Personal and Professional Resources For Anti-Racism Work
At bbatx, we serve a broad community of creatives, entrepreneurs and leaders. 50% of that community on any given day is white. In respect to the events of the last few weeks, we have felt a responsibility to both address that whiteness and hold space for our Black and Brown community members—and for ourselves.
For those of us who are white and non-Black, what we do in this moment matters, because moments like these happen within our daily realities, even if they are not always visible or viral. Multiple community groups across the country have been gathering to protest the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery at the hands of police and civilians—and in Austin organizations are also calling for the accountability for the death of Mike Ramos, whose life was taken a few weeks ago by APD and has yet to see accountability. Organizers are risking their lives to be heard here in Texas, as well as across the country in Minnesota and other states, because a response is urgent.
White supremacy leads to more than police brutality—it determines who and what we assign power to and how we make decisions. So, our attention, critical thinking skills and commitment to long-term change is necessary. Our team has collected resources from friends, anti-racist organizations and activists on starting and continuing anti-racism work in our personal and professional lives. Commit to listening and learning from people who do this work everyday.
For all of our team members, friends, family and extended community reading this who have been navigating the racism and mental health load of this, thank you for letting us share. It’s OK to rest, it’s OK to be angry, and it’s OK to be. Stay well and stay safe.
BEFORE YOU READ: THIS IS A LONG LIST, AND ANTI-RACISM WORK IS NOT DONE OVERNIGHT.
It can be tempting to look at this list and shut down. Start with one thing. Return the next day. Then, the day after that. We are all learning here. We will also be adding to this list as our board approves resources and recommendations shared with us. It will evolve and change, and you are welcome to bookmark this and revisit.
Personal and Professional Resources For Anti-Racism Work
First, watch Doing The Work: Anti-Racism As An Everyday Practice.
On August 15, bbatx hosted an action-oriented conversation with anti-racist educators and activists Briona Jenkins and Pamela Benson-Owens about implementing anti-racism practices in our personal and professional lives.
SECOND, READ THROUGH THESE PERSONAL RESOURCES FOR ANTI-RACISM WORK FOR WHITE AND NON-BLACK FOLKS.
ON TAKING ACTION & IMPLEMENTING ANTI-RACISM WORK IN YOUR DAY TO DAY LIFE.
Pause before you act. This Twitter thread, 10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship, helps.
Read Opinion: Will You Run? A Message For White Austin by Rosa Rebellion co-founder Virginia Cumberbatch.
Attend Stand Against Racism educational events for resources and continued learning.
Understand the difference between individual and systemic racism with these resources.
Be mindful of the sources, stories and thoughts you repost. Sharing trauma porn and supporting activists who perpetuate and profit from trauma porn (like Shaun King) can be detrimental to the communities experiencing racism.
Donate to community bail funds to assist those wrongfully arrested when protesting. Texas Civil Rights Project is organizing a fund specifically for Texas, and 400+1 has a bail fund specifically for Austin.
Move past shock at the violence that racism causes. Show up for anti-racist movements and speak out with your solidarity and support. See additional resources and movements to support below as you scroll.
Talk to your family members and immediate community members (beyond social media) about what this means. Address the racism in your own room. Here’s a great tool from a speaker within our programs, Megan Saxelby, on how to do just that: Dignity and Confronting Racism
Seek therapy if you feel extreme discomfort or find yourself emotionally agitated when attempting to dismantle your own racism or explore the topic. You’ve got work to do!
Complete these 20 Action Items From Black Lives Matter Austin.
Research the role of policing in our society and its racial impact and racist origins. 8 To Abolition has compiled a roadmap to a world without police—study it and imagine what this may look like in your immediate community.
Determine where you show up in building an anti-racist future. For us at bbatx, we are aligning ourselves with the demands of Austin Justice Coalition and requesting that the City of Austin defund APD, as well as divest from policing in our schools and community spaces. You can cast your vote on the City of Austin budget here.
Report incidents of police brutality in Austin, Texas to the Office of Police Oversight.
Remember the work is ongoing, and racism is systemic. Disparities are amplified in times of crisis. Consider what you can do now to mitigate racism during the pandemic.
Circulate your currency outside of non-Black communities! Here’s a guide on how to do it, and here’s a list of businesses in Austin to start with.
Explore your alternatives to calling the police in times of conflict. Read this compilation from Ethel’s Club.
Donate your money, learn from and and pay attention to organizations committed to anti-racist work. Please scroll below for additional resources.
NONPROFITS AND INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT WITH YOUR MONEY AND ATTENTION WHO COMBAT ANTI-BLACK RACISM
Black Lives Matter: A national nonprofit with subchapters across the US, organizing against racism
Communities of Color United — Coalition For Racial Justice: Advancing racial justice, building community and solidarity across communities of color, and supporting collective self-determination
NAACP: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Zinn Education Project: Free lessons and resources for teaching anti-racist history in classrooms
YWCA ATX: Eliminating racism in our communities
Black Visions Collective: Creative and social justice community amplifying Black voices in Minnesota
The Afiya Center: Reproductive justice organization centering Black women and Black communities
Measure Austin: Anti-racist Data Activism
Austin Justice Coalition: Anti-racist justice work and political organizing (please follow for Austin-local protest information)
Community Advocacy and Healing Project: Self-care resources for Black women and women of color
allgo QPOCTX: Cultural arts, wellness and social justice programming for queer people of color
Grassroots Leadership: works to abolish for-profit private prisons, jails, and detention centers.
House of Rebirth: a transformative housing initiative led by and for Black trans women in Dallas, Texas
400+1: Building community-led movements for Black liberation
Black Queer Lives Matter ATX: a grassroots movement to amplify Black queer lives in Austin, Texas
Black Mamas ATX: Combating the maternal mortality crisis and saving the lives of Black Mothers in Texas
Mama Sana Vibrant Woman ATX: connecting women of color and people of color to culturally humble birth support
Austin Black Pride: a 501 (c) 3 organization, was recreated in 2016 with queer people of color in mind
Click here for a list of organizations and movements led by Black trans women that you can support and amplify.
Donate to Austin Black Business Journal's Central Texas Black-Owned Business Relief Fund.
ON NAVIGATING RACISM WITHIN YOUR FAMILY
Commit to raising anti-racist kids.
Exploring Critical Family History: Unpacking Racist Lineages
Zinn Education Project: Free lessons and resources for teaching anti-racist history in classrooms
Read Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi.
ON DOING THE EDUCATIONAL WORK
Not sure where to start and how to build anti-racism work into your life? This Justice in June calendar can help you break it down into daily and weekly action steps and educational moments.
Read How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X Kendi.
Read This Book Is Anti-Racist by Tiffany M. Jewell.
Read The 1619 Project and listen to the accompanying podcast.
Watch 13th and When They See Us by Ava Duvernay on Netflix.
Watch The Urgency of Intersectionality, a TED Talk by Kimberle Crenshaw (who coined the term intersectionality).
Get to some essential reading for anti-racism work: Part One, Part Two
Commit to understanding Systems Thinking and Race.
Read About The Weary Weaponizing of White Women Tears by Luvvie Ajayi.
Read Opinion: I Have Not Missed The Amy Coopers of The World by Ernest Owens for The New York Times.
Read recent key findings and stay up to date on the City of Austin’s Office of Police Oversight.
If you cannot physically protest, please read 26 Ways To Be In The Struggle Beyond The Streets.
Explore alternatives to policing. 8 To Abolition has compiled a roadmap to a world without police.
THIRD, take time to sit with how this applies to your professional life.
FOR ANY AND ALL WORKPLACES
FOR NONPROFITS AND LEADERS
The New Philanthropists: Organization working to create more equitable charity work and fundraising
Diverse City, LLC: Provide a solutions oriented approach to helping companies assess, and solve issues of growth and development in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
Community Resilience Trust Austin: Offering culturally competent resources and access to anti-racist leaders focused on systemic change
Impact DEI: We help brands embed diversity, equity, and inclusion.
FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS
On Creating Inclusion Riders in the Music Industry
The live music industry is also plagued by institutional racism.
Racism in the Interfaces: Understanding racism in UX/UI design work
Ethical, anti-racist protest reporting practices for journalists
FOURTH, WE’VE COMPILED SOME MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR BLACK FOLKS AND POC WHO HAVE SHARED THIS LIST WITH SOMEONE.
ON NAVIGATING RACISM + TAKING CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Black Wellness Guide: Self-Care Resources For Healing and Overcoming Racial Trauma (National)
A Guided Meditation For Stressed Out Girls by Evelyn From The Internets and Black Girl In Om (National + Texas)
The Nap Ministry: Rest As Resistance (National)
Inclusive Therapists (National)
Directories for Therapists of Color from Davia Roberts (National)
YWCA Austin: The YWCA holds regular convenings and weekly discussions to explore the impact of racism and sexism within our society. Beyond that, they offer therapy options. (Texas)
Community Advocacy and Healing Project: Self-care resources for Black women and women of color (Texas)
allgo QPOCTX: Cultural arts, wellness and social justice programming for queer people of color (Texas)
Rosa Rebellion: Creative activism for Black women and women of color (National + Texas)
Conscious Coven: Meditation and healing circles centering Black women and Black voices (Texas)
BIPOC Central Texas Creative Network: Add your name to this list for gigs, creative work and other job-related things (Texas)
Deeds Not Words: Racial Justice Support and Education Guide (Texas)
In Bold Company podcast: a digital storytelling platform and community for women of color to explore, thrive, grow, and connect
FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR BLACK PROFESSIONALS + LEADERS
AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, PLEASE REMEMBER THEIR NAMES.
Racism and white supremacy needs to stop, because Black lives matter. We send our condolences to the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, as well as all other families, grieving lives lost to police brutality and racist civilian violence.
Curious about us and what we do?
Learn more here.