Despite the coverage on social media declining, the Black Lives Matter movement is still going strong. Since the death of George Floyd, people all across the world have been protesting against police brutality, systemic racism, and prejudice in their communities. Despite efforts from those around the world, there are still people who want to do more, feeling as if protests and posts on social media are not enough.
While posting to Instagram Stories and retweeting on the timeline have been helpful, there are still a vast number of ways to help that may prove to be more effective. If you are looking to continue being an ally in other ways than just protesting and posting, look no further. Some ways to continue to help are listed below.
Donate To Black Lives Matter (BLM) Causes. You may be signing petitions and spreading awareness, but the truth of the matter is that money talks. The more money organizations have to work with, the more they will be able to give back to the communities in need. Whether it be a GoFundMe or a Change.org petition, the money will be able to help the families afford lawyers, pay for funerals, and fund efforts to give back to their communities. The money you donate can help grieving families bury their loved ones and fight for justice. It can also be put towards food and clothing drives to help those in less fortunate situations, keeping people warm and putting food in their mouths. If you have the ability to donate, it is important to exercise it, since your funds will be able to help those in need.
Support Black Businesses. If you are not comfortable entrusting your money with BLM causes and donations that you may not be sure about, you could always support black businesses. Money talks, and using your economic power to support black businesses can help fight against the systemic racism present in communities across the world. There are black business owners in communities everywhere, and you may find some of their services more reliable than those from competitors. Not only that, but many businesses have been impacted by the riots in their communities. While bigger corporations have been able to recover and pay for the damages, many black businesses have not had that same luxury. Since they haven’t gotten as much support in the past, the funds are not there for black businesses to rebuild. One of the best ways to help them recover and continue being an ally is to support them.
Amplify Black Voices. Black people have a certain perspective on things that others may not understand. There are things that they have experienced that may not be talked about, but still occur in their day-to-day lives. If you notice that they are choosing to speak out against these injustices and fight against them, you should help amplify their voices. There are often people around you who don’t understand the black struggle and simply write off black voices. In order to continue being an ally, you have to amplify black voices so that people in your circle can hear them.
Speak Out Against Injustices. There is still racism rampant in our communities. Whether you see it or not, be aware that it is still there. If you are against racism and injustices, don’t let them occur in your community. People make snide comments all the time, it is your duty as an ally to speak out against them. Tell them why they are wrong. Not only that, but if you witness racial injustices in areas of work, businesses, or any place that is considered professional or official, it is still your job to speak out against them. Expose the injustices that you witness in places of power and fight for equality. Don’t stand by and remain silent. By remaining silent, you enable the voices of those who are racist to be heard, refusing to let the world be equal.
Educate Yourself and Those Around You. There are certain situations where speaking out just isn’t enough. Instead of telling the person that they are wrong, it is important to educate them on the situation at hand. Show them the things that are happening. Sometimes the news that people consume does not show the whole truth, so it is important to educate the people around you on the injustices and brutalities occurring in their communities, as well as the systemic racism that runs through our society.
Stop Supporting Businesses That Are Against Racial Justice and True Equality. What many people don’t know is that a lot of the companies that they support are against the same ideals that they are fighting for. Some fast food businesses and fashion companies have donated their money to businessmen who have questionable morals and ideals. It is important to learn which companies are supporting these people and/or businesses who don’t care about the livelihood of black people, and to stop supporting them. In order to continue being an ally past social media, remember that money talks, and that the less you support businesses that stand for racial injustice, the less they will be able to keep their ideals heard.
In order to be an ally, you have to support black voices and actively fight against racial injustice and brutality not just in your communities, but across the world. Continue to educate those around you and be a voice for change. There have been creatives, musicians, designers, and plenty of other people using their platforms to speak out and be voices for change, and you can too.
Other ways you are able to help include donating to the Justice for George Floyd Fund, as well as others supporting Black Lives Matter efforts. You can also support the people of color all around you. This includes creatives, blue-collar workers, artists, and everything in between. One of the most important ways you can help is by simply using your voice to speak out against the racial injustices that are present in society.