Your Anti-Racism Action Plan – Starts Now!

Hello Meltingpot Community,

It’s day 56,000 of the global pandemic and day seven of our new world order. Yes, America is turned upside down and inside out and we’re all just trying to figure out what to do, what not to do, what to say, who to say it to… I feel you Meltingpot Community. Because I feel it too. Part of me just wants to tend to my garden and wait for somebody else to fix this mess. And when I say fix this mess, I mean find a cure for Covid-19  AND dismantle white supremacy. Is that too much to ask?

Who feels the same way? (Are your hands raised?)

Do Something!

The thing is, nothing gets better if we wait for someone else to do the work. We all have to do something. Even if it’s just a little something. But let me be clear. We don’t want any of our freedom fighters to kill themselves in the battle. You don’t have to sacrifice your mind and body for the cause. You can do a lot and still be caring for yourself and your family. In fact, some of the things you do for this liberation fight could actually be enjoyable. If you get your mindset right.

I’ve said it before and I’ll keep it saying it until everybody understands. Anti-racism work doesn’t have to hurt. What hurts is racism. Racism hurts a lot. The side-effects of racism are painful too and they are felt by everyone. Not just people of color. I believe if people joined in this fight with the idea that they were building a new world order, a new social paradigm where all people could be actually enjoy the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then this could actually be energizing work.

Change Your Mindset, Change the World

It’s all about the attitude people. It’s all about the attitude. Think about it this way. If you’re new to yoga, it hurts at first, twisting and turning your body in all kinds of seemingly bizarre ways. But you keep with it because you know it’s good for you. Eventually, doing yoga starts to feel good and you start to look forward to those kooky exercises. But more importantly, you start seeing results in your body and health. Those yoga poses brought your blood pressure down, and your energy levels up. Your core is stronger and you’re more flexible. That’s what anti-racism work is like. It may hurt a bit when you start. You may feel uncomfortable at first. But eventually it becomes second nature and the results you create will be so worth it.

So, you want to know what do to kick off your anti-racism action plan? Here’s a five super simple but powerful ideas that anyone can do that will make a difference right now.

Anti-Racism Action Plan

Buy Black

It is not hard to let your wallet do your work for you. Simply use your purchasing power to buy your food, cosmetics, entertainment, books, hardware items, gardening tools, etc from Black owned businesses. How does this help? Because thanks to structural racism, Black owned businesses have a harder time acquiring start-up funds, advertisers and customers outside their community. In other words, Black-owned business have tremendous hurdles to climb just to get started and then to stay afloat. This of course simply contributes to the economic wealth gap in the country that exists because of, you guessed it, slavery, Jim Crow and white supremacy. This inequality can start to be undone, if you buy your lotion from Oyin Handmade for example, instead of Dove. It’s so simple and so immediate and everybody wins. To find Black businesses in every category, visit Black Wall Street.com.

Vote for Politicians with a Solid Anti-Racism Agenda

This is easy. Vote against racist politicians like the man currently occupying the White House. Less than 60 percent of the voting population voted in the 2016 presidential election. Even though politicians can be thought of as figureheads, they do make policy. You can do something significant right now by using your right to vote, to vote for people who are committed to social and racial justice. Here’s a resource to help you know what candidates are doing to address racial injustice in the 2020 campaign cycle.

Donate to Racial Justice Organizations

Marching in street protests isn’t everybody’s jam. And that’s okay. There are so many different ways to embrace an anti-racism agenda. One thing you can do that goes a long way, is to donate either your money or time to organizations that have a proven record of fighting for racial and social justice. You can send a check to the NAACP, the ACLU or your local food bank. You can send money to the National Association of Black Journalists (Hispanic Journalists, Native American Journalists or Asian American Journalists) so they can continue to support the media that supports people of color. There are so many organizations that work on shoe-string budgets that could benefit from financial support or volunteer efforts.

Stop Supporting Racist Companies

I’ve already said that money talks. Well, divesting your money from companies that support racist politicians, racist organizations, and/or racist policies, should not be supported with your dollars. If you know a company donates to a politician (like these companies that donated to elect and/or re-elect Trump), political action committee, or any other organization that oppresses people of color or other marginalized groups, don’t buy their products. No matter how tasty their cheeseburgers are or how convenient they are to your house. Don’t make excuses. When these organizations realize that they will loose business because of who they support behind closed doors, maybe they will stop making those donations and those politicians will not have the money to win or steal elections.

Call Your Girlfriend

Everybody has a sphere of influence that includes people who need to get on the bandwagon of justice. Maybe it’s your uncle, your mother, your best friend, Becky. People of color can’t beat down that door to their minds and feelings, but you can. If you are a white person (or a white adjacent person) who knows people who harbor anti-Black and/or racist attitudes and/or who actively participate in activities that oppress people of color, then get on the phone and start talking. Do your very best to educate them. Make it personal, make it political. Make it economic. Use guilt if you have to. Sometimes our family members are racist because they honestly don’t know any better. Help them know. Help them understand. And don’t be shy about it. If you have family members who refuse to listen and continue to espouse racist rhetoric, then be clear that you can’t be in relationships with people who are part of the problem. Then turn your attention to the people who are ready and willing to listen.

Politicians Don’t Make Change, People Make Change

If you want 75 more ideas to add to your anti-racism action plan, check out this list on Medium. Also, continue to check out my Resources page for more ideas and people to follow who continue to do the work. Just supporting activists with your likes and attention also goes a long way. Think of people like myself and other social justice writers and activists as your diversity gurus. We’re here to help, to encourage, to enlighten and inspire. Because if we all do something, then something will change.

Onward, Meltingpot Community!

via GIPHY

Peace!