A message from Town Hall Brands:
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” – the words of Desmond Tutu
So many of us are feeling pain right now. We are listening, and trying to understand but we need to learn more.
Anti-Black and Indigenous racism are driven by decades of polices. Colonialism, social exclusion, poverty. We cannot be neutral. We cannot be onside with oppressors. And it is not enough to be non-racist and stay silent. We must be anti-racist. We must acknowledge our privilege.
We need to stand up.
But before we can be effective allies, we need to listen and learn. We need to listen as the Black community and people of colour share their own experiences, show solidarity with protesters in the U.S., and acknowledge Canada's own troubles with racism.
We are here to listen and stand up and show love.
On June 2, 2020, as part of #TheShowMustBePaused, we are taking part in a social media blackout. Instead of continuing on with our daily activities, we are pledging to be reflective and emphasize Black voices on social media. For more information on this initiative visit theshowmustbepaused.com.
We want to continuously further our knowledge to become a better business, be better team members, and better humans. The following resources are some ways to start learning how to become an ally in the fight against structural and individual racism.
If you find something you think we should add, please send us a note, or comment below.
Things to Read:
Understanding White Privilege, by Francis E. Kendall
My white friend asked me to explain white privilege, so I decided to be honest, by Lori Lakin Hutcherson
White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, by Peggy McIntosh
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard to Talk to White People About Racism, by Dr. Robin DiAngelo
Things to Watch:
13th (Netflix)
When They See Us (Netflix)
Just Mercy (Amazon Prime)
The Skin We’re In (CBC)
Black Lives Matter activist videos
Accounts to Follow:
Places to Donate:
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Reclaim the Block: Redistributes money from the police department in Minneapolis to other initiatives that “truly promote community health and safety”
Minnesota Freedom Fund: Pays bails for people arrested for protesting
The Southern Poverty Law Center
Things to Sign:
“Justice for George Floyd” petition
#DefundThePolice and #InvestInCommunities
Other Sites to Visit:
Black Lives Matter
The Show Must Be Paused Anti-Racism Resources
How to Support Black-Owned Businesses by Finimpact
