“I am and always will be a catalyst for change.”
– Shirley Chisholm
Protests and rebellions are as old as the United States. When the status quo becomes unbearable to enough people, uprisings pressure those in power to make changes that bring us closer to the land-of-the-free promise.
We’ve pulled together a reminder that we are in a long struggle that did not begin with this moment and will not end with this moment. Below are resources to inspire us and remind us whose shoulders we stand on and whose sacrifices we are honoring as we continue to educate and activate to demand a more just and humane world.
READ
LISTEN
Access most where you listen to podcasts
In 2020, Protests Spread Across The Globe With A Similar Message: Black Lives Matter
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Ashley Westerman, Ryan Benk, and David Greene Lear
(7 minutes)
"I Live with Standing Rock in My Heart": Massive Pipeline Protest Resonates 5 Years Later
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Dan Gunderson
(8 minutes)
What Gun Violence Protesters Can Learn From 1968's Chicano Blowouts
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Mandalit del Barco
(5 minutes)
WATCH
CONNECT
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow racial justice activists, educators, organizations, and movements on social media. (You can explore posts without having an account.) Consider connecting with any of the people or organizations you learn from other actions.
For each of the below we recommend going to the website and from there linking to the social media platforms each person/organization uses
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ACT
Though many people believe they need to wait until they better understand privilege and racism before acting, please know that your students cannot afford for more time to pass without you exhibiting some advocacy.
ACTION IDEAS
Learn how to be an anti-racist and name your commitment to learn to friends, family, and on your social media posts
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Follow the suggested leaders below
Find out who your local racial justice organizers are and donate funds
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Donate to bail funds anytime protests rise up
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Attend local protests or pull a group together to organize one in your town
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Talk, post, share with those in your circle what you are learning about the history of racial injustice and the 400-year-old movement to demand and create justice
Notice your comfort level with protest and rebellion, especially when they include fire, looting, and violence. If you are uncomfortable, why? What causes more discomfort for you: the status quo or the protest seeking to disrupt and advance beyond the status quo?
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Take care of yourself, this is a marathon, not a sprint
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Convey to all in your circle that the point of racial justice is not to hate on white people, it’s to create a more loving and humane world for ALL
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Convey to all in your circle that all lives won’t matter until Black and brown lives matter equally as much as white lives historically have
REFLECT & STAY INSPIRED
WHY REFLECT
Difficult emotions––such as shame and anger––though uncomfortable to feel, can guide you to deeper self-awareness about how power and privilege impacts you and the people in your life.
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Reflecting and journaling enhances learning. By using a 21-Day Reflect tool each day, you discover how much you are actually understanding and making meaning. It helps you to transform your personal experience into a learning experience, and thus build your racial equity habits.
Protest & Rebellion Edition Inspiration Songs: