7 Ways to Help The Black Lives Matter Movement

(all traffic to this article and direct donations will be contributed to the organizations listed below that are supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement)

2020 has been a chaotic year no one could have predicted. However, the times we are going through right now have never been more important. All 50 states in the United States have held protests to demand justice for the reckless death of George Floyd and the end of police brutality. There has never been a movement at such a scale and here are some ways you can help even if the large crowds of protesters are not your forte.

1. Donate to Organizations Supporting the Cause

A number of fundraising drives have been set up to support Floyd’s family since the tragedy to bail out protestors who have been arrested and support the wider Black Lives Matter movement. As well as looking at this list of organizations listed below, look into local support as well!

• Black Lives Matter
• Black Visions Collective
• Reclaim the Block: a grassroots organization that works to provide the Minneapolis community with the resources they need to thrive.
• NAACP Legal Defense Fund
• American Civil Liberties Union
• National Bail Fund Network or the ever-growing list of bail funds: which includes a directory of community bail funds.
• National Police Accountability Project
• Know Your Rights Camp
• Unicorn Riot: supports journalists on the front line.

Here are some local initiatives based in Los Angeles, NYC and Chicago.

Beyond the USA, there are plenty of organizations campaigning against racism around the world. In the UK, you could donate to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust or Stand Up To Racism, campaigning for racial inequality, or the Green & Black Cross, which provides legal support to protestors and activists.

2. Sign petitions

Signing petitions is a direct way to demand action from political officials. Emailing local politicians demanding justice and recognition is another direct way of affirming action associated with the BLM movement. Below are just a few petitions you can sign with just a few taps now! Also remember to look into petitions organized by your local community.

To demand justice for George Floyd, you can sign the petition here.

To demand justice for Belly Mujinga, the railway worker who died from coronavirus after she was spat on by a man claiming to have COVID-19, you can sign the petition here.

To demand justice for Breonna Taylor, the Black emergency medical technician who was fatally shot in her apartment by the Louisville Metro Police Department, sign the petition here.

3. Show Your Support on Social Media

No matter how large or small your follow count may be on social media, you still have a voice to share in #blacklivesmatter. Online campaigns have been one of the most effective ways for people to show support and raise their friends’ and followers’ awareness of the anti-racist movement. You could post links to resources or fundraisers, state your support and solidarity, and share anything that you’ve found helpful. Also use social media as a tool to learn as much as you can and unlearn bad habits.

4. Learn About the History of Anti-Racist Movements

If you’re not black, one of the most important things you can do right now is to learn something about the on-going situation. One way to do so is read up on why people are protesting. Check out the many links being posted on social media about police brutality, racial inequality and historical injustice in the USA, the UK and other countries. As well as speaking out, take some time to listen and absorb the stories and messages coming from the black community. This would also be a good time to check in on podcasts related to this topic.

Think about your own prejudices too – what your emotional responses are to the current protests, and how the ways you’ve learned to behave over the years might affect how you treat the black people in your life. And if you’ve got kids, think how you could educate them with this in mind.

5. Support black creators and business owners

Like previously mentioned in the last note, supporting black creators such as black podcasters, filmmakers and Youtubers serve not only as a learning opportunity, but an opportunity to support those critically affected by the movement.

If you're interested in helping individuals the best way to start is by supporting black people’s creative and business endeavors. Employ black people; buy their books, music or films; donate to their Patreon pages; amplify their voices by sharing or retweeting; and buy from their shops, restaurants, cafés or bars. (Here is a guide to black-owned businesses in NYC, Chicago, and Los Angeles)

6. Watch Movies and Read Books

As previously mentioned, learning from films made by black creators is a great way to learn about the movement and what minorities go through. Here is a good list to check out!

• When They See Us
• 13th
• I Am Not Your Negro
• Selma
• The Hate U Give
• If Beale Street Could Talk
• Just Mercy
• Fruitvale Station
• Mississippi Masala
• Malcom X
• 12 Years A Slave
• Get Out

Another great way to learn about the movement is from reading books from black authors! Literature can have a great insight into historical events such as what we are currently going through and help with experiencing other perspectives. Below is a list to check out!

• So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
• They Can’t Kill Us All by Wesley Lowery
• Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
• Beloved by Toni Morrison
• Between The World And Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Your Silence Will Not Protect You by Audre Lorde
• How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi

7. Register to Vote

If you have not already registered to vote, voting is the most surefire way of having your views be reflected in our government. As we have seen in the past week and will continue to see in the coming weeks and months, those we elect into higher roles make decisions that directly affect us and our way of living. To make sure what you view as important is seen in our congress and local governments, register to vote and vote not just in presidential elections, but the small ones too.

This may be the end of the list but there are endless ways to support in your own way. I wish you all love and hope you are all staying safe during these times.