Stories

How to Take Action Against Inequality, Now

Black neighbors - we see you. We hear you. We stand with you. We also know that actions speak louder than words and that while the power of social media is strong, it is not enough to make real, lasting change without actions to back up the messages we all share.

Below is an evolving list of resources we have found helpful, that you too can use to educate yourself, guide your conversations with children, deepen your understanding of systemic racism and inequality (as well as give you the tools needed to talk about it), and support local Black- led nonprofits and Black-owned businesses as a way to advocate for them.

Charlotte - we need your help. Please send us additional resources for us to consider including as we continue to grow this list and identify ways to learn, take action, and ultimately take steps towards a more informed and compassionate community, together. 

If you have not yet, please take a moment to read our statement of renewed commitment here.

EDUCATE YOURSELF:

• This web-based workbook from Dismantling Racism Works was originally designed to support the Dismantling Racism Works 2-day basic workshop and is now being offered as a resource to the community.

• Listen to the podcast ‘Seeing White’ that takes a deep dive into racial inequality and where the notion of “whiteness” came from.

• Download or purchase and read The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander. You can read an excerpt from the introduction here. 

• Check out 8cantwait.org to learn about the eight policies that data has proven together can decrease police violence by 72% and check out which of these policies Charlotte has already enacted.

• Warner Bros. has made its 2019 film “Just Mercy”- a movie interpretation of Bryan Stevenson’s personal memoir- available to stream for free for the month of June.‘ free to stream in the month of June for systemic racism education. Watch it on YouTube, iTunes, Amazon Prime Video and Google Play now free of charge. 

• Oprah Magazine has published this list of 18 Movies and Documentaries That Confront Race in America.

• Watch this 10 minute video from Emmanuel Acho titled Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man that Acho created to answer questions he continuously hears White people asking in regards to the current protests, white privilege and more. 

• Check out this article from Medium* “Where do I donate? Why is the uprising violent? Should I go protest?” 

  • *Note: Sourced from Medium, to review their editorial standards, click here.

• These books that have been awarded Coretta Scott King Book Awards demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values for children and young adults. 

• Read the Black Social Change Funders Network’s The Case for Funding Black-Led Social Change that was created as a charge to inspire sustained commitment to strengthen and expand the infrastructure for Black-led social, institutional and political power in the U.S.

• Watch this episode of What Matters that combines documentary narrative with interviews to illuminate specific, timely issues, aiming to create safe dialogue to promote freedom, justice, and collective liberation.

• Check out these 10 podcasts that aim to dismantle racism and serve as a step towards a more informed society.

• These 20 picture books help kids embrace race, provide solace & inspire them to do good.

   

 HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS:

• Listen to this segment from On Point Radio titled “How To Talk To Your Kids About Race, Racism And Police Violence”

• Here is an easy to follow guide for Discussing Difficult Situations With Your Children. For more resources for talking about race, racism, and racialized violence with kids, go here. 

• Our friends at Profound Gentlemen shared that they have been using a tool made by Deepa Iyer to help uncover each of their roles in creating a Beloved Community Ecosystem. You can use this tool and reflection guide with your team, household, or during personal reflection time.

• One easy first step to approaching conversations about race and inequality is to broaden your circle of relationships. Read this example of how one local group of women is intentionally doing just that. 

• The Wall Street Journal published an article titled How to Talk to Your Children About the Protests consisting of advice for parents from pediatricians, educators and other experts on conversations about race and violence surrounding the demonstrations.

• Check out this list of 100 Race-Conscious Things You Can Say To Your Child to Advance Racial Justice.

SUPPORT BLACK-LED, BLACK-BENEFITING CHARLOTTE NONPROFITS:

Did you know:  There is racial inequality even within philanthropy?  Read this recently published research titled Disparities in Funding for Leaders of Color to learn how race plays a part in philanthropic funding.

• A local Black nonprofit leader recently shared that he believes gifts from community members, partners and board members are forms of honest and authentic advocacy. SHARE Charlotte has created this filter on our website to help you easily identify, learn more about, and advocate for SHARE’s Mecklenburg County Black-led, Black-benefiting  nonprofit partners.    

SUPPORT BLACK OWNED LOCAL BUSINESSES:

• Follow @cltblackowned on Instagram- a new account created as a place to support, highlight, and increase the visibility of our local black businesses and services.

• Our friends at QCity Metro published this list of Charlotte Black-owned restaurants that are open for take-out and delivery at this time.

• Check out Support Local Or Else’s growing list of resources to support Black Owned Businesses in town.

• The Charlotte Observer’s Deanna Taylor explains Why You Should Support Black-Owned Businesses in Charlotte and Elsewhere and curated a list of 100+ black-owned shops, restaurants and studios in Charlotte to patron.

• Yelp has now made it easier to search for Black-owned businesses by adding features that allow Black-Owned businesses to identify themselves as well as enable customers to specifically search for Black-owned businesses. Read more.

• Yelp Charlotte has created a growing list of Black-owned businesses local to Charlotte that you can check out, and plan to patron, here!

   

USE YOUR VOICE:

• If you are  peacefully protesting- be sure you know your protesters’ rights.

• Exercise your First Amendment rights and write to local elected officials for the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, or the State of North Carolina, here! (Press the ‘search’ with “Charlotte, NC” already populated, or enter your personal address).

• VOTE. Not registered? Go here.