In the wake of the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, it’s imperative that we not only confront racism, but strive to be actively anti-racist.

Beyond posting messages of solidarity on social media, we must acknowledge our prejudices—because even the most well-intentioned of us have unconscious biases—and do the work of dismantling them. “The beauty of anti-racism is that you don’t have to pretend to be free of racism to be an anti-racist,” says writer Ijeoma Oluo, author of the New York Times bestseller So You Want to Talk About Race. “Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it’s the only way forward.” 

One of the most impactful ways that we can do that here at Create & Cultivate is by using our platform not only to help women create and cultivate the careers of their dreams, but to effect change. Ahead, we’re sharing some actionable ideas on how to combat racism, confront biases and prejudices, and actively work toward being antiracist with our C&C community. We hope you’ll join us in doing the work.

Sign petitions.

- Sign the Justice for Big Floyd to demand that the officers involved are held accountable. When you sign, the platform will automatically send your message to County Attorney Michael Freeman, who has the power to arrest and charge these police officers.

- Color of Change also has a petition to demand that the officers who killed George Floyd are charged with murder, which you can sign here.

- Sign the #JusticeforBre petition for Breonna Taylor, an award-winning EMT and first responder in Louisville, Kentucky who was shot and killed by police in her apartment.

- Change.org also has a number of petitions, including Justice for Breonna Taylor, Justice for Ahmaud Arbery, and Justice for George Floyd, which has over 16 million signatures and counting.

- For additional petitions to sign, please see this list compiled by Black Lives Matter.

Donate.

- After raising $20 million in four days, the Minnesota Freedom Fund is no longer actively soliciting donations. Instead, the non-profit is encouraging people to donate to George Floyd’s family and other local organizations run by Black community members, such as Black Visions Collective, Reclaim the Block, and Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar.

Here are some additional organizations for your consideration:

- National Bail Fund Network: A directory of community bail funds that are freeing people by paying bail/bond and are also fighting to abolish the money bail system and pretrial detention

- NAACP: A civil rights organization dedicated to building political power and ensuring the wellbeing of communities of color

- Campaign Zero: An police reform campaign focused on research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America

- Unicorn Riot: A non-profit media dedicated to exposing root causes of dynamic social and environmental issues

- Color of Change: A nonprofit civil rights advocacy organization

- Black Lives Matter: An international human rights movement that campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards Black people

- Black Futures Lab: An organization for change that works to transforms communities, build Black political power, and change the way that power operates on local, statewide, and national levels

Support Black women-owned businesses.

We’ve compiled a list of 30 Black Female-Owned Brands and Entrepreneurs to Support Now and Always. Below, are just a few that we love and would encourage you should support with your spending power:

Fashion

- Jade Swim: Luxe swimwear made from sustainable fabrics in minimalist designs

- Brother Vellies: Handcrafted shoes and handbags that celebrate cultural histories and timeless design

- Zou Xou: Ethically made, handcrafted shoes

- Vavvoune: A leather accessories brand 

-  Aliya Wanek: A womenswear label that creates comfortable, stylish clothing ethically and sustainably

- We Are Kin: A womenswear label known for strong silhouettes, clean lines, and statement staples

Beauty

- Briogeo: Clean, conscious, high-performing haircare 

- Black Girl Sunscreen: Sunscreen for women of color made with natural ingredients

- Mented: Vegan, paraben-free, non-toxic, and cruelty-free makeup

- The Lip Bar: A vegan, cruelty-free beauty brand

- Uoma: A makeup line that is “forward-thinking, radical and uncompromising”

Health & Wellness

- Golde: A superfood health and beauty line

- The Honey Pot: A plant-based feminine care company

- A Complexion Company: Luxury beauty and wellness solutions for women of color

- Alexandra Winbrush: A self-care focused candle and tea brand

- Sonshine Bath: Handmade, small-batch body care

- Black Girls Breathing: A company dedicated to creating a safe space for Black womxn to nurture their mental, emotional and spiritual health through meditational breathwork

- Melanin in the Kitchen: A platform that provides holistic wellness digital products and explores the intersection of plant-based eating, spirituality, personal growth, and sustainability

Food

- Cherry Bombe has compiled a list Black women in food and Black women-owned small businesses to support.

Continue to educate yourself.

- This anti-racist reading list compiled by Ibram X. Kendi for The New York Times is a great source for book recommendations, which includes works of both fiction and nonfiction. “Think of it as a stepladder to antiracism, each step addressing a different stage of the journey toward destroying racism’s insidious hold on all of us,” says Kendi.

- We’ve also creating a reading list—11 Books to Start Doing the Work Toward Becoming Anti-Racist—with additional suggestions.

- For those who want to talk about race with their children, we’ve compiled a resource on why it’s so important to talk to kids about race, complete with 11 books to start the conversation.

- While adding books to your reading list, buy books from Black-owned bookstores. To find a bookstore near you, search this directory of Black-owned, independent bookstores maintained by African American Literature Book Club (AALBC) and Alliance for Black Literature and Entertainment (ABLE). 

- A few podcasts to subscribe to for further learning include:

• 1619, a New York Times audio series, hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, that examines the long shadow of American slavery.

• Intersectionality Matters, a podcast hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American civil rights advocate and a leading scholar of critical race theory

• Pod for the Cause, a podcast launched by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and hosted by Ashley Allison to expand the conversation on the critical civil and human rights challenges of our day

• Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, a podcast that features movement voices, stories, and strategies for racial justice co-hosted by Chevon Drew and Hiba Elyass

• Code Switch, an NPR podcast, co-hosted and produced by Shereen Marisol Meraji, that brings fearless conversations on race to the forefront

Register to vote. 

- Electing officials who have the power to implement change at local, state, and federal levels is a crucial part of dismantling systemic racism. Vote.org is a great resource for registering to vote, checking your registration status, finding your polling place, and even signing up to receive election reminders via text or email.

Needless to say, this is a just short list of actions to take, businesses to support, and organizations to follow in order to effect change. There is a lot of work to do, so we will be updating this article with new resources and information over time. Please leave recommendations in the comments, if you have them.

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