10 ways to support the Black community
10 ways to support the Black community
A spotlight has been thrown on racial inequality on both sides of the Atlantic. We, as an organisation, in concert with our partners neighbours, and friends, are committed to advocating for change in light of the tragic injustices faced by the Black community.
Black members of the Trinity family have compiled a list of 10 ways in which you can show your support. If you have any other ideas please contact us at info@trinitybristol.org.uk. We'd love to hear from you.
How can you help?
1. Educate yourself and then others
- Research and understand structural inequality, systemic racism and black history to decolonise your mind. Check out these resources from Runnymede Trust and Black Lives Matters.
- Advocate for Black History to be taught in schools.
- Enrol on a structured course of learning around Black Historical Studies.
- Share the knowledge and resources.
2. Show your solidarity
- On Wed 3 June, Stand Up To Racism ran a #TakeTheKnee campaign across the UK. Keep up the momentum by taking a knee, raising a fist, making posters, or any combination of these to show your solidarity. We propose a duration of 8.46 minutes in honour of George Floyd.
- It doesn't matter that it's not all on the same day or at the same time. What matters is the message.
- It's not about the show but posting a picture of yourself doing these things will encourage others to do the same.
3. Virtually protest
- Avoid using the official #BLM or #BlackLivesMatter hashtags in your posts as this drowns out the vital information posted by the movement. Instead use #TakeTheKnee #RestInPower #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor #AmplifyBlackVoices and any other relevant tags you can find.
- If you're feeling brave, use social media algorithms to your advantage and add tags used by groups opposing the movement to get the message to those who need to hear it most.
4. Buy Black
- Buy and read books by Black authors.
- Buy gifts and treats from Black businesses.
- Spending locally supports your local economy and buying from Black businesses helps to support an often struggling sector.
5. Support Black platforms
- Follow and learn from Black activist like Tamika Mallory, Leslia Thomas QC and Janet Adler.
- Follow and read media championing Black voices, such as gal-dem and Black Girl Fest.
6. Donate money, time, skills and resources
- There are countless local, national and international Black causes to donate to, including Black Southwest Network, Black Cultural Archives, St Paul's Carnival.
- If you're unable to donate financially, think of what valuable skills you poses that could benefit a cause. This could be anything from designing artwork to stuffing envelopes, making teas to attending meetings on behalf of someone else. Volunteering time is just as valuable as money. Reach out to local Black charities and communities and ask how you can help.
7. Find, sign and share petitions
- Do your research and find petitions to sign that support Black communities and causes. Once you have signed, share the petitions to help spread the word.
- Relevant petitions include those advocating for changes to the national curriculum; justice for the victims and their families; and the proper prosecution of those at fault.
- We've put some links at the end to start you off.
8. Contact your local MP
- This can have a larger impact than you might think. Write to your MP to protest the UK sales of riot shields, tear gas and rubber bullets to the US; and to release the delayed report into Black Covid-19deaths.
- Use the Find My MP tool to get your MP's direct email address.
- If you're not sure what to write, use templates like this to express your concern. Make sure you edit it to your own words so it doesn't register as spam.
9. Make equality a first thought
- Make equality a first thought not an afterthought when making making decisions. This is important in a wider context and especially important within business. By inviting Black input once the parameters in which you'll be working have already been set, you have already creating an obstacle to equality.
- Make a point of considering equality in all decision making until it becomes second nature.
10. Check in and support
- Check in with your Black family, friends, co-workers and neighbours to find out how they are. A simple phone call, text or meme could make all the difference to someone you know.
Don't let your takeaway from this be that Blackness is about pain. It is about recognising and celebrating humanity in its fullness; the joy and the pain.
Links to petitions:
Add Black books to the GCSE reading list
There are so many more petitions out there in support of the Black community. Together we can make change happen.
