Direct Action: Beyond the Hashtags
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Make a Difference from the Living Room Couch
It’s hard to know what to say or do during a time like this, when the deep, systemic racial oppression in our country is exposed so blatantly to those of us who are privileged enough not to live this reality every day. Normally, I’d be out on the street, protesting peacefully and engaging in civil disobedience. But seeing as I have a newborn at home (yes, my baby was born last week!), this kind of direct action isn’t possible for me right now.
Due to coronavirus, many of us are probably stuck at home, expressing our outrage in the echo chambers of our social media feeds. People who are immuno-compromised can’t risk the possibility of getting exposed to the virus while protesting in a large crowd. But what is direct action? And can we engage in it without leaving our home?
Social media is where we engage with others, learn more about the issues, and spread important information. But, while re-tweeting and re-posting and hashtagging are an essential part of growing this movement, they are not examples of direct action. Rather, the outrage we express online can be categorized as “optical allyship”—surface-level statements that do little to break away from the systems of power that oppress (Latham Thomas).
Luckily for all of us, there are many ways to make a direct impact on the Black Lives Matter movement from our living room couch. For starters, I encourage all of you to check out writer Mireille Harper’s guide for “Non-Optical Allyship,” which outlines clear ways to engage with the movement in a meaningful—and impactful—way.
Here are some other ways you can help to make a real difference in our treatment of black people in America.
Call your mayor and ask them to de-escalate their police forces and hold them accountable for cases of clear misconduct. Question funding going into militarized police budgets (AKA your tax dollars that aren’t going to education or health care).
Ask your member of Congress to sign Ayanna Pressley’s resolution on police brutality. Demand a vote on the House floor.
These politicians work for YOU! Save their phone numbers in your contact list and set an alarm to call them daily.
VOTE – The people we put into office make decisions that affect our communities – including the treatment of minorities by law enforcement. Vote in people who share your values.
Educate yourself about black history and the black experience. The New York Times’ 1619 Project is a good place to start. Also, here’s a list of films to watch, books to read and podcasts to listen to in order to educate yourself on how to be actively anti-racist.
A helpful Google doc with anti-racism resources for white people.
Donate! Money Talks! Here’s a cohesive list of places to donate. Consider setting up a monthly donation of whatever amount feels comfortable to you (the price of a Starbucks latte, for example) instead of a single donation. Your community bail fund is another good place to donate.
Be brave and stand up for racial equality in your families and communities. Sometimes, those small actions--like speaking up at the dinner table when your uncle says something racist--are often the hardest, and the most impactful.
So, let’s go beyond the hashtags and make a real difference using our voice, our vote, and our dollars.And remember, racial inequality doesn’t end when this viral movement fades from our social media news feeds. We need to be sustained and long-lasting in our efforts to bring equality and justice for all citizens of this country.
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