Allyship Check-In No 24

I started this “series” of blog posts in 2020 to share more resources to help with each of our own anti-racist journeys. I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the fact that many of the resources I’m linking down below come from the hard work of those on the Anti-Racist Daily team (the ARD) , to which I subscribe for daily email updates. Many of the readings, actions and donation links come from what I learn from their articles. As such, I have become a monthly Patreon donor, because you need to pay BIPOC people for the work they do in helping dismantle racism, not just take what you can for free. I hope you consider subscribing and supporting them, too, especially if you are a white reader.

Like I mentioned before, while a lot of these resources are tied and focused to the Black Lives Matter movement, I have started to incorporate other resources about more global events, as well.

Please keep the comments kind and constructive–though, please never hesitate to call me out if I’ve misstepped, if you are comfortable doing that emotional labor you shouldn’t have to do in the first place. I appreciate your assistance in helping me learn and continue to grow into the actual ally I want to be.

Last caveat: I listed a bunch of resources, because I hope you will click on the links and listen to the BIPOC voices who are speaking up, instead of hearing my take. I’m using this as a space to amplify their voices–not add my own commentary to the mix.

Highlights from the ARD

• What Defunding the Police Actually Means by Nicole Cardoza
• Who Deserves War? Media Bias in a Conflict Zone by Andrew Lee
• Anti-Trans Tracker: What’s Going On and How Can You Help
• Unpacking Period Stigma with Pixar’s “Turning Red” by Dominique Stewart

Black Lives Matter

• Police don’t stop crime, but you wouldn’t know it from the news by Kinjo Kiema for Prism
• Black History Month 2022: We Need Action, Not Empty Celebration by Jameelah Nasheed for Teen Vogue
• Healthcare…Can’t Live With It…Can’t Live Without It by Ijeoma Oluo for Beyond the Book newsletter

Politics

• Ukrainians Living in the U.S. Watch Russia’s Invasion in Fear by Fortesa Latifi for Teen Vogue
• Here’s How You Can Help LGBTQ+ and Black Ukrainian Refugees by James Factora for Self
• Social justice advocates react to the State of the Union address by Alexandra Martinez for Prism
• Why Police Officers Aren’t Held Accountable When They Kill People by Zoé Samudzi for Teen Vogue
• Advocates say Ukrainian refugees need a pathway to resettlement in the U.S. by Alexandra Martinez for Prism

LBGTQIA+ Rights

• In Texas, an unrelenting assault on trans rights is taking a mental toll by Rina Torchinsky for NPR
• Equality Act Would Extend Civil Rights Laws To LGBTQ People Throughout U.S. by Victoria Hansen for NPR
• Florida House passes ‘Stop WOKE Act’ to limit talks on race, gender, and discrimination in schools, workplaces by Shirin Ali for Changing America
• Idaho’s Proposed Ban on Trans Healthcare Could Jail Providers for Life by James Factora for them
• Texas parents speak out in defense of their trans kids by Montse Reyes for Prism
• Florida and Texas lawmakers are targeting queer and trans youth by Alexandra Martinez for Prism
• As SCOTUS decision approaches, some states are enshrining the right to an abortion by Alexandra Martinez for Prism
• Disney’s Public Reckoning Over LGBTQ+ Equality Has Been Years in the Making by Nico Lang for Time

Capitalism

• It’s not just money. This is what’s still driving the Great Resignation by Mark C. Crowley for Fast Company

Publishing and Book Banning

• BIPOC activists consider how to end book bans for good by Williesha Morris for Prism

Stop AAPI Hate

• AAPI community groups have received little government support since the Atlanta shootings by Natasha Ishak for Prism
• The Stop Asian Hate movement is at a crossroads by Li Zhou for Vox

• Trevor Noah brings up important racial disparities in refugee treatment, in this clip from The Daily Show
• Learn more about the violence of Rikers Island
• Watch this interview with Michelle MiJung Kim, author of The Wake Up
• Hosted by M4BL, watch the Black Feminist State of the Union Address

• Justice for Kenyairra Gadson, who has been imprisoned for homicide despite self defense against her abuser
• Add your voice in support of defunding and divesting from the current police model
• Continue to put pressure on Biden to cancel student loan debt
• Charging the only surviving accomplice in 66 year old Emmett Till open murder case
• Tell lawmakers that all youth in Idaho deserve access to medical care
• Help end hair discrimination in the workplace, schools, and pools by supporting the CROWN Act
• Add your name right now to call on city officials to stop more murders like Breonna Taylor’s.
• Urge Congress to protect Black Americans abroad and ensure the humane treatment of Refugees of Color
• Tell the Postmaster General: make postal banking a reality now
• Take the pledge to protect trans youth, via ACLU
• Support free menstrual products in California public bathrooms
• Demand the DOJ investigate the evidence against Donald Trump and the 2020 election

• Use this list to find southern abortion funds that need your help
• Explore how to support Ukraine using the following resources:
  • Stop Putin resource database
  • Stay information through the War in Ukraine live updates website
• Help protect queer youth by utilizing the following resources:
  • Donate to one of these organizations
• Learn more about Black Visions, a “Black-led, Queer and Trans centering organization whose mission is to organize powerful, connected Black communities and dismantle systems of violence.”
• Please, please, please use this list of anti-trans legislation actions, curated the ARD, and complete as many as possible to fight against anti-trans legislation
• Join the “Banned Books Event,” featuring Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Dr. Nikole Hannah-Jones and Nic Stone, to discuss book banning in America.
• Email your senators to help the CROWN act pass the Senate!
• Tell lawmakers to protect the waterways and stop Line 5.
• Take action by telling the CDC to save lives by ending Title 42.

• Help Ukraine by donating to:
  • Sunflower of Peace’s initiative to help provide financial backpacks
  • United Help Ukraine to support emergency relief and aid
• Help the LGBTQIA+ community by donating to:
  • The Trevor Project, which provides crisis services and resources to queer youth
  • Out Youth, “a safe place for youth of all sexual orientations and gender identities to be themselves”
• Invest in AAPI mental health by supporting AAPI journalists
• Support the Rikers Public Memory Project: Oral History Archive and Multimedia Exhibit
• Help Teri cover a shortfall while she gets her MFA, a Black SFF writer who could use some support!
• Split a donation between 70+ community bail funds, mutual aid funds, and racial justice organizers
• Support the work of the Asian American Advocacy Fund.
• Donate to any of the following menstrual equity organizations, as detailed by this article of the ARD: #HappyPeriod, The Period Pantry, No More Secrets MBS, and Flo Code.