007 - How To Support Black Lives Matter No Matter Where You Are
This has been an extremely long week. No matter where you turn, you will see updates on the Black Lives Matter movement, and protests. My intention for this newsletter was to focus on tech in various manners, but looking at what’s happening in the USA I felt it only right to put a spotlight and share some resources for Black Lives Matter.
I’ll start by stating the obvious - I am not black. I do not feel the same fear that millions of black people face on a daily basis. I will not pretend to know what that feels like. I have spent a large portion of the last three days glued to my twitter account reading and watching updates, as well as trying to understand the best way I can help and support the movements since I am not in USA or Canada at the moment, but instead back home in Kenya. This post is a culmination of what I’ve found.
We need to stand up and support anti-black racism, and in order to do that we must stand together. I wrote a detailed blog post on what I have been reading and learning around the web. I highly encourage you to read it, start acting on it and share it to your friends and family too.
My post covers what to consider if you are participating in the protests, such as a reminder that we’re still in a pandemic, and what happens if you’re an immigrant and get arrested. I’ve also shared advice on how to check in on your POC and Black friends, as well as how you shouldn’t check in on them. I’ve always been a firm believer that education is essential, so I’ve included a list of books and a few other resources you can read to better understand what racism means in today’s world.
New Blog Posts
How To Support Black Lives Matter No Matter Where You Are
Little Plugs
I like the idea of plugging interesting projects that I see around the internet. In this edition, I’ll share some places you can donate to instead:
There are many options. Minnesota Freedom Fund is now asking you to divert your donations elsewhere as they have raised $20m:
- George Floyd’s Go Fund Me
- Ahmaud Arbery’s Go Fund Me
- National Bail Fund Network
- The Bail Project
- ACLU
There are more out there.
Stay Safe
These are unprecedented times. Stay safe.