This is a movement, not a moment.
From protesting, to supporting Black Lives Matter, to listening to black stories—all of us at Love Is Project have spent the past few months confirming and reaffirming our commitment to ending racism. But the truth is, there’s so much more to be done.
In the midst of all that has happened, there is only one conclusion I've been able to definitively come to: we need LOVE, now more than ever. LOVE for our neighbor, and in particular, LOVE for all people of color.
But LOVE requires action. I've taken some time to hear various voices from my own community of activists and have distilled their recommendations to four ways we all can do better. This is what we've been doing here at Love Is Project and I urge every member of our community to do the same:
1. Educate Yourself
What most of us learned in school about the history of America is wildly inaccurate. Thankfully there are many books, documentaries and movies about the black experience, both past and present. There's also nonfiction content designed to help process this experience and guide all of us toward positive action
Read, watch, and learn. Here are a few films and books to start with:
- 13th
- American Son
- Dear White People
- When They See Us
- I Am Not Your Negro
- Black Feminist Thought
- How To Be An Antiracist
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
- White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
- I'm Still Here: Black Dignity In a World Made for Whiteness
2. Do Not Remain Silent, Starting at Home
It's clear we cannot remain silent on the injustices we see. But where do we start?
We need to educate our children around issues related to racism and prejudice at a young age. There are a wealth of children's books to support these kinds of conversations and make them age appropriate.
What about the aunt or uncle who makes an ignorant remark about people of color at the dinner table? Or the cousin who prefaces an inappropriate statement with a vague "but I'm not racist"? Understand that your silence in these situations enables racism. Speak out against injustice by starting at home. If we all do this and hold our families accountable, the ripple effect of change is inevitable.
3. Do The Work
We all have different strengths, abilities and platforms. Use whatever means you can to do the work against discrimination and racism.
Can you use your funds and donate to organizations that are fighting police brutality? Get involved with your local Black Lives Matter chapter? Organize a book club and start using some of the books listed above to help educate members of your community?
We all have something to offer. If it comes from a place of LOVE, you can't go wrong.
4. Vote
Our voices matter. This year, perhaps more than any other year, we’re seeing BLM activists, BIPOC, working-class single mothers, and folks from many often-underrepresented groups being voted into government offices.
From the election of Cori Bush of Missouri, to Kamala Harris, the first woman of color on a major party ballot ticket, the scene of American politics is changing.
But it will only continue to change if we stay involved. So, use your vote to support candidates who are committed to unite America. United, America will be so much stronger.
What We're Doing at Love Is Project
All of our Love Is Project bracelets help support female artisans in developing countries.
In an effort to do our part, for the rest of this year we are going to be donating 10% of net profit from our Kenya LOVE Bracelet Black/Gold to Black Lives Matter and the NAACP.
We are with you all in the fight against racism and injustice. Please join us in spreading LOVE, in whatever ways you can.
xo,
