Black Lives Matter – Show your Support

On Tuesday 2nd June, companies, individuals and the media filled social media with black squares in order to ‘mute’ their usual content so that people could use the platforms to share important information and to educate themselves and others, on the Black Lives Matter movement. The event was called ‘Blackout Tuesday’ with the organisers saying they wanted people to “use the day to disconnect from work and reconnect with a community through an urgent step of action to provoke accountability and change”. 

It was a powerful move, however people should be doing more than just sharing a black square and thinking that it is. Lots of people when they ‘muted’ their usual social media content decided to share information, resources and content that people can learn from and use to take action and support the lives of black people. 

The important thing to realise is that there are lots of ways you can help and show your support. We know we don’t have all the answers and we don’t know everything, but we want to learn and do more. With that in mind, below are some ways you can learn more and show your support. Again this is just the start and we encourage you to do your research, share it with others and ask yourself if you can do more. 

Follow accounts

• @BlkLivesMatter
• @BLMUK
• @Unitedwedream
• @fusemanchester

Donate to causes 

Following the death of George Floyd and the protest across the USA, a number of fundraising funds have been created to support George’s family, bail out those arrested at protests and support the wider Black Lives Matter movement. 

• Black Lives Matter
• Black Visions Collective
• Reclaim the Block
• Official George Floyd Memorial Fund
• National Bail Fund Network 

There are also plenty of organisations and trusts in the UK you can donate to and support. 

• Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust 
• Stand Up To Racism
• Black Minds Matter
• The Black Curriculum 

Sign petitions

There are lots of petitions out there for you to add your name to. 

• Justice for George Floyd 
• #WeCantBreathe
• British schools to implement teaching children about black history

Read 

• Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race – Reni Eddo-Lodge
• BRIT(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging – Afua Hirsch
• Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire – Akala
• Me and White Supremacy – Layla F Saad
• How To Be an Antiracist – Ibram X Kendi

Support black-owned businesses

There are lots of great black-owned businesses which you can support, here are over 50 in the UK.

Research & Share

Do your research. Ask questions and search for the answers. Then please share the information with others. 

As we mentioned we also want to learn, share and do more, which is why we’re looking for speakers for a panel event. If you know of anyone we should be reaching out to then please let us know in the comments below or by getting in touch [email protected]. 

Categorised in: Community

This post was written by manchester