“The time is always right to do what is right.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.
We all have a voice and now more than ever is the time to stand up and use it. No more excuses. Yes, there’s always more to learn and there are going to be times where our words don’t come out as eloquently as we’d like. Things can (and will) get uncomfortable but that’s not an excuse to stay silent.
Learning is a constant process and it’s okay to not know everything about a particular subject. Accept that and start right where you are. While I might not have all the words to adequately express the outrage I’m feeling right now as I witness what has happened to the black community, I CAN listen and learn more while choosing to make immediate changes like donating to organizations who are creating a lasting positive impact day in and day out. These are three that Branch is supporting:
1. Equal Justice Initiative
2. Color Of Change
3. NAACP Legal Defense Fund
I also know a lot of you are looking for educational resources on racism and many of the popular books are sold out at the moment. Thankfully, I know a lot of you are also podcast junkies like I am! I want to keep this list short and sweet with three podcast recommendations you can search for on iTunes and listen to right this second:
1. 1619: Narrated by Nikole Hannah Jones, this series covers a lot of ground in just 6 episodes explaining slavery in this country from the beginning 400 years ago (before America was even America). It really helps you understand the roots of slavery and racism and how that past still lingers today. So powerful.
2. Code Switch: I find every episode of this podcast so fascinating and enlightening because it explores how race affects every part of our society from politics to pop culture to history.
3. Pod Save The People: This podcast hosted by DeRay Mckesson has more of an activist focus and covers topics around culture, social justice and politics. This is really informative with a lot of current information around voting rights and the upcoming elections.
This is just the beginning but it’s time to build up positive momentum. Remember that every little bit you do helps create a bigger ripple of change. And we need to shine a light on systemic racism, putting an end to it once and for all.
Stop overthinking it. You don’t have to have all the right words. Just stand up and do what you can right now right where you’re at. -Shauna
