BLACK LIVES MATTER

In light of the tragic killing of George Floyd, I've been doing some research on how to show solidarity to activists and organizations who are peacefully protesting racial injustice.  For far too long, I've stayed silent about these types of issues on the blog and on my personal social media accounts for fear of "offending someone" or being "too political."  Unfortunately, it has taken me this long to realize that staying silent is just as bad as voicing racist or discriminatory opinions.

If a positive outcome can be gleaned from this event, I hope that it is the awakening of the same realization in others like me, who were too anxious and afraid to speak up before.

Without further ado, here are some of the resources that I've found:

Image via Morgan Harper Nichols's Pinterest

Nonprofits and Organizations Accepting Donations
1. Black Lives Matter

2. American Civil Liberties Union

3. Communities United Against Police Brutality

4. North Star Health Collective (provides medics and other services to protesters)

5. Individuals and organizations who have committed to making matching donations to Black Lives Matter

Petitions
1. Justice for George Floyd

2. 15 Percent Pledge (a call to major retailers, such as Target, to pledge 15 percent of their shelf space to products from Black-owned businesses)

3. Justice for Breonna Taylor

I also want to make a conscious effort to support Black businesses, brands, creators, authors, and many others. Here are some resources that I'm using to help with that:

1. A List of 27 Black-Owned Businesses in the Fashion/Beauty/Lifestyle Industries

2. A List of 25 Contemporary Books by Black Authors

3. A Guide to Maya Angelou's Works

4. 10 Black Authors that Everyone Should Read

5. 11 Black Creators and Businesses

6. Apps/Websites for Finding Black-Owned Businesses in Your Community

Image via Morgan Harper Nichols's Pinterest

I also want to encourage you to check out Morgan Harper Nichols, a phenomenal singer, songwriter, writer, and calligraphy artist.  You've definitely seen one of her prints if you've ever been on Pinterest.  Her words are a constant source of inspiration for me.  She is truly a beautiful soul.

Links
1. Her Website

2. Her Instagram

3. Her Shop

4. Her Podcast

5. Her App

6. Her Pinterest

Finally, I want to share a handful of quotes related to the Black Lives Matter movement.  I hope they inspire you to raise awareness and show support in whatever ways you can.

Quotes
1. "I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change.  I am changing the things I cannot accept." -- Angela Davis

2. "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

3. "We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads are equal in value no matter what their color." -- Maya Angelou

4. "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." -- Bishop Desmond Tutu

5. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness;  only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate;  only love can do that." -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Love,
Tori