Solidarity and anti-racism: how to educate yourself and take action

The recent deaths of George Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, Auhmad Aubrey in Georgia, Tony McDade in Florida, and Regis Korchinski-Paquet in Toronto have sparked a movement of protests in the U.S. and Canada that has been echoed in cities around the world. People are taking to the streets and to social media to raise their voices against the systemic oppression and racism that has caused countless Black people to lose their lives.

The fight against acts of injustice has been taking place for a long time, and there is still a long way to go. We need to advocate for better policy to hold our governments accountable and ensure all lives are truly protected and valued equally. While we advocate for immediate policy reform, we also need to recognize that the roots of racist acts lie in the ignorance and racial bias that many people unconsciously perpetuate.

Turning the tide will require much more than standing in solidarity - it will require action. In addition to protesting, donating, and signing petitions, we should take this moment to self-educate, discuss, and reflect. It is not enough to simply not be racist; we need to be actively anti-racist by generating dialogue and promoting change.

Results Canada stands in solidarity with those directly impacted by the systemic racism and inequality that exists in every country in the world. In keeping with our experience in ‘education and action’, we have compiled the following list of resources to help you learn about anti-racism so you can take action against injustice.

get educated

Racial equity starts at home. If you’re new to anti-racism work, take the time to educate yourself and engage in meaningful conversations with your friends and family about the history and current realities of systemic racism.

• Check out this list of anti-racism resources, including resources for educating children, articles, podcasts, books, tv shows, films, social media accounts you can follow, and more!
• Check out Justice in June for a month-long schedule of anti-racism education with options to learn for 10, 25, or 45 minutes per day.

take action

Sign Petitions

Signing petitions is one way to add your voice to a chorus of voices calling for change. Click here for a list of petitions you can sign in support of action for George Floyd (Minneapolis), Regis Korchinski-Paquet (Toronto), and many others who have lost their lives to acts of racism.

Donate

The following Canadian organizations work to fight racism and support Black Canadians. If you have the means, donate to them and support their work.

• Black Legal Action Centre: provides free legal services for low income Black residents in Ontario.
• Black Liberation Collective: beginning at Ryerson University, this is a movement of students challenging anti-Black racism on campus.
• Black Health Alliance: charity looking to reduce health inequalities in access to healthcare in Canada.

See this Huffington Post article for more organizations to donate to.

• Support Black-owned businesses:
  • Click here to find a list of Black-owned businesses in Ottawa posted by Instagram influencer Dominique Baker.
  • Visit afrobiz.ca to find more Black-owned businesses near you.

Use social media

Social media is a powerful tool to raise your voice and increase awareness. Here are some tips for doing so effectively:

• Refer to this list (page 3) to find organizations you can follow on social media who are actively fighting racism.
• Amplify Black voices as much as possible. There is an incredible number of non-Black people speaking up for justice, but don’t forget to keep Black experiences at the forefront of every conversation.
• Don’t share videos of police brutality. These can be very harmful for many people to see and aren’t necessary to understand the gravity of the situation.
• Share resources and information, including petitions and organizations you can donate to.

Protest

Attend a protest if you can do it safely while following the recommended COVID-19 safety precautions. Taking to the street and showing your stance on these issues is extremely powerful. Follow these steps to ensure the safety of yourself and others while protesting. Remember: we are still in a pandemic, so be sure to prioritize health and safety, and don’t attend a protest if it will put you or others at risk.

Please email us at communications@resultscanada.ca if you have any questions.

Racism is a global humanitarian issue that has persisted for centuries and achieving racial equality requires the participation of everyone. Thank you for doing your part.