In Honor of George Floyd

You may remember exactly where you were when you first learned of George Floyd's murder by a white police officer in Minneapolis five years ago. You most certainly remember the period of time in which it happened, when we were hunkered down in our homes, washing hands, wiping groceries and worrying about or mourning loved ones.

The summer of 2020 momentarily felt like a shift, like most of the country finally understood collectively that the system was stacked against Black people. Money flowed from foundations and corporations, people took to the streets to protest, and many of us read books and got on Zooms and did worksheets to learn how to be anti-racist.

At the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, sits a memorial for George Floyd. Photograph: Jenn Ackerman/The Guardian

Fast forward to now–we're swimming in willful misunderstanding about what defunding and abolishing police actually means and walking away from even the shallowest of DEI practices.

I learned so much that year, how even those of us with the best intentions perpetuate anti-Blackness in our work and daily life. And that learning process has no end.

Here are a few places I turn to for ongoing knowledge and wisdom. And a few efforts to dismantle the systems and practices that perpetuate anti-Blackness and led to the death of George Floyd and far too many other Black men and women.

Learn from …

This conversation by Shanelle Matthews on how to "imagine a future that is super radical and super pro-Black.”

The work of my fellow Open Society Equality Fellows Hannah Drake and Josh Miller at the (Un)known Project to unearth the names and stories of enslaved people.

Brittney Packet Cunningham on Instagram for commentary and gospel on current events.

Support …

The Let Us Breathe Fund, at the North Star Fund, to resource Black-led grassroots organizing in New York City and the Hudson Valley.

Black Alliance for Just Immigration, which organizes Black immigrant communities to advocate for racial, social and economic justice.

RadComms Network, which helps drive narrative and messaging strategies on race, immigration, and transgender liberation.

Feel free to drop additional links and resources in the comments.

Stay vigilant about your and others' racist behaviours.

It took a lot of years to get here; let's commit to taking much less time to shift toward a pro-Black world.

Sayu