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Racial Injustice - Tool Kit to Aid the Black Community

For the Black Community

  • SELF-CARE!
    • Whatever that looks like, and if you need to explore to find it, now is the time
  • Take all the space or none of the space you need. Don’t be afraid to TAKE A BREAK.
  • Don’t feel pressured to speak
  • Find outlets and space where your input matters
  • Don’t feel pressured to carry the Black voice at work or in the classroom
  • Don’t take more burden on than you can carry
  • Find a comfortable support system and community, don’t battle alone
  • If you feel the need to protest, please be safe and make sure those around are there for the same purpose
  • Know what your triggers are
  • Create boundaries

Tips to Practice While Protesting

  • Stay hydrated
  • Dress for weather
  • Bring supplies such as: masks, hand sanitizer, milk, food and first aid
  • Inform an emergency contact
  • Know your area and surroundings
  • Designate rally points with group members
  • Maintain situational awareness and maintain social distance
  • Pay attention to suspicious people, packages and vehicles
  • Stay away from trash cans and mailboxes
  • Find cover or conceal yourself in the event of immediate threat
  • In the event of chemical agents, cover your face and move upwind
  • If there’s an explosion, exit quickly and safely 

Tips to Actively Protest from Home

  • Promote protest and informational updates in your area
  • Offer supplies to protesters
  • Volunteer your services, skills, and talents for protesters (make flyers, legal services, babysitting)
  • Contact government officials and advocate

For Counterparts and Allies

  • Increase your knowledge of the inequalities, anti-racism, critical race theory, culturally responsive teaching and inclusive pedagogy, which impact the Black community 
  • Review Marian's Unity Center Inclusive Language Glossary 
  • Listen more; Talk less to promote the opportunity of gaining perspective and brave space 
  • Try to resist the need to respond with a better or different insight about something you’ve read or listened to as it relates to a shared opinion or experience of a Black person 
  • Know the difference between an ally and wanting to not be a racist
    • An ally works to dismantle systems of oppression 
  • Please refrain from making remarks as if these occurrences are new
    • “I can’t believe this happens in this day and age” 
  • Remember that colorblindness is not a good thing 
  • Be mindful of opening up meetings and interactions with questions like “How are you” or “How was your weekend” during these times, it can be re-triggering 
  • Diversify your social media 
  • Acknowledge what is happening and share your empathy 
  • Don’t stay silent during injustice 
  • Prayer does not always lead to action, as some misuse the free will God has given 
  • Be aware of gas lighting language 
  • Do ask Black colleagues if they would like to make space to discuss BEFORE making space 
    • If yes, be sure to listen, don’t over apologize, don’t ask to be educated, don’t ask if you’ve been racist, and don’t force a Black person to share 
  • Ask for Black input before speaking on or toward the community 
  • 75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice 

Action Item Idea

  • Dispel racism by planning within the following steps:
    • Notice the incident
    • Name the problem
    • Assume personal responsibility to address it
    • Choose an intervention strategy in which to address, act or speak on racism issues
      • Direct – Address the system or aggressor and come between them and the targets
      • Indirect – Address the target that was harmed
      • Distanced – Address the harm and impact
    • Take Action
  • Understand that being in solidarity has roles, which are:
    • Weavers
    • Experimenters
    • Frontline Responders
    • Visionaries
    • Builders
    • Caregivers
    • Disruptors
    • Healers
    • Storytellers
    • Guides
  • Promote opportunities for Black experience outside of the normal occurrences
  • Promote the opportunity for Black students to gain an education, which can positively impact their communities
  • Donate to Organizations that directly benefit the Black community
  • Join text or call movements
  • Bring more Black speakers to campus
  • Sign petitions
  • Assess systemic barriers and oppressions of Black communities, and how to dispel them
  • Register to Vote
  • Check in your black friends, family, partner and colleagues
  • Screenshot, share, and repost resources to educate those around you
  • Don’t center the narrative around you. Identify privilege and condemn it.
  • Stop supporting organizations that promote hate
  • Empathize - Depiction
  • Understand that it is uncomfortable for everyone, whether on the giving or receiving end
  • Be an ally! Continue being an ally after the outrage and don’t wait for an incident to occur.