Anti-Racism Resources: The Docs We’re Watching, People We’re Following, Brands We’re Shopping And More
Time for growth.
It’s an understatement to say it’s been a difficult few weeks. On so many complex levels. We’ve been very closely following, listening, and learning from what’s been going on — everywhere from social media posts and comments to the mainstream news reports, from the contributors we work with and from our team members on the ground in NY, LA, and London. But still, where to even begin.
In light of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which instigated protests across the USA and in a growing number of countries around the world, we have written briefly about our support (obviously) for the rights of Black, Indigenous and People Of Colour, and — as has now become abundantly apparent to the general population in Australia — how, unfortunately, police brutality and systemic racism are not just American problems. They affect Indigenous people in Australia and POC communities around the globe. More than 400 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have died in custody since the end of the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody in 1991, according to The Guardian. And that’s right here in Aus.
At Oyster, we have always worked to uplift minority voices and create a safe space where they can share their stories, but we also know that there’s much more work to be done. We also know our community is filled with creative, passionate, and inspired individuals, who want to do whatever they can to share their support. But there’s also been a lot of anger and emotion both on the streets and on the internet, with everyone trying to figure out exactly what it is we can do that will help drive actual change. It’s not simple, because the problems are multi-faceted, systemic and have been happening for a long time now.
On this, a recent quote by mental health advocate and poet, Lindsay Young, referencing the different lanes of activism, particularly resonated with us:
“Resistance is NOT a one lane highway. Maybe your lane is protesting, maybe your lane is organizing, maybe your lane is counseling, maybe your lane is art activism, maybe your lane is surviving the day. Do NOT feel guilty for not occupying every lane. We need all of them.”
Resistance is NOT a one lane highway. Maybe your lane is protesting, maybe your lane is organizing, maybe your lane is counseling, maybe your lane is art activism, maybe your lane is surviving the day.
— 🌻 (@Lindss_tastic) May 30, 2020
Do NOT feel guilty for not occupying every lane. We need all of them.
It echoed comments by Indigenous Australian activist, Aretha Brown, in a feature first published in Oyster Issue #115: The Survival Issue. When asked if she thought ‘online activism’ was making people lazy IRL, she explained:
“Activism is activism and if someone’s with me, then jump on board. I don’t care what shape your work comes in, at least you’re trying. And as an activist, that’s all I can ask for.”
There are so many different things we can all do to help, in our own ways. But there’s one thing we know for sure: to fix a big problem, you need a deep understanding of the problem, so ongoing education on the topic is critical. So is listening — even more so.
Now, more than ever, we must continue to dedicate our platforms to uplifting the Black and Indigenous communities; we must educate ourselves; shop at Black and Indigenous-owned businesses; consume Black and Indigenous-produced media and content; support Black and Indigenous creatives, artists, collectives and companies; donate to organizations focused on Black and Indigenous growth. There are so many amazing books to read, movies for watch, people to follow, organizations, and businesses to support. Self-education is crucial and it’s not on BIPOC voices to teach people about racism. The onus is on us all to learn more.
That’s why we’ve created a list of resources to help share what we’ve been reading and watching, the voices we’ve been learning from on social media, and the brands and companies we’re choosing to support. Share this list with your friends and family; use it to learn and most importantly, unlearn. If there’s one thing we can all do right now, it is to self-educate and truly listen to those who make an incredible effort to educate us from their personal experiences and those of their communities. And this is not just something to do this week or this month — it needs to be an ongoing process, through which this list will grow as well. We welcome your suggestions; we want to hear who or what you’ve been reading, watching, listening to, and buying.
And remember: when some of your favourite influencers move on and are no longer posting about #BlackLivesMatter, it doesn’t mean this fight is over. It’s only just begun. Please email us if you have ideas to contribute.
To Read
Books:
Black Feminist Thought, Patricia Hill Collins
Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower, Dr. Brittney Cooper
How To Be Antiracist, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings, Maya Angelous
Ain’t I A Woman: Black Women and Feminism, bell hooks
Me and White Supremacy, Layla F. Saad
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration and Color Blindness, Michelle Alexander
Biased, Jennifer L. Eberhardt
When They Call You A Terrorist, Patrisse Khan-Cullors
Redefining Realness, Janet Mock,
Sister Outsider, Audre Lorde,
On The Other Side Of Freedom, Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Heavy, Kiese Laymon
So You Want To Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo
Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia, Anita Heiss
Welcome To Country, Marcia Langton
Dark Emu, Bruce Pascoe
Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race, Reni Eddo-Lodge
Kill The Messenger, Nakkiah Lui
The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin
Raising Our Hands, Jenna Arnold
White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo
Between The World And Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates
Citizen, Claudia Rankine
This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color, Roasrio Morales
Women, Race, and Class, Angela Davis
Talking To My Country, Stan Grant
They Can’t Kill Us All, Wesley Lowery
The Hate Race, Maxine Beneba-Clarke
Australia Day, Stan Grant
That Deadman Dance, Kim Scott
The Fethafoot Chronicles, John M Wenitong
Am I Black Enough For You?, Anita Heiss
Not Just Black And White, Lesley and Tammy Williams
Road Map For Revolutionaries, Elisa Camahort Page, Carolyn Gerin and Jamia Wilson
Freedom Is A Constant Struggle, Angela Davis
Men We Reaped, Jesmyn Ward
Articles:
Bookmark This: What Should We Do With Videos Of Police Brutality?, Kemi Alemoru
Of Course There Are Protests. The State Is Failing Black People, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice, Corinne Shutack
Deaths Inside: Indigenous Australian Deaths In Custody 2019
Voices From The Bush: How Lockdown Affect Remote indigenous Communities Differently
‘Deaths In Our Backyard’: 432 Indigenous Australians Have Died In Custody Since 1991, Lorena Allam
Closing the Gap: Australia’s Indigenous Inequality ‘Not Good Enough’
For Our White Friends Desiring To Be Allies, Courney Ariel
When Feminism Is White Supremacy In Heels, Rachel Cargle
Who Gets to Be Afraid in America, Ibram X. Kendi
Remember, No One Is Coming to Save Us, Roxane Gay
Don’t Understand The Protests? What You’re Seeing Is People Pushed To The Edge, Kareem Abdul Jabbar
How To Make This Moment The Turning Point For Real Change, Barack Obama
White People: This Is How To Check Your Privilege When Asking People Of Color For Their Labor, Sophia Stephens
Welcome To The Anti-Racism Movement — Here’s What You’ve Missed, Ijeoma Oluo
Anti-Racist Checklist For Whites, Robin DiAngelo
This Racist Sh*t Won’t Change Until White People Put In Work, Rachel Ricketts
To Teach Your Children
Books:
Something Happened In Our Town, Dr. Marietta Collins
Tar Beach, Faith Ringgold
Alfie’s Search for Destiny, David Hardy
Saved!!!, Lydia Williams
Dream Big, Little One, Vashti Harrison
A is for Activist, Innosanta Nagara
Sulwe, Lupita Nyong’o
One Family, George Shannon
Let’s Talk About Race, Julius Leter
Beautiful, Stacy McAnulty
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, Vashti Harrison
I Am Human: A Book of Empathy, Susan Verde
A Kids Book About Racism, Jelani Memory
Whose Toes Are Those?, Jabari Asim
Yes I Can: A Story Of Grit, Mari Schuh
Not Quite Snow White, Ashley Franklin
Let The Children March, Monica Clark-Robinson
My Hair Is A Garden, Cozbi A. Cabrera
The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
My Country, Ezekiel Kwaymullina
The Girl From The Great Sandy Desert, Jukuna Mona Chuguna
Marngrook, The Long Ago Story of Aussie Rules
Sister Heart, Morgan Sally
ABC Dreaming, Warren Brim
Resources:
Talking Race With Young Children
Anti-Racism For Kids 101: Starting To Talk About Race
100 Race-Conscious Things You Can Say To Your Child To Advance Racial Justice
Article On Raising Race-Conscious Children
4 Things We Should All Teach Kids About Racism Right Now
Here are eight things you should know when teaching Indigenous culture, Jade Pearson
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
‘No Reader Is Too Young To Start’: Anti-Racist Books For All Children And Teens
It’s My Job to Raise Children Who Are Not Only Not Racist But Actively Anti-Racist
George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. What do we tell our children?
We Need More White Parents To Talk To Their Kids About Race. Especially Now.
To Listen
Australia’s Shameful Record On Black Deaths In Custody
Race Matters; especially Ep. 59, “I Can’t Breathe”
To Watch
Videos:
Ask Us Anything: Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People
My Stolen Childhood, And A Life To Rebuild, Sheila Humphries
The Myth Of Aboriginal Stories Being Myths, Jacinta Koolmatrie
George Floyd, Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper | The Daily Social Distancing Show
Why “I’m not racist” Is Only Half The Story
Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives: Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett, Charlene Caruthers
Ta-Nehisi Coates on Police Brutality: “The Violence is Not New, It’s the Cameras That are New”
Coming to Terms With Racism’s Inertia: Ancestral Accountability, Rachel Cargle
Films & Documentaries:
In My Blood It Runs
Rabbit Proof Fence
Samson & Delilah
Mabo
Goldstone
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith
The Sapphires
Where the Green Ants Dream
Radiance
Beneath Clouds
Sweet Country
Mystery Road
Spear
Toomelah
13th
American Son
Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975
Clemency
Fruitvale Station
I Am Not Your Negro
If Beale Street Could Talk
Just Mercy
King In The Wilderness
See You Yesterday
Blackkklansman
Selma
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
The Hate U Give
Malcolm X
The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson
On Television:
Dear White People
When They See Us
Redfern Now
Cleverman
Who Killed Malcolm X
Seven Seconds
Time: The Kalief Browder Story
To Follow
To Donate
Minneapolis Black Owned Business Fund
Bridging the Gap Foundation for Indigenous Health and Education
North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance
Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS)
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR)
Red Dust – Health Promotion in Remote Indigenous Communities
AnTAR – National Advocacy Organisation
Aboriginal Legal Service – NSW & ACT
To Shop
Supply Nation is a directory of all Indigenous-owned businesses
The Skin I’m In is a Black business directory here in Australia
Fashion:
Health & Beauty:
