Embracing Black Lives Matter

We discuss Embracing #BlackLivesMatter: A Conversation on Trauma, the Courage to Speak Out, Compassion to Witness and How to Respond on Realityradio101.com.
We pay attention to the deep and traumatic roots of Black Lives Matter and unpack the layers of how to respond effectively as individuals and within communities. I dialogue with mental health professional, Ornge trauma team lead and anti-racism trainer, Tom Walker.
After the murder of George Floyd the public outcry continues to be a powerful voice that is awakening the world to the injustice of systemic racism that so many have turned their backs on for too long. At this critical moment while witnessing continued acts of social injustice and violence against Persons of Color – it is important that we take pause to understand what it means to Bear Witness while engaging in right action moving toward meaningful solutions.
I am personally in awe of the continued courage and persistence of those directly participating in the Black Lives Matter protests happening in the U.S. and around the world. Those who are putting their voices and actions forward, are speaking out clearly about what has to change in our perceptions, in our daily actions and in the way we create societies that will truly respect and include everyone with dignity and equality.
It is no doubt, hard for many to focus and listen deeply to the painful voices of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. There is much shame in “white privilege” and there is longing for some to turn away. It is important to address one’s own views and be uncomfortable with the reality of racism in our lives. This is the moment to grapple with the reality of our inaccurate perception of being “nice normal folks, in a nice normal world”. This is simply not always true, and with this limited perspective, we may fail to see the experiences of friends, neighbours and colleagues that are confronted with racism every day.
We discuss and explore:
- Why #Black lives Matter accurately represents the issue and Why “All Lives Matter” phrase is a distraction.
- What #Defund the Police, actually means and how it could benefit all including policing services. Michael Moore does a great job explaining this. Also related is “8 Anti-Racism Policing Policies that Cannot Wait”.
- What the Anti-Racism Experts like Reni Eddo-Lodge, Robin DeAngelo, and Resmaa Menakem (author of Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence” ongoing.org) have to say.
- What White Fragility Is (Robin DeAngelo coined the phrase) and knowing when it strikes.
- Using “Love, Kindness and Wisdom” to help us through this. Resmaa Menakem provides incredibly meaningful guidance on this.
- Why Anitifa is NOT the same as #Black Lives Matter and why you need to know this.
- Realityradio101.com; June 25, 2020 from 1-2 pm EDT.
- Email questions/comments live during the Show: instudio101@gmail.com
- Phone: 1-866-905-7325 or 905-725-1907
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Anti-Racism Resources:
- Books:Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults
- Podcasts:Parenting Forward podcast episode ‘Five Pandemic Parenting Lessons with Cindy Wang Brandt’
- Fare of the Free Child podcast
- Articles: PBS’s Teaching Your Child About Black History Month
- The Conscious Kid:follow them on Instagram and consider signing up for their Patreon
Articles to read:
- “America’s Racial Contract Is Killing Us”by Adam Serwer | Atlantic (May 8, 2020)
- Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement (Mentoring a New Generation of Activists
- “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant” by Jose Antonio Vargas | NYT Mag (June 22, 2011)
- The 1619 Project (all the articles) | The New York Times Magazine
- The Combahee River Collective Statement
- “The Intersectionality Wars” by Jane Coaston | Vox (May 28, 2019)
- Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups developed by Craig Elliott PhD
- “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Knapsack Peggy McIntosh
- “Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi | Atlantic (May 12, 2020)
Videos to watch:
- Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives: Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett, Charlene Carruthers (50:48)
- “How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion”| Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26)
Podcasts to subscribe to:
- 1619 (New York Times)
- About Race
- Code Switch (NPR)
- Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw
- Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast
- Pod For The Cause (from The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights)
- Pod Save the People (Crooked Media)
- Seeing White
Books to read:
- Black Feminist Thoughtby Patricia Hill Collins
- Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpowerby Dr. Brittney Cooper
- Heavy: An American Memoirby Kiese Laymon
- How To Be An Antiracistby Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Singsby Maya Angelou
- Just Mercyby Bryan Stevenson
- Me and White Supremacyby Layla F. Saad
- Raising Our Handsby Jenna Arnold
- Redefining Realnessby Janet Mock
- Sister Outsiderby Audre Lorde
- So You Want to Talk About Raceby Ijeoma Oluo
- The Bluest Eyeby Toni Morrison
- The Fire Next Timeby James Baldwin
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindnessby Michelle Alexander
- The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Centuryby Grace Lee Boggs
- The Warmth of Other Sunsby Isabel Wilkerson
- Their Eyes Were Watching Godby Zora Neale Hurston
- This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Colorby Cherríe Moraga
- When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century Americaby Ira Katznelson
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PhD
Films and TV series to watch:
- 13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
- American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix
- Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent
- Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent
- Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix
- Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent
- I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — Available to rent or on Kanopy
- If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu
- Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent
- King In The Wilderness — HBO
- See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix
- Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent
- The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Available to rent
- The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Hulu with Cinemax
- When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
Organizations to follow on social media:
- Antiracism Center: Twitter
- Audre Lorde Project: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- Black Women’s Blueprint: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- Color Of Change: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- Colorlines: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- The Conscious Kid: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- Families Belong Together: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- MPowerChange: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- Muslim Girl: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- NAACP: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- National Domestic Workers Alliance: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- RAICES: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- SisterSong: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
- United We Dream: Twitter| Instagram | Facebook
More anti-racism resources to check out:
- 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
- Anti-Racism Project
- Jenna Arnold’s resources (books and people to follow)
- Rachel Ricketts’ anti-racism resources
- Resources for White People to Learn and Talk About Race and Racism
- Save the Tears: White Woman’s Guide by Tatiana Mac
- Showing Up For Racial Justice’s educational toolkits
- “Why is this happening?” — an introduction to police brutality from 100 Year Hoodie
- Zinn Education Project’s teaching materials
Access “Compassion Fatigue Resiliency & Recovery” with Dr. Anna Baranowsky & Dr. J. Eric Gentry. You can find the audio recording at:
Another gift back to our community is FREE access to the complete “Trauma Recovery NOW!” audio program.