe have been a resource for many of you over the years where we have brought you everything from our favourite lipsticks to our number one spots to vacation and even how to work through a divorce, to becoming a co-parent. We would be remiss if we didn’t create a resource to help create something of substance that may, in whatever small way, affect change.
This will be a living document. We will continue to add to it as we go, so if you have any resources you would like to share, please leave us a comment and we will add it.
[cover photo credit: @ohhappydani]
Dear Allies,
Remember, change happens with action. Educate yourself and do the work.
Research Resources
Black Lives Matter’s official site is a wealth of information with everything from podcasts and videos to social media graphics. There is also a Canadian arm that is Toronto based.
The Obama Foundation has an incredible took kit that will help you get informed and take action.
The North Star. We have financially supported Shaun King and his dream to create a media company that picked up where the anti-slavery newspaper of the same name left off in 1851. You will now understand why we believe what he is doing is so important.
The Daily Show published an 18-minute video of Trevor Noah so beautifully breaking down George Floyd, the Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper. It is worth every moment of your attention, I promise you.
“Congrats, you woke up. Now what?” Thank you Danielle Prescod for laying down the law, #preach.
Anti-Racism Resource Guide to immerse yourself in.
The ultimate Race Glossary – we are so into this!
Books and Articles
Me And White Supremacy by Layla Saad
75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice by Corrine Shutack
How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
Six Ways Asian-Americans Can Tackle Anti-Blackness in Their Families by Kim Tran
So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
I Am Not Your Baby Mother by Candice Brathwaite
“Welcome To The Anti-Racism Movement — Here’s What You’ve Missed” by Ijeoma Oluo
For Parents
First, watch Neil Degrasse Tyson speak on being black in science.
and this very simple explanation of systemic racism:
Become a patron to The Conscious Kid (I just did!) and get access to a ton of resources for your children, like 41 books to support conversation on race, racism, and resistance.
Woke Kindergarten offers a curriculum not only for children but also for teachers.
Teach them what they might be missing in school with these Black History Flashcards.
Diversify their toy line up. I just bought one of these beautiful dolls for Harlowe and I think I’m just as excited as her!
Talking Race With Young Children, a podcast and accompanying article.
Movies to Watch
Oprah Winfrey Presents: When They See Us Now
Series to Watch
Self Made: Inspired By The Life of Madam C. J. Walker
Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap
Podcasts to Hear
5 Black Businesses to Support RN
Instagram Accounts to Follow
Danielle Coke: @ohhappydani
Not only is she an incredible artist, but she also creates the sweetest imagery on racial and political issues and even hosts talks to help teach how to turn awareness into action.
Donté Colley: @donte.colley
Our beloved Donté has always been there to shed light on being our best selves since day one. Donté is using his voice to speak up and enlighten his audience, for that we thank him and we stand with him.
Check Your Privilege: @ckyourprivilege
Real, raw, and resourceful. Explore this account and check your privilege.
Millennial Black: @officialmillennialblack
“A manifesto for black working womxn” and we are here for it. Pink feed goals, while educating our community on real sh!t. #InformYourself
Candice Brathwaite: @candicebrathwaite
A master with words which explains the fact that Candice is a best-selling author. Explore her profile for realness and infectious energy. Buy her books and read them.
Monique Melton: @moemotivate
An Anti-racism Educator and podcast host, Monique has moved the needle, she does not stand for the status quo, and for that (among many other things) we respect her.
Rachel Elizabeth Cargle: @rachel.cargle
A journalist and educator, Rachel has been teaching about anti-racism way before it was #trending. She has an incredible reading list, link in her bio.
Who to Support with Your Money
Bail Funds
Funds in cities all over the US and also in Toronto are collecting money to get people jailed because of protest out of jail quickly. Here is a link for the US and here for Toronto
I’m on the board so I’m biased, but Remix has been doing the work in Toronto with our youth for over 10 years. Remix provides a practical education in the arts that goes far beyond the classroom.
Through research, health promotion and public policy, Black Health work on the key issues in health that impact black communities.
A Toronto based non-profit that supports, showcases and promotes black artists.
Kwanda helps fund reliable and empowering systems for black communities. You can fund projects like podcasts and help At-Risk workers, or even provide grants to Afrotech.
The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People was founded all the way back in 1909 and is sadly still working to end oppression and racism. Their site is full of educational resources plus hyperlinks to sign petitions. Take some time to check it out and donate.
#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.
The Equal Justice Initiative is 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.
We The Protesters is a national organization focused on ending racism and police violence in the United States. Since 2015, WTP has built the most comprehensive database of police violence in the nation, used the data to identify effective policy solutions, and supported movement organizers to enact these policies at every level of government.
Black Futures Lab works with Black people to transform our communities, building Black political power and changing the way that power operates—locally, statewide, and nationally.
Our team will continue to update this working blog post as a resource for all of us, we encourage you to educate yourself and speak up for #BlackLivesMatter. This is a good place to start! We’d love to hear from you, if there is a resource that has been helpful for you not listed above, please share it with us by commenting on this post. You can also follow me for frequent updates here!
xx
Coco
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