Updated: August 7th, 2020
In the continuous conversation relating to the Black Lives Matter movement, these are the times where we find ourselves in the crossroads of doing what we may find uncomfortable.
We are simultaneously finding growth in ourselves and others in participating in a necessary and vital conversation.
2020 is a time of growth in a year of facing fear, injustice, and systemic racism. This has been the time to take action regarding uncomfortable topics and bring opinions to the surface of hard conversations with those we know, those we love, and strangers online. This has been a time for recollecting, learning, and listening.
This year has been dedicated to a learning journey and sharing Facebook and Instagram story-based resources, articles, and thoughts for continuing the #BLM conversation, going forward.
Camille Outside The Box stands in solidarity with the current movement and is taking every opportunity to listen and understand to a greater extent.
Addressing Common Responses In the Conversation
The first need here, it to note the most common responses that have been received through related Camille Outside The Box social media accounts:
“All lives matter. We all bleed the same blood.”
Looking at the whole picture with the phrase, “All Lives Matter”, it’s suggested that all houses are on fire and that our attention and resources (water) should be focused on everyone.
Not all houses are on fire.
Additionally, the systems with which water is provided and used to put out these fires must be considered, or otherwise how systemic actions contribute to the “why” behind these fires being there in the first place.
There is a need for us to fully critique the systems that are in place. The big picture must coincide with understanding and critiquing the intricacies of society, as well as our individual perspectives, biases, and the truths we take to heart from our life experiences.
The following video, Systemic Racism Explained (the second video clip down on the page), better helps to explain the bigger solutions that rely on us to contribute to creating change.
“Are you saying we should get rid of the police?”
The topic of “defunding the police” has multiple layers. It doesn’t translate to removing emergency services and allowing our calls to ‘911’ to only meet an abandoned voicemail box. There’s more to the protests and discussion.
This is the time of providing a greater critique of the injustices that have long since gone unchecked. Our society is structured by systems that have upheld notions of justice that are outdated.
It’s important to rise up and be part of the action that is working to initiate change. In the event there is injustice seen within your experiences, amplify your voice.
With regards to defunding the police, the ample city funding for the police department can go where it’s needed in communities.
We need to retain emergency services that are better focused also on mental health services in times of crisis, minority groups, education and community-oriented initiatives that are lacking. There are many ways that our combined voices can lead to initiating change and reallocate power within our society.
Speaking Up In The Conversation
The conversations that are had now are very telling; for the victories in creating change, future relationships, our measure of accountability, and very importantly, the strength of our voices.
We each amount to one voice individually, but collectively, we have a lot of power to create impactful change.
Speaking up is similar to a muscle. At first we might feel weak, but with practice, we find we carry the weight of heavier conversations, topics and opinions. This is a time of practice in sharing our voices in a louder and more calculated way.
This also goes along with understanding the strength of what we say and how it can carry with us. With every conversation we have, the feeling of our small voice becomes more amplified and enrolls others for positive results.
Practice having the hard conversations. Life is undeniably full of them. It’s important for us to practice using our voices to advocate for just causes, ourselves, and others.
Resources to Understand
This blog post features a compilation of resources that can be referenced and acted on to eternally develop into a role that is not held in the boundaries of a “trending” topic or performative actions in the height of the social media discussions.
These resources offer a variety of options relating to continuing the #BLM conversation. Not only are these resources for greater understanding and education, but also geared toward highlighting and supporting Black-owned businesses, platforms, and creative works.
Listen
This is a 7 hour and 26 minute Spotify playlist that gathers together the speeches of historical figures and activists throughout history, including Angela Davis and Martin Luther King Jr.
A recent Webby winner for diversity and inclusion, this podcast is geared toward the real issues that warrant further conversation for minority communities, relating to politics, news, culture, and social justice. A fairly recent episode, Engage in Joy, highlights accountability, debunking the Bristol study, city budgets, and the Supreme Court’s involvement relating to excessive force in police conduct. A good place as any to start listening.
The publication Zora has compiled 100 albums by African American women into one well-organized article. If you want to build your Spotify playlist, this an excellent place to gather more songs from iconic women in music history.
Learn
As a blog, it’s essential to highlight these bloggers in turn. A few well known WOC bloggers we follow that provide actionable content you can learn and apply in your kitchen, closet, and bank account. We think you might find their content inspiring as well.
Created by the fashion blogger, Bianca Foley, this podcast is focused on conscious ways to live sustainably, relating to fashion, skincare, lifestyle, with blogger and brand interviews, and influencer culture detailed. Give a listen, and we’ll be surprised if you don’t make a small change in your routine and your wardrobe.
Angela is a long-time blogger since 2012, creating a well-developed space comprised of tried-and-true recipes, food blogs, and mouthwatering images of her dishes. On top of her skills in the kitchen and sharing through her blog space, she’s also a mom. Her skillet peach cobbler recipe is one we have in the books for this summer.
There can never be enough women discussing money management online. Ginger shares her personal journey to mastering finances as a psychotherapist and featured creator in Forbes, Elle and Esquire, among other major publications. She provides tips on entrepreneurship, earning potential, investments, negotiating, credit scores, and budgeting.
Purchase
Want to be sustainable and veer away from fast fashion, while supporting Black-owned businesses? Here’s a post by Green Matters that goes in-depth on 15 black-owned vintage stores that you can purchase from.
Eat
A way to donate that helps multiple causes related to the BLM movement and also returns a sweet treat in kind to local businesses and bakers in your area.
Read
If you don’t have a GoodReads account, now would be the perfect time to sign up. You can view this list of essential reads and renowned authors whose voices lend to further educating on racism throughout history.
You can categorize by “Want to Read”, “Currently Reading” or “Read”. The account is free to use and you can add any book to your shelf and review the book later.
I’ve recently finished White Fragility and Between the World and Me. Both instill the issues deeply rooted within society. While the first focused on racism from a corporate and culturally analytical perspective, the latter is written as a letter from father to son that is as deeply moving as it is deeply disconcerting to read and learn more about the unequal experience within American society.
I’ve recently finished White Fragility and Between the World and Me. Both instill the issues deeply rooted within society. While the first focused on racism from a corporate and culturally analytical perspective, the latter is written as a letter from father to son that is as deeply moving as it is deeply disconcerting to read and learn more about the unequal experience within American society.
I highly recommend picking up copies of both if you haven’t already read these books.
I’m currently reading So You Want to Talk About Race and Brown Girl Dreaming as of August 2020.
Write
If you’re a writer, Medium is the perfect place for you. You can submit to Momentum, which is a publication eternally continuing the #BLM conversation. This newly launched publication will continue to fight against anti-Black racism, even as other major media outlets might cycle away.
Final Thoughts
For other resources, you can check out the Camille Outside The Box Linktree here.
Change is happening. Be a part of the change. Use your voice. Play a role in continuing the #BLM conversation.
If you have additional resources to contribute or Black-owned small businesses that should be spotlighted here, I would love to hear about them via my contact form to included in this resource compilation or shared in the comments below.
Leave a Reply