Allyship Check-In No 29

I started this Allyship Check-In “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.

• Critical Race Theory, Explained by Andrew Lee
• Elves, Dragons and the pushback Against Representation in Fantasy by Nicole Cardoza
• What should we be funding instead of the police? The ARD team has a great list of resources, to start.

• Weed More Popular Than Cigarettes for First Time on Record, Says Gallup by Lexi McMenamin for Teen Vogue
• How to organize safely in a post-Roe world by Reina Sultan for Prism
• AOC’s Fight for the Future by Wesley Lowery for GQ, with photography by Cruz Valdez
• The 19th Explains: Senate races we’re watching in 2022 by Amanda Becker for The 19th*
• Why Iranian women are risking everything by burning their hijabs by Jonathan Guyer for Vox

• How trans students — and their teachers — are dealing with a new school year and new laws by Orion Rummler for The 19th*
• Why Kansas’ Democratic governor isn’t talking about abortion on the campaign trail by Shefail Luthra for The 19th*

• High schools across the country launch first AP African American studies course by Meron Moges-Gerbl for CNN
• Public schools face challenges in keeping students in the classroom by Kio Herrera for Prism
• Higher pay, smaller class sizes, more special ed support: Why Seattle teachers are striking by Nadra Nittle for The 19th*

• Book publishers just spent 3 weeks in court arguing they have no idea what they’re doing by Constance Grady for Vox
• In The Rings of Power, it’s not horrifying to be a woman by Rebecca Jennings for Vox
• The 19th Explains: Why the nursing shortage isn’t going away anytime soon by Mariel Padilla for The 19th*

• Check the Emancipator’s BookTalk event, featuring acclaimed historians Ibram X. Kendi and Peniel Joseph
  • Or, check out their YouTube page, where they also have livestreamed events!
• Watch this student debt cancellation webinar

• Teachers, you can pledge to Teach the Truth about history, including about the roles of racism, sexism and other oppressive systems
• Demanding safe water, especially in Hawai’i
• Speak up against killing Iranian Women #MahsaAmini
• Demand Gov. Newsom that he sign #AB2183 to help protect California farmworkers

• Learn more about the Zinn Education Project’s teaching initiative, which strives to “to introduce students to a more accurate, complex, and engaging understanding of United States history than is found in traditional textbooks and curricula”
• Check out The Emancipator’s “The Talk” series, exploring the different discussions parents must have to keep their children safe
• Learn from the book I’ve Got Your Back by Jorge Arteaga and Emily May, creators of Right to Be, to learn more about bystander intervention
• Purchase a book from a prison wishlist, as part of Raven Bookstore’s Liberation Lit

• Support those who are suffering from flooding in Pakistan (another source to donate here and here)
• Help a teacher provide air conditioning in their classroom
• Donate to Black Trans Groups
• Abdorrahman Boroumand Center: donate to help “continue our documentation of human rights abuses in Iran”
• Support the Ignyte Awards, completely donated based