Black Lives Matter.
Now that I have your attention, I'd like to address the non-Black folks who are saying they wish they knew what to do right now.
I'll tell you what I have done, not that it is an exhaustive list (never will be) to give you inspiration and ideas.
I'll tell you what I have done, not that it is an exhaustive list (never will be) to give you inspiration and ideas.
Talk to your white friends and family, especially those who are barely Democrat (I'm looking at you Grandma) to reframe "riots" and to point out who is typically the instigator in these situations.
I had an illuminating conversation with a white friend, a progressive, about Amy Cooper. He had never heard of white feminism.
Talk to the kids in your life about our nation's history and how to recognize fascism.
Follow Black activists like @LeslieMac and do what she tells you. Listen to Black women.
Donate your money to bail funds and mutual aid funds.
Read up on what it means to be anti-racist. So many people have already laid out the educational materials that contain explicit instructions on how to be anti-racist.
Center race disparity data in your #dataviz, whenever you show example graphs. Make this conversation the norm.
Make inclusion riders a part of your speaking panels (more on this tomorrow).
Changing your profile pic to a black square does not take direct action. It is performative. These ideas (and more) are tangible ways you can be a white ally right now. Acting like business is usual is not.
One more thing to say on this (for now): These actions I have mentioned here (and the others I'm sure you are thinking of) should be done consistently, regularly, over time, not just when it is in the news or convenient for you.
Consider today the first step in a long journey.
Ok ONE more thing: if this makes you scared that you will lose friends or #dataviz clients, yeah, you might. That cost is TINY compared to the price Black people have had to pay. And those friends and clients who shy away from social justice are pretty crappy anyway.
