Listen.
Typically I would use this space to talk about my depression. It’s just another way for me to vent, and to get through my personal shit. I’m in no way suggesting that mental health isn’t important. But I wanted to take a moment to not only show support for the African American community — but also to provide links for anybody looking for ways to help during this pivotal point in our history. I urge you to read the following post written by Brady Patsy. Brady is Black. I am White. Brady and I lived in the same town. We went to the same high school. But we had very different experiences even though we were both involved in musical theatre, and had many of the same friends. Now, I’ll stop talking and start listening.
Read that. Then read it again. That story has over 500 shares on Facebook, and it deserves more. It’s eloquent, heartbreaking, thoughtful, and horrifying. I get chills reading it, and if that story doesn’t make you angry for the Black community in our country then please go take a good hard look in the mirror. I grew up with Brady. We’ve spent entire summers together. I’ve never had to worry about the things that he wrote about ever happening to me, because I’m a straight white male. THAT IS WHITE PRIVILEGE.
I realize that a blog post isn’t the be-all, end-all solution. But I wanted to use this platform to invoke change. Even if you can’t protest in the streets, you can still help. Click the underlined text below and it will direct you to the organization that you would like to support.
DONATIONS
Ways You Can Help — Here you can sign petitions, text or call the Minneapolis Mayor’s Office/Minneapolis PD/Minneapolis District Attorney, and donate. You can choose to donate to victims, protestors, Black-owned businesses, and other important organizations/causes. This site also has a FAQ section, and is updated regularly.
Resources Google Doc — This google doc provides an AMAZING range of resources. There are links to fundraisers, bail donations, petitions, and resources for supporting Transgender and Black communities.
Know Your Rights Camp — I chose to donate to Colin Kaepernick’s organization. For those who are unfamiliar with the group, here is their mission statement:
“Our mission is to advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders.”
(Go to https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com for more information.)
Black Lives Matter — Here you can donate to the Black Lives Matter Global Network. Donations can be made in specific amounts to help their campaigns towards justice. (Go to https://blacklivesmatter.com for more information.)
ACLU — Donate directly to the American Civil Liberties Union. Their focus is realizing the promise of our Constitution for every American, and expanding the reach of its guarantees. (Go to https://www.aclu.org for more information.)
Split A Donation — If you are unsure of which organization to donate to or wish to allocate donations to multiple groups, this link allows you to split donations between over 70 racial justice organizations, bail funds, and mutual aid funds.
OTHER RESOURCES
#8CantWait — Click this link, then click your city & state. You can then send a pre-written email to your Mayor demanding that 8 new policies be enacted to decrease police violence by 72%. Learn more at https://8cantwait.org
Defund NYPD — This pre-written email allows you to contact New York government officials and council members to reallocate police budgets towards education, social services, and dismantling racial inequality.
#BirthdayForBreonna — Breonna Taylor should have turned 27 years old on June 5th, 2020. She was murdered by police in her own home in Louisville. This is an incredible site that allows you to sign her petition, contact the Kentucky administration, send birthday cards, and much more.
Change.org — Change.org allows you to sign petitions and chip in money if you wish to donate as well. There are hundreds of petitions available, but here are direct links to petitions for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery respectively:
More Petitions — Here you can sign petitions that still haven’t met their end goal.
If you would like me to add more links, please reach out and I can keep this article live and up to date. These are only a few of the many organizations that are out there.
Support Black-owned businesses. Buy albums by Black musicians. Read books by Black authors. Have the difficult conversations with your Black friends. But don’t just TALK. More importantly…LISTEN.
