If one of the goals of your protest is to attain maximal reach for your cause, but you aren’t taking steps to make your action accessible, your lack of inclusivity will be a detriment to your own goal! Here are some things for organizers to keep in mind for tomorrow’s March For Our Lives and all protests. You can download and print this poster here.
To support the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and the 30,000 people killed by guns every year, check out these links to find a march in your community, sign the petition to end gun violence, or donate to the March For Our Lives action fund .
[Image description:
A looping gif with title “my unapologetic… Accessible Protest Pack” at the top featuring a series of moving drawings with captions and checklist items.
Top left: A wheel rolling in place. “Can everyone get here?” Checklist item: “choose barrier-free spaces that are easy to travel to and navigate”
Top right: A bench and a blinking exit sign. “Can everyone take a break or escape?” Checklist item: “secure nearby rest and refuge spaces that accommodate bodily and sensory needs”
Middle left: A hermit crab shell with butterfly flapping wings on top. “Can everyone feel safe here?” Checklist item: “maximally minimize potential for harm and protect those most likely to be targeted by police and other powers”
Middle right: A lit flickering candle. “Can everyone breathe?” Checklist item: “use fragrance-free candles and designate no candle zones at vigils”
Bottom left: An upside down question mark, a hand making thumbs up and thumbs down motions, and a no symbol. “Can everyone understand?” Checklist item: “provide signage, digit handouts, and offer interpreting, translating, sign language, live captioning, and guidance services”
Bottom right: A crowd with different members being highlighted. “Can everyone participate? Checklist item: “involve people typically disabled by society from day one of organizing”]
The Black Patent Project #572,849 - Lemon squeezer
John Thomas White invented the lemon squeezer for the purpose of efficiently making his own lemonade instead of buying it. Notably, John’s lemon squeezer captures and stores the juice without the need for additional kitchenware.
The #blackpatentproject seeks to make information about black inventors and their inventions more accessible and discoverable, and honor the impact of their creativity.
The Black Patent Project #4,095,791 - Cartridge programmable video game apparatus
Two black engineers, Jerry Lawson and Ron Jones, led the design for the first video game system to store software on cartridges. This invention would later be cited by Atari and many others.
The #blackpatentproject seeks to make information about black inventors and their inventions more accessible and discoverable, and honor the impact of their creativity.
The Black Patent Project #4,354,643 - Bathroom tissue holder
What made Mary Kenner’s bathroom tissue holder innovative was its bar that keeps the loose end hanging free. She invented many bathroom related items throughout her career and often collaborated with her sister, Mildred Smith.
The #blackpatentproject seeks to make information about black inventors and their inventions more accessible and discoverable, and honor the impact of their creativity.
The Black Patent Project #1,475,024 - Traffic signal
Garrett Morgan’s traffic signal is perhaps one of the most well known inventions with a black creator. He also led a number of initiatives to promote black employment.
The #blackpatentproject seeks to make information about black inventors and their inventions more accessible and discoverable, and honor the impact of their creativity.
The Black Patent Project #6,596,281 - Pager belt buckle device
Gerald Thomas is “a buckle designer” who was fascinated with the idea of wearable technology after seeing clients constantly drop their electronic devices while trying on his clothing.
The #blackpatentproject seeks to make information about black inventors and their inventions more accessible and discoverable, and honor the impact of their creativity.
The Black Patent Project #5,074,437 - Pinch trigger pump water gun
Lonnie Johnson invented the Super Soaker in his off time working as an engineer for the US Air Force and NASA. The Super Soaker is still one of the world’s best selling toys of all time.
The #blackpatentproject seeks to make information about black inventors and their inventions more accessible and discoverable, and honor the impact of their creativity.
The Black Patent Project #639,692 - Amusement apparatus.
Granville T. Woods is most known for his contributions to electrical railway systems, but he also invented the mechanism for slot car racing.
The #blackpatentproject seeks to make information about black inventors and their inventions more accessible and discoverable, and honor the impact of their creativity.
The Black Patent Project #1,716,173 - Scalp protector
Well known for her Permanent Waving Machine, a lesser known companion invention of Marjorie Stewart Joyner is the Scalp protector, to be used as a barrier from the heat of the curling irons.
The #blackpatentproject seeks to make information about black inventors and their inventions more accessible and discoverable, and honor the impact of their creativity.
It is an honor to take part in honoring the critical work you do for our movements alongside For the People Artists Collective. You are a one-woman library and your documentation tells stories that multimillion$ museums have failed to convey. Photos are very sacred artifacts, literally capturing the exact light of an instant. If you know me well, than you know I am sometimes weary of photography; the way it can prematurely memorialize us. But Sarah doesn't capture ghosts, but, rather, amplifies spirits that defy spacetime. These spirits exude affirmation in how far we've come (love) and yet remind us why our movement must continue (struggle).
As we enter a new era of privatization, information hoarding, and filtering, your labor in particular will resound with an importance far beyond what is immediately conceivable. But don't let that discourage you from taking some time off when you need it! :)
so thankful for you as well as all of the people who have been brought into my life through you,
Altar #1: For Expired IDs (based on SweetSexySavage by Kehlani)
"The Shrine of Lullabies" is a collection of animated digital altars based on the work of musicians exploring themes of mental health and trauma related to constructs of gender. Beginning with a collaboration with Red Bull Sound Select Presents: 30 Days in Chicago, the project seeks to affirm the power of visual arts and music working together to create uniquely spiritual experiences, even from unexpected genres such as animation, comics, pop, and rap.
June 19, 2017 - today I realized: 1) I (frfr) need to drink more water. 2) I live next to an incredible body of water 3) The significance of both of these statements seems to be growing exponentially with time 😐 #thingsirealizedinjune
June 6, 2017 - today I realized that telling myself I just need to wake up earlier is a fuckin dumb ass solution to some problems that are actually much more complex. #thingsirealizedinjune
