This resource guide is intended to assist our beloved community in taking inspired action, initiating Conscious Conversations and further shaping an informed plan for supporting the Movement for Black Lives.
At the core of Interfusion lives a deep call to cultivate a global tribe of multicultural visionaries under the shared values of Universal Love, Humility, Non-rivalry, Non-judgment, Caring, Courage and Curiosity. We are each creatives, holding a great responsibility to ourselves and future generations to elevate our collective consciousness, while also honoring our individual wellbeing.
During this time of great transformation and awakening, emotions are high, all consuming feelings real, old wounds reopened and the traumas of our ancestors remembered. Let us be kind to ourselves and others, soften our self judgment, and take time to process emotions and release them in a healthy way.
What we feel, we can heal; it’s what we do as creatives, artists, humanitarians, and visionaries. We feel. We emote. We empathize. We long to understand the human condition.
In a sea of uncertainty, and perhaps a feeling of being “bombarded with lists,” we recognize that there is no ultimate one-size-fits-all manual to do this heart-work. Yet we know that it’s just outside our comfort zones where we begin to grow. As we seek to further educate ourselves and our communities and explore practical ways of making anti-racism a more central part of our lives, may we find the courage to turn inward and sit with the discomfort found there.
Unpacking our identities and systemic oppression is a deeply personal journey. Abolishing racism requires a plan rooted in our unique identities, experiences, influence, resources, strengths, opportunities for growth, and places of privilege and power (or the lack thereof).
Consider the resources below “raw ingredients” for developing your personal recipe to F.E.E.D. the MOVEMENT to end police brutality and racial inequality. May the Liberation Process continue as we nourish radical reconciliation, inclusivity, solidarity, and long-term vision for a just society.
This guide is not all-inclusive, but rather a starting place, a landing space as we each step up and into this marathon toward equality— this is not a race. Remember micromovements can lead to massive shifts.
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Ingredients to F.E.E.D. the Movement
[FOSTERselfcare + EDUCATEyoSelf + ENCOURAGEchange&reform + DONATEtime$skils]
Move the Body | Nourish the Body | Prioritize Mental Health
EDUCATE YOURSELF + YOUR COMMUNITIES
Prioritize learning (and unlearning) | Toolkits + Resource Guides | “Organizing our Own.”| For Parents, Teachers, and Educators | Articles | Books | Podcasts | Things to Watch | Speeches
VOTE | Take Action | Get involved in policy reform and local politics | Bail Funds
Black + Grassroots Organizations | Black Women-led Organizations | Black Owned Businesses
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FOSTER SELF CARE + HEALING
Self Care is revolutionary. Follow your curiosity, your passions, your bliss. Lean into your discomfort and trust your ability to heal. Be a beacon of light. Be still. Listen to your intuition. A great place to find inspiration to nourish your mind-body-soul is Irresistible’s list of Healing Justice Resources for BIPOC organizers and allies.
Guiding question(s):
- What is my plan for maintaining my own wellbeing and energy “to do the work?”
- How can I nurture others on the front lines of this work?
- How can we address intergenerational trauma and collective healing?
- How am I processing my experiences?
- What is my emotional reaction? Notice how it manifests in your body.
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- Joe’s Movement Emporium
- Interfusion Artists & Exhibitors
Nourish the Body
- Black Owned Health, Wellness, and Beauty
- Black Owned Water Companies
- Live Alkaline Water | Black-Owned Bottled Water Brand Makes History
- Organic Seed Collection + resources by DJ Cavem Moetavation
- Uncorked Health & Wellness: Living Uncorked
Prioritize Mental Health
- Liberate Meditation App for the Black, Indigenous and People of Color Community
- MALA FOREST Meditation Resources
- Mental Health and Wellness in a Racism Pandemic by The Obama Foundation
- Therapy For Black Girls (TEXT TRIBE to 741-741)
- Therapy Resources for People of Color
- The Safe Space App
- The Tapping Solution App
EDUCATE YOURSELF + YOUR COMMUNITIES
Prioritize learning (and unlearning), and start conversations in your communities. Two great places to begin for providing a shared foundation for conversation: People, Politics & Reweaving the Social Fabric Guidebook from The People’s Supper, and Conscious Conversations from Interfusion. Consider starting or joining a book, movie, article, or podcast club featuring black creators.
Guiding question(s):
- When was I taught about race/culture, and what do I want to learn more about?
- Whose voices am I learning from and amplifying in this process?
- Who do I want to have conversations with, and how will I progress them?
- How can I be actively anti-racist instead of simply “not racist”?
- How can I support or organize healing justice events and intentional spiritual spaces?
Toolkits + Resource Guides
- Dismantling Racism Works Web Workbook
- How to Be Anti-Racist
- New Era of Public Safety Toolkit for Fair, Safe, and Effective Community Policing
- Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism
- RACE – The Power of an Illusion
- Racial Equity Tools
- Resources Database: Black Lives Matter Initiatives + More
- Student NonViolent Coordinating Committee Today (SNCC resources)
- The Urgent Need for Anti-Racist Education
- We Need to Be Actively Anti-Racist – 18 Articles on How to Take Action Now
“Organizing Our Own”
- 15 Things You Need to Hear and Do Right Now – HipLatina
- 20+ Allyship Actions for Asians to Show Up for the Black Community – Michelle Kim
- 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice – Corinne Shutack
- Five ways white people can take action – Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
- Join a local chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice
- The Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture – Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
- Why Every Latino Has a Responsibility to the Black Lives Matter Movement – Mariela Rosario
For Parents, Teachers, and Educators
- About MBK Communities – Obama Foundation
- Being Antiracist
- Black Youth Project
- Children’s Defense Fund – Freedom Schools Program
- Diverse List of Books For Children | @HereWeeRead Diversity and Inclusion Expert
- Elmo’s Dad explains Racism and Black Lives Matter
- Gorilla Thumps and Bear Hugs: A Tapping Solution Children’s Story
- Kindness 101 with Steve Hartman: Compassion
- No White Saviors: Kids Books About Black Women in US History
- Sunrise Movement
- Talking Race With Young Children
- The Tapping Solution | For Students with Stress
- The Urgent Need for Anti-Racist Education
Articles
- A History: The Construction of Race and Racism
- America’s Original Sin: Slavery Never Ended, It Just Evolved
- Are Prisons Obsolete? – Angela Davis
- Being Antiracist – National Museum of African American History & Culture
- Denver black artists contemplate their role during nationwide George Floyd protests
- How Science and Genetics are Reshaping the Race Debate of the 21st Century | Harvard
- Inspiring Lessons from Ruby Bridges: A True American Heroine| CDF
- Implicit Bias and Structural Inequity – National Equity Project
- In ‘American Race,’ Charles Barkley Is A Stubborn Believer In The Power Of Dialogue | NPR
- Jane Elliott | One Race
- Meaning of “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.” – Audre Lorde — Activist School
- No Place for Self-Pity, No Room for Fear – Toni Morrison
- Race Is a Social Construct, Scientists Argue
- Remembering Vincent Harding – Veterans of Hope
- Removing race from human genetic research – Drexel University
- Rich History Of Underground Railroad Runs Just Outside Of Washington, DC | MAP
- The Science of Race
- There’s No Scientific Basis for Race—It’s a Made-Up Label | NatGeo
- This Vegan Rapper is the O.G. of EcoHipHop (original gardener) – Chandra Thomas Whitfield
- What Is BIPOC and Why You Should Use It – Her Campus
- White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack – Racial Equality Tools
- Why Do Protests Fail? (Symposium One) – Activist Graduate School
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- Black Communities Face Dangerous Clean Water and Environmental Risks – Linda Goler Bloun
- Clean Water Action | Action for Clean Water Since 1972
- When it comes to access to clean water, ‘race is still strongest determinant,’ report says
- Why So Many Americans Don’t Have Access to Clean Water | Time
Books
- Assata (Shakur), An Autobiography ~ Assata Shakur
- Becoming ~ Michelle Obama
- Between the World and Me ~ Ta-Nehisi Coates
- How to be an Antiracist ~ Ibram X. Kendi
- Stamped from the Beginning ~ Ibram X. Kendi
- The End of Protest: A New Playbook for Revolution ~ Micah White
- The New Human Rights Movement: Reinventing the Economy to end Oppression ~ Peter Joseph
- They Came Before Columbus ~ Ivan Van Sertima
- White Fragility ~ Robin DiAngelo
- Why I No Longer Talk to White People About Race ~ Reni Eddo-Lodge
Public/Independent Media + Podcasts
- 1A | Speak Freely
- Code Switch
- DeepThoughtMedia
- Destination Freedom: An Historical Radio Drama
- Destination Freedom’s podcast
- Here & Now
- Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
- The Kojo Nnamdi Show
Things to Watch / Independent Media
- 1 Angry Black Man ~ SOULIDIFLY
- 13th ~ Netflix
- Crime + Punishment ~ Hulu
- Good Trouble ~ Freeform Network
- Ferguson: A Report from Occupied Territory
- I am Not Your Negro ~ Amazon
- Let the Fire Burn ~ Amazon
- Selma ~ Amazon
- The Black Power Mixtape ~ Amazon
- The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson ~ Netflix
- They’ve Gotta Have US ~ Netflix
- When They See Us ~ Netflix
- 29 Movies, Shows, and Documentaries to Watch to Educate Yourself on Racial Injustice
Speeches
- EdChange – Index Multicultural Speeches
- Malcolm and Martin | Esquire | APRIL 1972
- Malcolm X | The Ballot or the Bullet
ENCOURAGE REFORM
Maintain a questioning frame of mind. Take a breath before responding and reacting, and ask yourself: Am I being a beacon of light and love or am I spewing darkness and hate? Be kind to yourself, and be kind to others who don’t agree with you.
Guiding question(s):
- How can I identify windows of opportunity to take action toward anti-racism?
- How can I inspire my family/community to understand the importance of voting for local officials?
- What institutions/organizations/local platforms am I connected to, and how can I promote change from within?
- What are my local politicians’ policies, and how can I advocate for reform?
VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
- Support efforts to encourage others to vote. A few actions to get your creative juices flowing:
- Register to vote
- SNCC – Learn from the Past, Organize for the Future, Make Democracy Work (resources from SNCC)
- Support one of these voting rights organizations (resources from Headcount)
- Support the People For the American Way
Take Action: follow the lead of Black activists, organizations, and communities
- Resources Database: Black Lives Matter Initiatives + More
- Make a formal statement on behalf of your organization clearly indicating its stance and actionable items/plan for the future
- When Black folks document accounts of racism posted on social media, share it
- If you are unable to take to the streets, there are many ways to support, nourish and sustain frontline defenders. A few actions to get your creative juices flowing:
- Check in on your BIPOC friends, family, and colleagues
- Offer to be an emergency contact for people attending marches/rallies
- Attend strategy calls | offer to help create a safety plan
- Send a meal or monetary donation to your marching friends paypal/venmo
- Offer to babysit for frontlines defenders
- Attend or host a “know your rights” training
- Maintain an open and questioning frame of mind
- Stop supporting organizations/businesses that promote hate or fund white supremacy
Get involved in policy reform + local politics
- See a list of local demands by city via M4BL
- See a list of petitions demanding justice [petitions tab]
- Learn and/or support HR 40 Is Not a Symbolic Act. It’s a Path to Restorative Justice
- Research your local prosecutors and decision makers.
- Support efforts to end police brutality. A few actions to get your creative juices flowing:
- Ask your congresspeople to support Reps. Presley and Omar’s resolution condemning police brutality
- Encourage your policymakers to implement safe and effective community policing
- Leave a message for Louisville mayor demanding justice for Breanna Taylor: (502–5 74–2003)
- Call for your mayor to address use of force policies
DONATE TIME | $$$ | SKILLS
Research and support organizations working on the frontlines of social justice. Invest in Black businesses, creatives and content creators.
Guiding question(s):
- What am I passionate about?
- What resources do I have to contribute?
- What organizations could really use my help right now?
- What are creative solutions I can dream of? What new opportunities are available?
- What new responsibilities confront creative activists?
Black + Grassroots Organizations
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Ayana Therapy
- Black Brown Unity
- Black Lives Matter Fund
- Black Visions Collective
- Byp100: HOME
- Campaign Zero
- Children’s Defense Fund
- Color of Change
- Joe’s Movement Emporium
- NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
- Obama Foundation
- Official George Floyd Memorial Fund organized by Philonise Floyd
- Poor People’s Campaign – A National Call for Moral Revival
- Reclaim the Block
- SURJ – Showing Up for Racial Justice
- Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
- The BIPOC Project
- The King Center
- Therapy for Black Girls
- United We Dream | The Largest Immigrant Youth-Led Network
- Veterans of Hope
Black Women-led Organizations
- Black Feminist Future
- Black Girls Code
- Black Mamas Matter
- Emergent Fund
- Higher Heights
- Mama Fund
- National Black Women’s Justice Institute
- The Audre Lorde Project
- The Black Doula Project
- The Loveland Foundation
- The Nap Ministry
Buy from Black Businesses
- 20 Black designers to support instead of Gucci and Prada
- Official Black Wall Street
- Support Black Owned Business
- The Black Wallet
- WeBuyBlack
- Wellness Gift Guide from Black-owned Businesses
Thank you Marc Brewer and others for the thoughtful contributions to this list. This is a live document that may be added to over time by the community.
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~Chivonnie Gius & Lindsay Jean Bigda