Personal and Professional Resources For Anti-Racism Work

At bbatx, we serve a broad community of creatives, entrepreneurs and leaders. 50% of that community on any given day is white. In respect to the events of the last few weeks, we have felt a responsibility to both address that whiteness and hold space for our Black and Brown community members—and for ourselves. 

For those of us who are white and non-Black, what we do in this moment matters, because moments like these happen within our daily realities, even if they are not always visible or viral. Multiple community groups across the country have been gathering to protest the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery at the hands of police and civilians—and in Austin organizations are also calling for the accountability for the death of Mike Ramos, whose life was taken a few weeks ago by APD and has yet to see accountability. Organizers are risking their lives to be heard here in Texas, as well as across the country in Minnesota and other states, because a response is urgent. 

White supremacy leads to more than police brutality—it determines who and what we assign power to and how we make decisions. So, our attention, critical thinking skills and commitment to long-term change is necessary. Our team has collected resources from friends, anti-racist organizations and activists on starting and continuing anti-racism work in our personal and professional lives. Commit to listening and learning from people who do this work everyday. 

For all of our team members, friends, family and extended community reading this who have been navigating the racism and mental health load of this, thank you for letting us share. It’s OK to rest, it’s OK to be angry, and it’s OK to be. Stay well and stay safe.

BEFORE YOU READ: THIS IS A LONG LIST, AND ANTI-RACISM WORK IS NOT DONE OVERNIGHT.

It can be tempting to look at this list and shut down. Start with one thing. Return the next day. Then, the day after that. We are all learning here. We will also be adding to this list as our board approves resources and recommendations shared with us. It will evolve and change, and you are welcome to bookmark this and revisit.

 

Personal and Professional Resources For Anti-Racism Work

First, watch Doing The Work: Anti-Racism As An Everyday Practice.

On August 15, bbatx hosted an action-oriented conversation with anti-racist educators and activists Briona Jenkins and Pamela Benson-Owens about implementing anti-racism practices in our personal and professional lives.

 
 

SECOND, READ THROUGH THESE PERSONAL RESOURCES FOR ANTI-RACISM WORK FOR WHITE AND NON-BLACK FOLKS.

 

THIRD, take time to sit with how this applies to your professional life.

 

FOURTH, WE’VE COMPILED SOME MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR BLACK FOLKS AND POC WHO HAVE SHARED THIS LIST WITH SOMEONE.

 

AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, PLEASE REMEMBER THEIR NAMES.

Racism and white supremacy needs to stop, because Black lives matter. We send our condolences to the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, as well as all other families, grieving lives lost to police brutality and racist civilian violence.

Breonna Taylor as illustrated by @broobs.psd

Breonna Taylor as illustrated by @broobs.psd

George Floyd as illustrated by @broobs.psd

George Floyd as illustrated by @broobs.psd

Ahmaud Arbery as illustrated by @broobs.psd

Ahmaud Arbery as illustrated by @broobs.psd

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