'this is not about you:
this is about black lives being taken.
this is about black lives living.
this is about black lives hurting.
this is about black lives grieving.
this is about black lives,
because black lives matter.'
-Josefina H. Sanders, via @loveoffering on IG
Black Lives Matter.
To our black friends throughout the U.S., we see you‑‑your pain, your fears, your disappointment, your disgust, your anger, your creativity, your love, your joy.
To fellow white people: we must do better. Here are a few ideas on how to begin:
* Books to Read
(and listen to! Purchase audio versions on Libro.fm HERE)
How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
* Black Makers, Activists and Accounts to Follow on Instagram
Alicia Garza @chasinggarza
Black Lives Matter @blklivesmatter
Brittany Packnett Cunningham @mspackyetti
Bryan Stevenson @eji_org
DeRay Mckesson @iamderay
Gaye Gillespie @ggmadeit
Glory Edim @wellreadblackgirl + @guidetoglo
Kayla Mares @maressamade
Mari Copeny @littlemissflint
Opal Tometi @opalayo
Patrisse Cullors-Brignac @osopepatrisse
Rachel Elizabeth Cargle @rachel.cargle
Tyne S. Swedish @clevereststitch
* Places to Donate
George Floyd Memorial Fund
Minnesota Freedom Fund
Campaign Zero
The Bail Project
* What More Can I Do?
Listen.
Google.
Read. Learn. Unlearn.
Recognize your privilege.
Stand up for racism when you hear it. Confront it when you see it.
Have conversations, uncomfortable as they might be. Allyship was never meant to be easy. It's messy. That doesn't mean it's not the right thing to do.
Do not center yourself in these conversations.
Support black-owned businesses.
Vote.
Do better.
Show up.
Repeat, week after week, season after season, year after year.
KEEP GOING.
We are currently adding to our lending library here at the shop all the time, which includes some of the books pictured above, as well as How to Be Anti-Racist and White Fragility; if you're local and would like to borrow one, we can set up a curbside pickup almost any day of the week. We have also established a line of credit at Cottage Books in Glen Arbor for any of our customers who would like to purchase anti-racist reading material‑‑for themselves, friends or family members. Please call Sue or any of the lovely staff at (231) 334-4223 and they will ship directly to your home.
Sending you our love, near and far. Together, we can all do more. We can do better.
xo
Melissa & Liz
