Every year, on #MLKDay day, I reread Letter from Birmingham Jail and reflect on how I can commit to anti-racist work in the year ahead. Every year I also hear white folks say they’d like to do more, but aren’t sure how. So I pulled together a list of resources. Thread 🧵 👇🏻 
1. As @prisonculture often says, start where you are. Are there discriminatory policies at work you can challenge? If white friends or co-workers act in racist ways, can you make sure they experience social consequences for their behavior?
@prisonculture 2. Find ways to make the work sustainable. The more consistent we are the better. One way to do that is to find community with others doing the work. Share resources, have hard discussions with care, hold one another accountable to our commitments
@prisonculture 3. Speaking of resources and community. Follow these folks! They always help me think in new ways and challenge me to turn feelings into solidarity @ErynnBrook @nowhitenonsense @WP4BL
@prisonculture @ErynnBrook @nowhitenonsense @WP4BL 4. Commit to letting go of being good in service of being useful. Commit to acting, even when it means you’ll get things wrong.
@prisonculture @ErynnBrook @nowhitenonsense @WP4BL 5. Turn your power over whenever possible. White supremacy gives white folks access to resources as a baseline — what can we use that access to redistribute those resources back to black, brown and native communities?
@prisonculture @ErynnBrook @nowhitenonsense @WP4BL 5. cont. That can be as big as donating regularly to organizations run by marginalized people or as small as bring food or water to an organizing event. Think about the resources you have (your time, your money, your expertise, your skills) and figure out how they might be useful
@prisonculture @ErynnBrook @nowhitenonsense @WP4BL 6. Always, always remember that we are accountable to the communities of color we’re trying to work alongside. If you’re going out to an event or protest, ask what folks need from you or where you can plug in to be the most helpful.
@prisonculture @ErynnBrook @nowhitenonsense @WP4BL 6. cont. The point shouldn’t be for us to feel like we’re being useful, but to actually be useful. Feelings are only helpful if they lead us to useful solidarity (this from Beth Pickens, by way of @annfriedman)
@prisonculture @ErynnBrook @nowhitenonsense @WP4BL @annfriedman 7. To wrap up, I’ll offer this prayer: May we refuse to be white moderates. May we lean into discomfort and work toward the positive peace of justice. May we be busier and louder. May we commit to handing over power and turning feelings into solidarity.
#MLKDay #MLK2020
#MLKDay #MLK2020
@prisonculture @ErynnBrook @nowhitenonsense @WP4BL @annfriedman 8. One final thing: if you’re looking for more concrete suggestions or just someone to build community with, my DMs are always open 💌
