How to Keep the BLM Movement Alive

​By: Isabella Miranda

​The BLM movement feels like it’s dying, so here’s what you can do about it.
 
If you’re reading this article, you likely care about the Black Lives Matter movement. But, with the decline of public attention the movement has been getting lately, it has started to feel like the “old normal” again. As if nothing had happened at all.
But there’s still so much we can all do. Here’s a few ideas.
  
Distribute information. And yes, sharing Instagram posts and articles count *wink wink*By uplifting, listening, supporting and sharing the stories and voices of Black, Indigenous, queer, disabled, and other people of color, you allow more people including yourself to understand and learn from the experiences of all kinds of minorities, and get to repay them by giving and sharing what they say on your platform! Share and uplift everyone and everything that isn't being seen or heard! If it weren't for the people sharing information, many would even know about police brutality and the aggravated protests that continue as we speak.
 
Learn and Educate.The whole core of this movement is about moving towards an Anti-racist society. And to do this, learning and educating people is essential. Listen and learn from BIPOC, educate people on BIPOC issues, and teach young children on racial issues. It all works as long as you know what youre talking about and don't exploit the work of BIPOC when learning or teaching others on their issues. Here’s some resources:
 
Books to read:
●White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
●Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
● The End of Policing by Alex S. Vitale,
●So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo,
● I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Foreword By
● Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum
 
Netflix series & films to watch:
●13th
●When They See Us
●I Am Not Your Negro
●Pose
●Who Killed Malcolm X
●Miss Virginia
●LA92
●Dear White People
●DA 5 Bloods
●American Son
●Becoming
●Disclosure
●#BlackAF
●Moonlight
●The Innocence Files
●Mudbound
●Oprah Winfrey: When they See Us Now

Resources

How to talk to young kids about race
BLM National Resources and Education Tool
Linktree on Prison Labor 
BLM Educational Linktree
“Your Black Friend” Animated Short
Misogynoir, Adultification of Black Girls, and Black Woman Stereotypes
 
Call people out on their BS.

Call people out on ALL their bullsh*t, even if it makes both of you uncomfortable. Question your racist family members beliefs, call out your transphobic neighbor on their comments, put a loudly uncomfortable spotlight on the homophobic sexist guy from your school. Make them feel uncomfortable. Here’s how you can do that.
 
Messed up jokes/microaggressions:
● Don’t laugh
●“That’s not even funny”
●“Nobody finds that funny”
● “That’s _____” (racist, sexist, homophobic ,etc)
●“It’s not dark humor if there’s no humor.”
●“Why did you say/do that?”
●“Can you elaborate on what you mean by that?”
 
Thread on rebuttals for racist/BLM comment:
https://twitter.com/sujoyshah/status/1268164788053356544?s=20
 
Video on rebuttals for transphobic comments:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCTyj60mGto#action=share
 
Article on calling out sexist comments:
https://www.stylist.co.uk/people/feminism/how-to-win-a-feminist-argument-laura-bates-women-sexism/10687
 
 
Normalize buying from black and POC owned businesses

During the growth of this movement, the promotion of buying black owned and POC owned creations had gone high, which is great! But it seems like it only lasted a few weeks until the movement began to die down in the mainstream and so did many customers. If you’re going to buy from BIPOC, don't only do it when it's relevant in the media. Normalize buying from BIPOC businesses and stop making white ones your default!
 
Use the power of Tik Tok

Although it might sound unusual, Tik Tok holds a lot of power when it comes to sparking social change.  Videos can be viewed by thousands and millions within seconds. Use it. Share important petitions, donations, stories, and websites and bring virtual communities together for change!
 
And finally, keep up those petitions, donations, and emails!You’ve been signing petitions, donating if you can, and sending emails, right? No? Well get to it! The best way to continue the movement is by taking direct action and these are the 3 simplest ways to do it! Here’s some links to do so for your convenience.
 
BLM Pending Petitions
Email Templates for BLM
Direct Donations to Black Trans People
How to Get Rid of LAPD Helicopters
Link to Change.org
Watch to Donate BLM
  
Sources:

Source reference for educational books from @sarahmian on Instagram
How to talk to young kids about race:  www.prettygooddesign.org
BLM national resources and education tool:  www.pb-resources.com
Linktree on prison labor:  linktr.ee/prisonlabor123
BLM Educational Linktree:  linktr.ee/actionEDUCATE
“Your Black Friend” Animated Short:  youtu.be/iHvxXImnWKw
Misogynoir, Adultification of Black Girls, and Black Woman Stereotypes:  www.instagram.com/michaelabalogun
Thread on rebuttals for racist/BLM comments:  https://twitter.com/sujoyshah
Video on rebuttals for transphobic comments: www.youtube.com
Article on calling out sexist comments: www.stylist.co.uk/people/feminism
BLM Pending petitions: pendingpetition.carrd.co
Email Templates for BLM: sayitagain.carrd.co
Direct Donations to Black Trans People: linktr.ee/disconnect__me
How to Get Rid of LAPD Helicopters: www.instagram.com/henry_dugan
Link to Change.org https://www.change.org
Watch to donate to BLM: Watch to Donate BLM