BLACK LIVES MATTER: WHAT TO READ, LISTEN TO, WATCH AND WHAT TO DO NEXT

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I’ve spent the past week with my eyes glued to my Instagram feed, Twitter and the news and I’ve been actively having conversations with friends, listening to podcasts, watching videos, championing black voices, reading articles and trying to do my best to learn and absorb as much information as possible. It’s an overwhelming and heart-wrenching time, but also an exciting one for change.

Now is the time to listen, learn, read, watch and educate yourself on the Black Lives Matter movement. I ordered Why I’m no Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge and listened to a very insightful conversation between Brené Brown and Ibram X. Kendi about race on her new Unlocking Us podcast, but this is just the start. I’ve done a lot of reflecting this week and don’t want to add to the noise, so will just leave you with this list of resources that my assistant and I compiled that will help you take your actions offline. Because that’s where the work is to be done. It’s all well and good being vocal on social media, but what next?

So here they are (by no means exhaustive - just a starting point) that might help you in your own education and also if you are looking for black creators to follow and brands to support.

Books to Read

If you want to order any of the below books, please refer to UK Black Writers Forum for a list of black-owned bookshops and publishers. Many will be more than happy to source and send books to you. Here’s a list for those in America. In Paris, try Présence Africaine.

The Good Immigrant by Nikesh Shukla, The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, The Fire This Time by Jesmyn Ward, White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou , Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde, So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo, White Tears, Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad, Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams, Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo.

Films & Documentaries to watch

13th (Netflix), Selma, If Beale Street Could Talk, Moonlight, Beneath Clouds, A United Kingdom, In My Blood it Runs, I am Not Your Negro, Soundtrack for a Revolution, American Son (Netflix), Green Book, Loving, The Hate U Give

And here’s a good resource from Slate on black film directors to know about.

Podcasts To listen to

The Echo Chamber Podcast , NPR Codeswitch, Black Gals Livin, No country For Young Women, About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge, Say Your Mind, Dinner for One

Fashion brands to support & BUY FROM

Cushnie, Brother Veillies, Sincerely Tommy, Pyer Moss, Laquan Smith, Fe Noel, Tove, Lemlem, KAI Collective , Undra Celeste, Andrea Iyama, Mateo New York, Khiry, Mie, AAKS, Lait de Coco, Vavvoune, Maison Bent, Tekore, ALOSH London, Earth Toned Collective, Jade Swim, Local European , Sincerely Nude, Sika Designs, Sabirah, andVerv, Lisou , We Are Kin, Sika’a, Nubian Skin , Shop McMullen, Nude Barre, The Folklore,

And Brother Veillies Creative Director, Aurora James created Fifteen Percent Pledge, a petition asking big brands to make space on their shelves for 15% black owned brands. You can sign it here.

Interior designers, decor brands & Artists to follow & Buy from

Darryl Carter (interior designer), Tracie Hervy (ceramics), Laura Hodges (interior designer), Estelle Colour Glass (glassware), Lolly Lolly Ceramics, Claude Home (vintage furniture store in US), Isatu Hyde (ceramics), Madame de La Maison,

Beauty brands to buy from

Liha, Uoma Beauty, Briogeo, Juvia’s Place, Black Girl Sunscreen , Epara, Klur, Sensual Candle Co, Maya Njie Perfumes, Charlotte Mensah, R&R, Movita Organics

Black creators and influencers to follow

Aysha Sow, Franny Fyne, Afrikanista, Scheena Donia, Yomokoï , Violette Tannenbaum, New Soul Food (food), Fatou N'DIAYE of Black Beauty Bag, Abou Sega, Sophia Roe Sylvie Mus, Aïda of Basic Touch, Businesses of Colour , Lola Faith, Lydia of Femmeblk, Nimi Blackwell, Josephineslooks, Sandra Afamefuna, Kenesha Sneed of Tactile Matter, Alex Elle, Melissa’s Wardrobe

Educational Resources

In the UK & US:

Educate yourself on Britain’s imperialist and colonialist past - here’s a great article on Vice

The History of British brutality that’s not taught in schools on The Guardian

Here’s a free course on British Imperialism by The University of Exeter:

The case for reparation on The Atlantic

Educate yourself on the Black Lives Matter movement here

And another good article about the Black Lives Matter movement and why it is so important this time around on the New York Times

Where to donate

Where to donate in the UK:

Stop Hate UK , Stand Up To Racism , Black Lives Matter UK Go Fund Me, Runnymede, Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, Discrimination law Association (DLA)

Places to donate USA:

Color of Change, Split Your Freedom Fund Donations, Know Your Rights Camp, Movement for Black Lives, Black Lives Matter, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

What can you do politically?

Sign petitions on Change.org - if you haven’t already, sign Justice for Floyd, Justice for Breonna

In the UK:

Find out which political party in the UK your views are aligned with by answering a few questions here

Look up your local MP using your postcode and see if their views and voting record aligns with yours; consider writing to your MP if you disagree with their stance on issues. Remember your local MP represents your voice in Parliament. Find out more here.

Find your MP’s email address here.

A resource document from Perkin Amalaraj with even more information and a template you can use to contact your MP here. It’s better to use the template as inspiration, changing the wording as you go to avoid it going into a spam folder.

Sign a petition to get ‘Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race’ added to the GCSE curriculum here.