I was going to apologise for being late to post content in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Then I realised that saying I’m late would imply that Black Lives Matter is just a trend, which it is not. It is an ongoing movement that must carry on until there is equality for all!
Therefore I unapologetically present this post and I hope it will provide anyone reading it with inspiration, ideas and a little more knowledge about what they can do today in support of Black Lives Matter.
Educate yourself
Knowledge is power, and if you don’t know a lot about the Black Lives Matter movement, then educating yourself is a good place to start. Here is a helpful resource to start you off: 10 Reasons You Should Support Black Lives Matter
Petitions you may not have discovered yet
These are some of the Black Lives Matter related petitions I have signed. I haven’t seen these as widely circulated as some others, but I think they are very important. So if you haven’t signed them yet, please do!
Medical schools must include BAME representation in clinical teaching
Did you know that medical students are not always taught about how certain diseases and symptoms present differently on darker skin? This means that some illnesses are not being recognised or correctly diagnosed in black and minority ethnic (BAME) patients, and this leads to needless loss of lives. It seems a no-brainer that medical schools should teach this, as lives could be saved as a result!
Teach British children about the realities of British Imperialism and Colonialism
I admit I do not know a lot about black history. This is something I am striving to learn now, but it would have been better if I was taught it in school. If future generations understand the background behind racism, that would be a huge step towards eradicating it.
Ban Hair Discrimination In The UK
When I read this, I couldn’t believe that some employers are still discriminating against people based on their natural hair! Hair is a part of our bodies and there are many different hair types. No type is ‘better’ or ‘more acceptable’ than another. Making black people straighten their hair in order to be offered a job is discrimination!
Support black-owned small businesses
A great way to support the Black Lives Matter movement is to support black-owned small businesses. You can do this by following them on social media, and purchasing goods and creations from them. Of course, this does not just apply to online businesses, but social media is a good place to find them! Simply search ‘black-owned business’ on Twitter or Instagram and you will find several relevant directories.
If you are in the United States, you can find a great list of US black-owned businesses here.
Diversify your Instagram feed
As well as following black-owned businesses, it’s also a great idea to seek out black-owned Instagram accounts to follow. By following a racially diverse range of accounts, your feed will be diverse and inclusive and you will be exposed to a wide range of races and cultures every time you log in.
Read books by black authors
A couple of months ago, I discovered this reading list of books by black authors on Goodreads. The books all look amazing and I have added them to my ‘to be read’ jar so that I can educate myself more about black history and the experiences of black people today. Books are an amazing source of knowledge and insight, so I would recommend taking a look at this reading list and picking out a few books that appeal to you.
Attend events, marches and protests
Search ‘Black Lives Matter [your town/city]’ to find out if there are any events happening near you. Please make sure to observe social distancing guidelines when you are out and about.
How to support Black Lives Matter as a blogger
I know that many of my readers are fellow bloggers. A blog is a powerful thing because it is a platform where your voice can reach many readers, and spread positive ripples in the world. So here are some ways you can support equality and diversity as a blogger:
Create a blog post about Black Lives Matter
When I first decided I was going to write this post, I didn’t really know what I would put in it. I wanted to help, but I felt like I didn’t personally have a lot to offer that was different from the things other bloggers have been posting. Then I realised it doesn’t matter. Just by creating a post, I am raising awareness and keeping the movement alive.
Even if just one person signs one petition or buys something from a black-owned business as a result of this post, then I have made a small difference, and small differences add up. You don’t have to write a lengthy post – it can be short and simple – but by writing SOMETHING you are showing your support and being proactive.
Post Black Lives Matter content on social media
As well as writing a blog post, you can also use your social media platforms to promote Black Lives Matter. Examples of social media use would be:
- promoting your Black Lives Matter blog post
- sharing petitions
- sharing articles
- writing tweets in support of the movement
- sharing photographs of any Black Lives Matter events, marches or protests you attend
- sharing posts and tweets by black-owned accounts and businesses
Use racially diverse stock photos
I use a mixture of stock photos and my own photos on my blog. Recently, I have become aware that there seems to be a prevalence of white people in the stock photo collections I use. I have therefore been diversifying my blog by making sure to include a diverse range of races in the photos I choose.
Read blog posts about Black Lives Matter
Whether or not you are a blogger yourself, I would suggest reading a variety of blog posts about Black Lives Matter. Every blogger shares a unique perspective on the subject, and you may discover some new advice or recommendations that you haven’t come across before.
Here are some posts I have discovered recently:
Keep spreading the message and taking action until racism is a thing of the past!
As I said at the start of this post, Black Lives Matter is not just a trend! It is a hugely important movement and we all need to do our part so that the day will come sooner when racism becomes history.
What have you done in support of Black Lives Matter? If you can suggest any other ways to support the movement, I would love to hear from you! Please let me know in the comments.
Loved this article. It is true that we are rarely taught about racism and discrimination in school. As, a woman of colour it saddens me to see what kind of a world we are living in and I am scared that what if the future generation too has to bear the brunt of racism and hatred. Anyways, I came over to tell you that I love the work that you are doing on your blog, and hence, I have nominated you for “The Vincent Ehindero Blogger” award. I would love to see you participate. For more details, you can check out the recent post of my blog. 🙂
I’m so glad you loved this article. I really hope that racism will end soon so that future generations don’t have to go through it! Thank you so much for nominating me for the award! I will go and check that out now 🙂