How can we all support the Black Lives Matter movement? Seoana Sherry-Brennan 10 Jun 2020 Since the death of George Floyd, a black man from Minnesota, during police custody, the Black Lives Matter movement has once again been propelled into the public eye. New generations are discovering what the movement stands for, and unraveling the complicated history surrounding racism, both here and overseas. As images and videos of anti-racism protests and demonstrations flood our television and phone screens, millions of people across the globe are asking themselves what they can do to show their solidarity for the BLM movement. We’ve gathered some useful resources and listed some actions which you can safely support and participate in while lock-down is still in place. Just make sure to check in with your parents, to make sure they’re happy for you to be reading/watching/ the things on the list! Books you can read Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman A Phoenix Must First Burn by Patrice Caldwell The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Dear Martin by Nic Stone The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow Who Put This Song On by Morgan Parker Pride by Ibi Zoboi Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan The Boy At the Back of the Class by Onjali Rauf The Story of the Windrush by K. N. Chimbiri What is Race? Who are Racists? Why Does Skin Colour Matter? And Other Big Questions by Claire Heuchan and Nikesh Shukla Say Her Name (poems to empower) by Zetta Elliot This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell The Life of Stephen Lawrence by Verna Allette Wilkins Check out these black-owned British bookstores, which are accepting online orders! The Sevenoaks Bookshop Round Table Books New Beacon Books Pepukayi Books Books of Africa Jacaranda Books No Ordinary Bookshop Things you can watch Hidden Figures Sitting In Limbo Black-ish Just Mercy Selma When They See Us 13th The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Becoming Akeelah and the Bee Ruby Bridges Charities you can support Show Racism the Red Card Black Lives Matter UK Runnymede Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI) Stop Hate UK Things you can do Write to your MP You can write a letter to your Member of Parliament, the easiest way to find the details of your MP is via WriteToThem, a website which allows you to type in your postcode and it will create an email outline to send to your MP. Below are three main points you could include in your letter: Please suspend the sale of teargas, riot shields, and rubber bullets to the United States as they are being used against even peaceful protestors. Please ask that the UK parliament publicly condemn Trump’s use of force against his own citizens. Please ask the government to respond to the report that has just been released about disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19. Sign petitions Improve Maternal Mortality Rates and Health Care for Black Women in the U.K. Anti-Racism Education to be Compulsory in UK Schools Teach British children about the realities of British Imperialism and Colonialism Battle racism by updating GCSE reading lists Include Afro Hair Education In The Hairdressing NVQ Amplify the voices of Black creatives Have you got a favourite Black YouTuber, musician, artist or writer? Tell your friends, family and everyone else about them! Highlight them on your social media feeds and help to give more people access to their amazing content! Groups supporting young people of colour Kids of Colour A platform for young people of colour to explore race, identity and culture and challenge the everyday, institutionalised racism that shapes their lives. Colours Youth Network An LGBTQ group supporting young people of colour to explore and celebrate who they are. VOYAGE A social justice charity that aims to empower marginalised black young people and provide them with the self-awareness and motivation to transform themselves and their communities. Check out more useful resources on the London Bi Pandas website. If you have any more ideas on how young people can help to support the Black Lives Matter movement, please share them with us on Instagram!
