Black Lives Matter: How to amplify Black voices and support Black people

black+lives+matter

AWOL
June 3, 2020

AWOL’s editorial board has agreed that as a predominantly white newsroom based at a predominantly white institution, our goal right now should be to amplify black voices. Below, we have compiled a list of resources for American University students and other readers to directly support protesters around the country.

Prioritize your donations to ensure you are donating specifically to local, grassroots organizations. The median annual household income for AU students is $155,300, and 67% of all AU students are from families in the top 20% of Americans in terms of income.

However, remember that support can take many forms.

Protest if you are able. Practice proper sanitary measures to ensure you do not become a vector for COVID-19, which is particularly harmful to minority communities. 

If you are not able to protest, consider participating in community clean-ups and jail support. Donate supplies. Be present.

Most importantly, remember that it should not take the death of a Black person to drive you to support these causes. We can all do better to support these organizations. Consider donating monthly. 

 

DONATE MONEY

Follow this link to a spreadsheet from Black Lives Matter detailing specific funds to support.

Here’s why not to donate to Shaun King.

 

National bail funds

Bail funds by city and state

 

State-specific

Minnesota

Washington, D.C.

Alabama 

Arizona

Arkansas

  • Little Rock – Cash app $LRFreedomFund via the Bail Project

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky 

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland 

Massachusetts

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri 

Nebraska

Nevada 

New York

North Carolina 

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington 

West Virginia

Wisconsin

 

Black Trans Lives Matter

 

Black-owned businesses

National Organizations

LGBTQ+ organizations

Alternative media covering protests

Families of victims of police brutality

DONATE TIME

 

DONATE SUPPLIES

Twin Cities (Minnesota)

 

Washington, D.C. 

  • Medical aids, supply donations. Contact for volunteering and which supplies are needed. 
  • Contact @freedomfightersdc on instagram 

Atlanta, Georgia 

  • Call: 404-689-1519 (jail support)

 

Charlotte, North Carolina 

  • Call: (980) 224-2097

 

Delaware 

  • Call: (833)-362-9456 (Food Not Bombs)

 

Miami, Florida 

  • Call: 786-676-8806 (FemPower) 

 

New York City, New York

  • Using Signal, text HELLO (718) 550-2312 for jail support updates. They need new people and supplies every day. 

 

Portland, Oregon

 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Educational materials provided from BLM:

SELF CARE FOR BLACK INDIVIDUALS 

RAISE YOUR VOICE

  • List of Petitions from BLM
  • Defunding NYPD Actions to Take 
    • Contacting Melanie Hartzog 
      • (212) 788-5900
      • Script: Hi my name is […] and I am a resident of [borough]. I am asking to call an emergency council meeting and deny the mayor’s proposed budget. I would like to redirect money away from NYPD into these social service programs [List of social service programs important to you]. It is crucial that this meeting is called because police are currently being paid overtime for current protests. 
    • Email or call your own councilmember 
      • Find them at council.nyc.gov
      • Financial Division of NYCC Contact: (212) 788-6921

 

These resources were collected and compiled by AWOL reporters using several major resources and master documents from different organizations. Below you can find more information and see where these resources were gathered from:

 

This resource will be updated as more information becomes available. If you can provide additional resources to include in this document, email [email protected]. 

AWOL will compile a list of AU specific resources to publish at a later date. 

Stay safe.