Resources for learning about systemic racism, and things you can do

Jun 04, 2020
Lilli Keinaenen

As we process these horrific acts of racism, systemic inequality, and the hopelessness of the current political climate, we reflect on the part Green Bee Botanicals can play. Allyship and anti-racism is active, daily work — racism and white supremacy is everyone’s problem, and we acknowledge our role. So we want to start by sharing three powerful quotes that have given us perspective:

“In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.” - Angela Davis
“There comes a time when silence is betrayal.” - Martin Luther King
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” - Desmond Tutu

Each of us has an opportunity to make a difference by educating our minds, opening up our hearts, donating our dollars, and using our voice and influence to be an ally to our black and brown friends and ultimately create a better, much kinder world for us all. It's past time to do better and so we are showing up right now imperfectly, rather than staying silent.

We've seen so many resources thrown around on the internet it can feel overwhelming. So we've compiled a few good ones here, organized under loose categories.

Bookmark this page for later — this is an ongoing learning process!

To our Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) friends: we see you. We get that you are fucking exhausted with white women offering tips on activism and allyship. If you want to let off some steam, our inbox welcomes you and validates your rage.

First, If You Do Just One Thing

This is our singular call to action for ourselves and for you:

Share, follow, and/or become a patron of Rachel Cargle's The Great Unlearn at:

https://www.patreon.com/thegreatunlearn/posts

Rachel is a brilliant activist and academic who has created a self-guided monthly syllabus for you and me to unlearn the racism woven into our society and be a better ally. Please share this widely.

Educate Yourself & Your Friends

A Guide to White Privilege (infographic)

A Timeline of Events that Led Up to the 2020 'Fed-Up'-rising

75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice

What's My Complicity? Talking White Fragility with Robin DiAngelo

Support Black-owned Businesses

Beauty

200 Black-Owned Indie Beauty Businesses to Buy From Right Now

Cannabis

40 Minority-Owned Cannabis Businesses To Support

Go Green But Buy Black: 10 Black-Owned Cannabis Companies

Protest, Donate & Amplify

By donating to organizations such as @blackvisionscollective, @reclaimtheblock, @NAACP and @lastprisonerproject.

By assisting protesters through organizations such as the National Bail Fund Network and @bailproject.

By uplifting equity organizations in the cannabis industry such as @equityorg, @equityfirst, and @cannaclusive.

By educating ourselves via organizations and resources such as @innocenceproject, @npap_nlg, @campaignzero, and @aclu_nationwide.

Participate in Criminal Justice Reform

Report: The War on Marijuana in Black and White

Life for Weed: The Injustice of Cannabis Convictions (video)

Marijuana Record Expungement Movement Growing Rapidly, Report Shows

Continue to Educate Yourself

Here are a few dozen more great Anti-racism Resources, including videos, podcasts, TV shows, films, books, organizations and more compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein in May 2020.