Our goal is not to “see no color.” Our goal is to be able to say, “I see your color and I honor it. I honor you.” Our goal is to do the work of educating ourselves, our children, and our communities about the lived experiences, history, and beautiful culture of those who might not look like us. Our goal is to want to know how we can do better—and then actually do better. Our goal is to learn how we can use our privilege to help dismantle the systematic racism that threatens the freedom of our brothers and sisters every single day—for they are exhausted.
It’s not enough to be “non-racist.” We have to be actively “anti-racist.” It’s not enough to share others’ Instagram posts or hashtag the names of the victims across social media. We have to ask ourselves real questions about our upbringing, our subconscious thoughts, our responses, and be willing to bring the ugly, deeply rooted, hateful patterns and mindsets to the surface. Only then can the work of changing external behavior even begin.
The outcry we’re seeing is not random. It is the response of generations upon generations of a community whose lives, voices, and culture have been repeatedly stolen, exploited, stereotyped, diminished, misjudged, suppressed, and told it doesn’t matter. Enough.
To say “black lives matter” is not to say “only black lives matter.” Without question, all lives matter—human, animal, and plant. But in this moment and every day that passes, black lives are in danger. It is black lives that need our immediate and unquestioned allyship. It is black lives that need us to turn inward, recognize our position of privilege, and then use it to incite real, lasting change.
Black lives matter. Black children’s lives matter. Black gay lives matter. Black trans lives matter. Black ideas matter. Black histories matter. Black businesses matter. Black futures matter.
Together, let’s do the work to be better.
Love,
LimeRed
WE GATHERED THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES FOR SUPPORTING BLACK-LED MOVEMENTS BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.
Demand Justice for Breonna Taylor:
- CONTACT Mayor Greg Fischer to fire ALL of Breonna’s murderers and to defund the Louisville Police Department:
Phone: 502 574 2003
Email: greg.fischer@louisvilleky.gov
- EMAIL Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder: robert.schroeder@louisvilleky.gov
- CALL the offices (numbers listed here)
- DONATE directly to Breonna’s family fund
- DO these Actionable Steps by #BirthdayForBreonna
- SIGN the Official Petition
- VISIT Fight for Breonna for more information
Chicago-based fundraisers & organizations to support:
- My Block My Hood My City—volunteer, donate, or request relief for small businesses.
- I Grow Chicago
- Chicago Torture Justice Center
- Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression
- Liberation Library
- Chicago Community Bond
Non-Chicago-based fundraisers & organizations to support:
Movements to join:
- Color of Change
- Black Futures Lab
- Circles & Ciphers
- Equity and Transformation Chicago
- Assata’s Daughters
- Soul in Chicago
Allyship resources:
- Being Anti-Racist by the Smithsonian
- Anguish & Action by the Obama Foundation
- Activism and Allyship Guide by Black@Airbnb Employee Resource Group
- Scaffolded Anti-racist Resources by Anna Stamborski, Nikki Zimmermann, and Bailie Gregory
- Join this free virtual session with SURJ Chicago (Showing Up for Racial Injustice) today (Thursday) at 6:30 pm to learn how you can be a better ally and get involved with their work for racial justice.
Support black businesses:
Support these 24 black-owned restaurants on Chicago’s North Side (many, if not all, are available for delivery through Postmates, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and other apps).
Educate & empower:
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- Make sure you’re registered to vote.
- Fight voter oppression.
If you’re interested in becoming a B Corporation or joining our action group to dismantle white supremacy, join us for our B Corp Curious info session and learn how business can be used as a force for good.
