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Support Resources for Black folks:
Updated: June 15th, 2020 |
As students pursuing a post-secondary education, we know that you are bright, talented, and committed to ongoing learning. OUSA has put together a list of resources that may be helpful in your personal pursuit to learn more about anti-Black racism and how to take meaningful action.
We have compiled this list by consolidating resources from a variety of sources, including social media. We want to acknowledge that many of these resources were created and shared by Black and Brown folks, and each resource required their emotional labour. We have credited these sources and thank them for doing this work.
If you are not able to find a resource relevant to your needs, Google it! Or send us a message and we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.
Important Note: Many Black folks have shared their perspectives and lived experiences this week. Please be respectful and understand that this is not an open invitation to ask them questions, help you navigate resources, or solve your problems. Use this blog as a starting point and Google as a supplement if you get stuck.
First, check out this Canadian-specific 24-page masterpost to actionables and resources, including mental health supports for Black folks, education and literature resources for allies, IG guides, protest safety, and more shared by @natweewriter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-5JRuCQfiakVdhj0mJWoGYJl39xhAN1cO9QZUzHjWs0/edit
Speak up.
To demand justice for Regis Korchinski-Paquet, check out this infographic by @akiinozaa who tells you who to contact and offers a template of what you can say: https://twitter.com/akiinozaa/status/1266056459940507650
You can also join the phone zap using the template created by @letstalkjails: https://twitter.com/letstalkjails/status/1266368619711250432
To call on your provincial and federal representatives to take action against police brutality, check out this letter template: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N2wsCt6UHtIltVce8gwc26zLPYFdWgWeggcZOYC7Tn4/edit
And, to submit a Deputation Letter to the City of Toronto Budget Committee on funding allocations to the Police Service and Board, check out this letter template: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17-arjN6klmVV0xIWkHnddnKbB_EGBduXs3H-hFisRnE/edit?fbclid=IwAR06S0yNZpp9dwXb-UPkc0Dct9qtlfU1Nk2CDjim6jQyqSPZDZIAKK5l8cY
You can also always write your own letter to city councillors, MPPs, and MPs. Check out our letter-writing guide here: https://www.ousa.ca/letter_writing
If you are looking to show your support, you can also sign the petition for Justice for Regis Porchinski-Paquet, here: https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-regis-korchinski-paquet?recruiter=1052678673&recruited_by_id=3379c9b0-67c1-11ea-ada4-a51ce4e18367&use_react=false
Sign this petition to demand racial data on police involved deaths in Canada: https://www.change.org/p/david-lametti-document-and-release-racial-data-on-police-involved-deaths-in-canada/psf/promote_or_share
Donate.
We recognize that students are often in financially precarious positions, which has been made worse during COVID-19. However, for those who are able, here are some places to donate:
Black Food Toronto: A Food Sovereignty Initiative: https://blackfoodtoronto.com/
@notanotherblacklife is partnering with FoodShare TO to deliver GoodFood Boxes to Black and Indigenous families who are currently self-isolating after the Justice for Regis march: https://linktr.ee/notanotherblacklife
Justice for Regis (GoFundMe): https://ca.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-regis
A Fund for Black-led Mental Health Supports (GoFundMe): https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-fund-for-blackled-mental-health-supports
Black Youth Helpline: https://blackyouth.ca/
Black Legal Action Centre: https://www.blacklegalactioncentre.ca/
Black Health Alliance: http://blackhealthalliance.ca/
Black Lives Matter - TO: https://blacklivesmatter.ca/
Toronto Protestor Bail Fund (GoFundMe): https://ca.gofundme.com/f/toronto-protestor-bail-fund
Check out this list of Black and anti-racist organizations you can support: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/black-organizations-anti-racist-groups-canada_ca_5ed57ea1c5b6867b30853e20
Educate yourself.
Attend.
Listen.
Code Switch (npr): https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/
Intersectionality Matters (Kimberlé Crenshaw and the African American Policy Forum): https://aapf.org/podcast
(episode) “'Black in Post-Sec' -- struggles and strategies of Black students in Canadian universities” (Rabble): https://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/talking-radical-radio/2020/01/black-post-sec-struggles-and-strategies-black-students
Check out these podcasts: https://thekit.ca/life/culture-life/black-lives-matter-podcasts/
Watch.
Check out these documentaries that explore race, racism and policing in North America available free on CBC Gem: https://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/10-documentaries-that-explore-race-racism-and-policing-in-north-america-1.5597171
Watch this panel, Resistance and Resurgence: Confronting Anti-Black Racism in Canada, and check out the resources here: https://feministsdeliver.com/register-for-resistance-and-resurgence-confronting-anti-black-racism-in-canada/?fbclid=IwAR2MUZ1SdmsRwNuIoJ_ND42Iih-2fotwzzVw1PpliMa5O80OW-hgXamPoc0
Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland (David Heilbroner, Kate Davis - HBO)
13th (Ava DuVernay - Netflix)
When They See Us (Ava DuVernay - Netflix)
Selma (Ava DuVernay - for rent)
I Am Not Your Negro (Raoul Peck - Amazon Prime & for rent)
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 (Göran Olsson - for rent)
Check out this interview with Angela Davis on revolution and violence from The Black Power Mixtape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V-49fyHa2E
Free Angela Davis and All Political Prisoners (Shola Lynch - for rent)
The Central Park Five (Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, David McMahon - for rent)
Check out this list by @FILMSHAWTY: https://letterboxd.com/livhwkns/list/black-documentaries-and-such/
Read articles.
Francie Diep, “How Higher Ed Can Fight Racism: ‘Speak Up When It’s Hard’”: https://www.chronicle.com/article/How-Higher-Ed-Can-Fight/248897?cid=wcontentgrid_hp_1b&utm_source=Academica+Top+Ten&utm_campaign=822f934d64-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_06_02_05_25&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b4928536cf-822f934d64-51962969
Dan Cantiller, “How does racism in Canadian post-secondary education impact student success and outcomes?”: https://medium.com/@dancanthinks/how-does-racism-in-canadian-post-secondary-education-impact-student-success-and-outcomes-864ac31f2d07
Sandy Hudson, “Defunding The Police Will Save Black And Indigenous Lives In Canada”: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/defund-police-canada-black-indigenous-lives_ca_5ed65eb2c5b6ccd7c56bdf7d
Robyn Maynard, “It’s long past time to talk about policing of Black women in Canada”: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2020/05/29/its-long-past-time-to-talk-about-policing-of-black-women-in-canada.html
Hadiyah Roderique, “Black on Bay Street: Hadiya Roderique had it all. But still could not fit in”: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/hadiya-roderique-black-on-bay-street/article36823806/
Desmond Cole, “The Skin I’m In: I’ve been interrogated by police more than 50 times—all because I’m black”: https://torontolife.com/city/life/skin-im-ive-interrogated-police-50-times-im-black/
Sefanit Habtemariam & Sandy Hudson, “Canadian campuses have a racism problem” https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/03/01/canadian-campuses-have-a-racism-problem.html.
SAGE publishing is offering free access to articles on Structural Racism and Police Violence: Causes, Impact, and Reform: https://journals.sagepub.com/structural-racism?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=SAGE_social&utm_content=sage+publishing&utm_term=43d4e5d5-7b7f-4dea-9119-1aa1790608cf&
@tatakpilipino compiled free PDFs of Black revolutionary texts (buy if you can, donate if you can): https://www.instagram.com/p/CBBXc3lsjGs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Read books.*Note that many public libraries in Ontario are offering online library cards during COVID-19 to check out e-books.
The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power - Desmond Cole
Policing Black Lives - Robyn Maynard
Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada - Rodney Diverlus, Syrus Marcus Ware, Sandra Hudson
BlackLife: Post-BLM and the Struggle for Freedom - Rinaldo Walcott and Idil Abdillahi
There’s Something In The Water - Ingrid R. G. Waldron
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge
Me and White Supremacy - Layla F. Saad
Sister Outsider: Essays - Audre Lorde
Assata: An Autobiography - Assata Shakur
How to be an Anti-racist - Ibram X. Kendi
Writing Beyond Race: Living Theory and Practice - bell hooks
Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness and the Politics of Empowerment - Patricia Hill Collins
When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir - Asha Bandele and Patrisse Cullors
So You Want to Talk About Race - Ijeoma Oluo
White Rage - Carol Anderson
White Fragility - Robin DiAngelo
The Autobiography of Malcolm X - Alex Haley
Between the World and Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates
Waiting' Til the Midnight Hour: A Narrative History of Black Power in America - Peniel E. Joseph
Who Do You Serve, Who Do You Protect? Police Violence and Resistance in the United States - Joe Macaré, Maya Schenwar, and Alana Yu-lan Price (free e-book until June 5 available here: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/952-who-do-you-serve-who-do-you-protect?discount_code=WHODOYOUSERVE&utm_source=Haymarket+Newsletter&utm_campaign=e897371fcd-EMAIL_Newsletter_2017_11_20_HOLIDAY1_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a36ffbc74a-e897371fcd-332284173&mc_cid=e897371fcd&mc_eid=98b8892dba)
The End of Policing - Alex S. Vitale (free e-book available here: https://www.versobooks.com/books/2817-the-end-of-policing)
For a more comprehensive list of resources, check out those compiled by others:
Anti-racism Resources for White People, compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker, Alyssa Klein in May 2020: https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1BRlF2_zhNe86SGgHa6-VlBO-QgirITwCTugSfKie5Fs/mobilebasic
These resources, compiled by Toronto lawyer and activist Hadiya Roderique: https://twitter.com/hadiyaroderique/status/1266866168071061520
An Anti-Racist Reading list compiled by author and activist Ibram X. Kendi: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/books/review/antiracist-reading-list-ibram-x-kendi.html
This list of resources by Shohreh Davoodi: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAvjIAtlcAd/
And the “What Can I Do? Learning About Anti Racism” list from GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/148833.What_Can_I_Do_Learning_About_Anti_Racism
This list where folks are sharing recommended educational resources for Disability Studies folks related to disability, ableism, colonialism, racism, white supremacy etc.: https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/18eRZ6fy766oOyqKmRidvAx9daIfEG955XmJ9obqrV34/mobilebasic#cmnt1
Follow.
@blklivesmatter: this is the official Instagram handle for Black Lives Matter’s global network
@notanotherblacklife: Instagram account for a Toronto-based Black activist group
@heyblackgirlto: Instagram account dedicated to black womnx’s empowerment
@blackwomenradicals: Black feminist advocacy organization and historic photographs
@blackhistory: provides a more expansive view on historic moments for the Black community
@southasians4blacklives: attempts to reduce anti-Blackness amongst the South Asian community
@climatejusticeto: an intersectional community organization providing advice for protestors
@viceimpact: relevant news for activists