JUNE 11 2002

"I want us to be prepared for what these next tangible moves look like. I'm about tangible policy and practice change. I want to move beyond equity based language to equity actions." -Dr. Brittany Lewis 

In the past few weeks, and particularly in the past 24 to 48 hours, we've seen many companies, publications, brands, and individuals put out statements expressing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Yet weeks ago, the Black Lives Matter movement was still largely considered too radical or too "exclusive" for these same individuals and groups to stand behind.

I cannot stress how important language is; for so many to rally around this movement and actually say, "Black Lives Matter" is huge. However, we need to be mindful and quite frankly, vigilant, so that, as Dr. Lewis put it so well, "equity based language" becomes "equity actions." See article on why we should all be capitalizing the "B" in Black. 

The "main" resource shared today is a must watch. If it's the only thing you do today, please watch/listen to this 90 minute round table on Black Trauma and Policing. Information below. 

Language Matters!

The "B" in Black needs to be capitalized andhere's why. Quick, clear read and now let's see some capital Bs. 

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Listen:

In this round tablehosted by Angela Davis of Minnesota Public Radio, Davis is joined by: 

• Resmaa Menakem, Licensed and Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and cultural trauma expert. Author of My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies.

• Justin Terrell, Executive Director of Minnesota Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage

• Brittany Lewis, Founder and CEO of Research in Action. Senior Research Associate at University of Minnesota, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs. Member of State of Minnesota Working Group on Police-Involved Deadly Force Encounters.

I will only speak for myself - as a white person, this is one of the most eye-opening and holistic resources I've encountered. The discussion around the somatic effects of being Black in America is especially powerful and I'd encourage all white and non-Black readers to watch in its entirety. 

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On-Going Resource Bank: 

- The Cadence Project, organized by Jodi Taylor and L Cardenas, is a resource-sharing jackpot. It details petitions to sign, black business to support, places to donate and more.

-Justice in June, organized by Bryanna Wallace and Autumn Gupta, provides daily actionable and educational ways to support the Black community and "combat racial injustice and oppression." Resources are organized by your desired time commitment - 10 minutes, 25 minutes or 45 minutes a day.