Antiracism Accountability Check In

Antiracism Accountability Check In

Hey pals! Today is Juneteenth… and it’s the first Juneteenth I’ve ever acknowledged. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t understand or recognize the significance of this day before this year, but that’s exactly why committing ourselves to learning more is so vitally important.

In case you haven’t taken the time to read about it yet, Juneteenth celebrates the day that all Black Americans became free. You might recall that President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863, but that news didn’t actually reach all 3.9 million enslaved African-Americans for over 2 years. The last of the enslaved found out about their freedom on June 19th, 1865 in Galveston, Texas. You can read more about it all over the internet and social media, but I found this episode of The Daily and this article about the history of this day extremely informative. (This article is really interesting, too – especially if these past few weeks are making you wonder why we weren’t taught about events like Juneteenth or the Tulsa Massacre in school.)

Antiracism Accountability Template

Needless to say, this is a very important day in American history. To honor that, I made this Antiracism Accountability template to share with all of you. I got this idea from a few of you who requested that I create resources to help you guys continue your antiracism work (one even suggested something like my Workout & Wellness Planner but for social justice)… the only problem with that is that I’m not an expert on this subject!

You know who is? 

Incredible Black women like Layla F. Saad, Rachel Cargle, and Nicole Cardoza! They are out there doing this work already and they deserve the credit for it – not me! I know I’ve talked about Me and White Supremacy a lot already, and that’s because it really is that powerful. Because it’s sold out a lot of places, I got it on my kindle and I’ve been answering the journal prompts in a separate notebook. The fact that you need to answer questions is a great way to hold yourself accountable. In addition, Rachel Cargle recently started a free 30 Day Course, and she has said that she will continue to offer it in the future, too. And I’ve been really enjoying Nicole Cardoza’s daily email blast called Anti-Racism Daily which has tons of information delivered right to your inbox. 

That being said, I’m more than happy to continue to share what I find helpful, and you should too! You’ve seen phrases like “Use your voice!” and “Speak up!” and “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor” all over social media the past few weeks. So, while I don’t ever want anyone to feel like I’m trying to capitalize off of their pain, I hope this Antiracism Accountability template encourages you to share what you’re reading, what you’re doing, who is inspiring you, etc, so that other people within your sphere of influence are encouraged to continue their education on these subjects as well. And if you don’t have answers to any of these questions, make a change! Download a podcast, make a donation, or take some time to journal about what you’ve been learning.

In case you’re interested, here are some of my answers:

Antiracism Accountability Template: LSL Answers

What I’m Reading:

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad – Reading and listening are great, but what are you really learning? This book helps you confront your own bias and contributions to white supremacy. It’s not easy, but it’s been incredibly eye opening and transformative.

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity In A World Made For Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown – I just started this a few days ago and it’s AMAZING. I love Austin’s writing style, and she reads the audiobook which is such a treat. I have a feeling I’m going to finish it this weekend!

What I’m Listening To/Watching:

1619 (Podcast) – I actually listened to the first episode of this podcast when it came out last year… and then I stopped. Shame on me, because it is full of important history that I don’t know enough about it.

Dear White People (Netflix) – Why have I been sleeping on this show?! It is SO GOOD and so relevant right now. It’s about a group of Black students at Winchester University, a predominately white Ivy League college. The first episode reveals a blackface party on campus, and the rest of the season covers everyday racism, micro aggressions, activism, the relationship between Black people and the police, and more. It’s smart and funny and poignant, and I definitely recommend it.

*Also, if you still haven’t watched 13th, watch it tonight!!! Netflix is streaming it for free, along with When They See Us – no account necessary!

What I’m Doing/Where I’m Donating:

Sign Petitions – The officers who killed Breonna Taylor still haven’t been arrested, but you can sign her petition here. Also, Opal Lee, who is 93 years old (!!), has started a petition to make Juneteenth a national holiday. After you sign it, I encourage you to read more about her – she’s amazing!

Order from Black companies/restaurants – We are going to order from one of these restaurants tonight or tomorrow. I highly recommend the wings from Urban Grill – they’ve been donating FREE lunches to CPS students for the past few weeks!! (Check out their videos on Instagram about it – this one is PURE JOY and that was just the beginning!) I also ordered BLK & Bold coffee and I am SO EXCITED to try it!

Donate to The Loveland Foundation’s Therapy Fund – The Loveland Foundation’s Therapy Fund provides financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy. Such an amazing cause.

One Thing I’ve Learned:

There are SO many, but I think the concept of intent vs. impact has been the most influential recently. I am learning that I have thought and said hurtful things without ever realizing they were hurtful or rooted in racism that I’ve internalized throughout my life. Instead of defending my intent, I can recognize the impact, educate myself, and make sure that I am a safe person for Black people to be around moving forward.

These People Inspire Me:

@thefaithfeast – Lindsay has an incredible way with words that hit me right in the feels, especially these past few weeks. Even if you aren’t personally religious, the way she talks about faith is refreshing and inspiring. Love love love her.

@themanacho – Have you been watching his series called “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man”? If the answer is no, you should change that today. All 3 episodes have been powerful and informative, and I can’t wait for more! (The most recent one was with Chip and Joanna Gaines!)

@ayanagabriellelage – You might have seen Ayana’s video about publicly posting about Black Lives Matter that went viral… but don’t stop there! Not only does she have other helpful videos, but she constantly shares helpful resources in her story – plus, she’s just lovely and delightful, and her and her husband are expecting a baby girl in August!

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Now your turn! What are your answers for these categories? Have you shared them with your sphere of influence?