[ID1: Text that reads: You’ve donated, you’ve protested, you’ve self-educated… Now what?
How to make your activism and advocacy permanent. End ID1]
[ID2: Text titled “Why We Have to Keep up the Momentum” that reads: With protests in all 50 U.S. states, as well as countries across the world (including in Australia), the current #BlackLivesMatter movement is being considered one of the biggest (if not the biggest) civil rights movements in history.
But even if you’ve contributed on your part—by donating, starting conversations, marching, or self-educating, or all of the above—the work isn’t done.
For this movement to be truly successful, and for the results to be long-lasting (i.e. promises to defund the police are followed through on, reform is assured and racist systems are dismantled), we all have to ensure that our support of BLM continues beyond the news cycle, after the protests have ended and after it’s no longer ‘trendy.’
Want to make being an ally a permanent change? Swipe through. End ID2]
[ID3: Text titled “Keep Self-Educating” that reads: Education isn’t a one-and-done affair. For us to be truly informed, we have to continuously improve and grow. What we’ve learnt so far is good, what we will learn in the future is even better.
Make a conscious decision to stay up-to-date and informed about not only what’s going on in your country, with your country’s BIPOC, but around the world. Make sure that your allyship is current and ever-evolving.
One tip we learnt from activist Maggie Zhou (@yemagz) is to set a reminder in your calendar a month from now. Use it to check that you’re still reading, learning, talking and sharing the way we’re doing right now. End ID3]
[ID4: Text titled “Change Your Habits” that reads: It’s almost impossible )not to mention exhausting) for anyone, no matter how involved, to be in a constant state of activism. But one thing we can all do is make long-lasting changes to our habits, so that eventually these small acts of activism become automatic.
Some long-term changes you can make today:
Diversify your social media feeds. Take an afternoon and follow BIPOC activists and leaders on IG and Twitter, so that your feed becomes inclusive. Tap for suggestions.
Diversify your media intake. Actively go out and support BIPOC movies, shows, plays, and performances. Not only are you helping them financially, but you’re continually consuming non-white content.
Build continual learning into your day. Look at the podcasts, YouTube channels and news outlets you currently follow. Make an effort to include ones that feature BIPOC voices. They don’t even have to be political: plenty of smart, funny Black people talk about pop culture too.
[ID5: Text titled “Consider How You Use Your Money” that reads: In the era of late-stage capitalism, money talks. Whether it’s boycotting a brand because of their unjust values or spending your $ at a co-op instead of a supermarket, how we use our money has a huge impact on individuals and organisations. Have a think about how you can best use your funds to support change long-term.
Can you afford to make your single donation a recurring one? Can you commit to a small donation fortnightly or monthly? Will your employer or an organisation match your contribution to make it go further?
Think about your buying habits. Can you buy your groceries from a BIPOC-owned business? Your books? Your art, your clothes, your beauty products?
Is it an option to buy directly from the owner, instead of through an e-tailer or department store?
[ID6: Text titled “Seize Opportunities to be Anti-Racist” that reads: If you’ve made a point to call out racists, speak to family members and speak up for BIPOC people during this time, keep it up!
Continue calling out racism when you see it
Stand up and support your BIPOC friends
Continue posting and calling attention to resources
To avoid burnout, come up with scripts for certain situations e.g. someone saying ‘All Lives Matter’
Set boundaries—if someone is continually racist after education, be prepared to remove them from your life
If you make mistakes, that’s okay! Learn from them and then share the lesson with people like you
[ID7: Text titled “Keep Turning Out” that reads: Small actions count, but don’t forget about the big ones, too.
Vote! Research who you’re voting for, what they stand for, what their plans are. Don’t know? Get involved and ask.
Question and call out politicians. Politicians are there to serve the people. Continue to email, call and question them on important issues and make sure they stand by them.
Protest, when it’s safe to. Protesting is a historic and important form of activism, and it works best in numbers. Keep up-to-date with protests and get out there when you can!
[ID8: Text edited to be curved that reads: “Revolution is not a one-time event.” Audre Lorde. End ID8]
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