Resources for Supporting the #BlackLivesMatter Movement

Yesterday, supporters of the #BlackLivesMatter movement posted plain black images onto their social media pages, as part of #BlackOutTuesday, to show solidarity with the movement and protest the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and other unarmed black people killed by police. But the question remains, are these posts the first step or a dead end, in the larger movement for change?

Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang, two black women who work in music marketing, came up with the idea to disrupt the music industry and bring attention to the BLM movement. The hashtag quickly went viral, with music idols like Rihanna, Coldplay and the Rolling Stones participating. Tiktok, Apple, LiveNation, and other major companies also paused most operations on Tuesday to show solidarity with protestors. 

stop posting black squares under the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag on Instagram. it is intentionally and unintentionally hiding critical information we are using on the ground and online. pic.twitter.com/EIS44aDXXd

— y’all don’t read the room 🥴 (@anthoknees) June 2, 2020

While an online show of solidarity amidst the coronavirus epidemic is not without merit, BLM activists have questioned the dedication of people to the cause, and the unintended consequences of people posting under the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. With so many people using the hashtag to post black squares, activists have pointed out that real time information relied upon by protestors was being drowned out. 

if you post a Black square today you need to leave with actionable items. who are you committing to donating to monthly? what conversations are you having with family? what demands do you have for the workplace? what changes are YOU going to make to to ensure Black lives matter?

— nadirah (@hinadirah) June 2, 2020

Racial justice activists have called on people who posted black squares yesterday to follow up with meaningful, real life action, such as donating to a racial justice nonprofit organization, share educational resources, and/or sign petitions. If you posted a black square on Instagram, make it your first step, not your last, towards promoting the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Here’s a small list of resources to help you get started:

Donate

• Black Lives Matter

• Black Visions Collective 

• NAACP Legal Defense Fund

• American Civil Liberties Union

• The Bail Project

• Campaign Zero

• National Police Accountability Project

• The Liberty Fund

• Reclaim the Block

Sign a Petition

• Justice for George Floyd

• Justice for Ahmaud Arbery

• Justice for Belly Mujinga

• Justice for Breonna Taylor

Read Online Articles and Resources

• Black Lives Matter “Ways to Help”

• “10 Steps to Non-optical Allyship” by Mireille Charper on Instagram

• “Transform Allyship into Action: A Toolkit for Non-Black People” by Social Justice in Medicine Coalition at USC on Instagram

• Advice for companies from Sheree Atcheson, Monzo’s Head of Diversity and Inclusion, by Sheree Atcheson on Twitter

• “What To Do If You Can’t Donate Right Now” by @traderjosephina on Twitter

• “Anti-Racism Resources for White People” by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein

• “Shareable Anti-Racism Resources Guide” by Tasha K. Ryals

• “75 Things White People can do for Racial Injustice” on Medium

• “An Essential Anti-Racist Reading List" on Vogue

• “An Anti-Racist Reading List” by The New York Times

• “The Case for Reparations” on The Atlantic