BLM: Beyond Social Media
Black Lives Matter.
I am by no means an expert on this topic. So if you happen to take anything away from this post, please click this link: https://blacklivesmatter.carrd.co/ for resources like petitions, donation sites, mental health foundations, educational material, and so so so much more. I just wanted to share my own thoughts and discoveries as I know seeing a list of links can be overwhelming at first.
Artist: Unknown
Social Media is such a powerful tool. Through Instagram alone I've found so many helpful resources and opinions from the Black Community. I acknowledge that I'll never truly understand the struggles, but I am learning and doing what I can to help.
I've learned the importance of speaking up against acts of injustice. Even if you don't think so, your single voice has so much impact. There have been so many "trending" topics that I've never felt the need to comment on. However, deep in my gut I knew I had to say something about this. Black Lives Matter isn't a political movement for me. It's purely Human Rights, a way of life. Every person deserves to be treated fairly regardless of skin color, gender, sexuality, ect.
I've also learned that it is okay to change your opinion and to learn from your mistakes. Everyone is copes with traumatic news differently. It is not mandatory to post a black square or hashtag on social media. While I believe it is important to speak up if you truly feel like it, others are taking the time to quietly learn through reading or watching documentaries. Even donations can be done without having to showcase your efforts. Do not shame someone if you haven't even made the effort to discuss and hear their thoughts on the situation.
I will continue to learn, read, and listen. This is a marathon, not a sprint. So what can we do now to continue helping? We must do more beyond posting on social media. Your next actions will truly show your support.
Donate With No Money
Artist: Hyamei
Yes, you don’t have to have money if you want to donate. All those ads you dread on YouTube are actually helpful! Remember to turn off adblockers and do not skip the ads. After you take the time to watch these videos, you can still run the them multiple times silently in the background.
Zoe Amira created a video to offer people a way to donate and financially contribute to #blacklivesmatter without having any actual money or going out to protest themselves. 100% of the advertisement revenue the video makes will be donated to the associations that offer protester bail funds, help pay for family funerals, and advocacy listed in the beginning of the video. This is also a great video to discover new artists!
This is a compilation of different YouTube videos. Each creator will be donating money made from these videos to causes that support the movement Black Lives Matter. With hours of interesting content, you’re bound to find some entertaining things to watch while also helping the community!
Sign A Petition
Artist: Adrianne Walujo
Signing a petition takes no effort or money at all! All you need is your name. As mentioned above this is a list of petitions from the BlackLivesMatter Cardd. A lot of change has been made from everyone signing! As of now all four officers have been charged for the murder of George Floyd.
There is still a lot of work to do and I’ll admit just seeing the list of petitions is a bit overwhelming for me. I’m reading through them, but here are a few I believe need more attention. I encourage you to also read everything before signing and check out that list mentioned above.
Pass The Georgia Hate Crime Bill
Life Sentence For Police Brutality
Continue Learning
Artist: Adelina Lirius
Everyday we learn something new! Make the effort to digest content over time. No need to overload your brain. Read online material once a week, watch one documentary every month, take time to read a new book. As long as you are trying to learn, it doesn’t matter how much time you need in order to absorb the information.
You can also educate yourself by discovering black-owned businesses. There are so many amazing brands that are just as deserving to be noticed as any other place. Just focus on what interests you the most! It can be fashion, skincare, books, or even other artists. Maybe you’ll find something new that you can’t find anywhere else!
Rest
Artist: Yelena Bryksenkova
The events over the last few days have definitely given us all a lot to think about. Remember to take a break and rest. Just let all the information sink in while you are recharging. Be gentle with yourself, be gentle with others. We are all working through the grief and trauma differently.
Your mental health is important and standing up for what is right can be exhausting. Acknowledge those feelings. Give yourself time for other activities like passion projects and talking to friends! It is perfectly okay to enjoy other things and give your mind some rest.
Most of all don’t forget to breathe and drink some water!
If you need further help coping, don’t be afraid to reach out to others or places like NAMI.
We are in this together. Change is happening. Keep your head up and stay safe!