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Monday, June 1, 8:00 AM

We cannot stand by silently while Black communities continue to suffer under the weight of violence, discrimination and injustice. Yesterday, May 31st, we contributed $1,000 to our neighbors, Citizen Action of New York, who organized Saturdays run/walk rally for Black Lives in Albany, and that's not anywhere near enough. The work we all need to do to dismantle systemic racism is far from over.

Honest Weight stands in solidarity with the Black communities in Albany, in Minneapolis, in Glynn County, in Louisville, Tallahassee, and across the country. Black Lives Matter.

Here are a few facts that are true today.

1. 14.6% of the population of the USA is African American (Latino/Latina makes up 18.3%, Native American is 1.3%), yet only 3.5% of the nation’s farm land is operated by these ethnic minorities.
2. The latest overall COVID-19 mortality rate for Black Americans is 2.4 times as high as the rate for whites, and 2.2 times as high as the rate for Asians and Latinos.
3. African-American men are more than twice as likely as their white peers to die from police use of force. In fact, police violence is the sixth-leading cause of death for young Black men in America.
4. Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. (Source: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
5. Black transgender women account for 50 percent of all anti-LGBTQ and HIV-affected hate violence, and as of November 2017, 84% of transgender murder victims were people of color and 80% were women. (Source: Transgender Law Center)
6. Black women in leadership positions are more likely to be criticized or punished when making mistakes on the job.

What Can White People Do to be Allies of the Black Community?

• Educate yourself. Check out the resouces below for steps you can take to improve racial justice and equality in the Black community.
• When you hear of these incidents occurring, ask your friends of color how they’re doing? Just that question goes further than you know.
• Donate or volunteer for an organization led by people of color that is committed to advancing social change in Black and Brown communities. We're including a list below.
• Support Black-Owned Businesses
  • Here is an awesome compilation of Capital Region Black-Owned Businesses and Black-Led Organizations.
  • And here is a national listing.
• Support Black-Owned Businesses while shopping at Honest Weight. We're working on compiling a list of all of the products we carry that come from Black-Owned farmers, producers, distirbutors, and makers.

Educational Resources:

Anti-Racism Resources for White People

This impressive google doc is better than anything we could put together independently and includes articles to read, videos to watch, organizations to follow on social media, tools for white parents of white children, etc. It also includes other lists of resources. This list that was compiled by Johnetta Elzie, protester and activist from her notable work in the Ferguson, Missouri protests.

75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice

An older article (2017) from The Medium that lists 75 clear actions white people can take to be actively anti-racist

Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

An oft-referenced excerpt from a longer academic essay by Peggy McIntosh in 1988 and a good primer for understanding and coming to terms with white privilege. "White privilege is like an invisible
weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools, and blank
checks."

Ways You Can Help

A regularly updated list of resources, places to donate (including a way to donate without money), petitions to sign, and phone numbers to call or text.

The Case for Reparations

Written by Ta-Nehisi Coates for The Atlantic. “The Case for Reparations” has been lauded as an arresting and accurate cataloguing of the black struggle in twentieth-century America (especially the critical role property has played in the oppression of black people).

Black Mental Health Matters

“Racism is a public health crisis,” according to a May 2020 statement from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Sunshine Behavioral Health compiled this excellent spread of resources and information, including many links to free or low-cost sources for culturally competent mental healthcare.

Organizations Accepting Donations:

• Albany Bail Fund for Black Lives
• Black Lives Matter
• The Bail Project works nationally, including several cities where protests are taking place, including Los Angeles, Louisville, and New York City. Donate here.
• NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
• Black Visions Collective
• Campaign Zero The comprehensive platform for research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America.
• Transgender Law Center
• Urban Grief responds to the traumatic impact of community violence, death and loss through community education, crisis response, victim advocacy and grief support.

Did we miss anything that should be on here? Please reach out: alexm@honestweight.coop 

1. Employment hiring, retention, and practices
2. Racial Equity and Inclusion Training for Employees
3. Racial Equity and Inclusion Policy Review and Development
4. Diversity and Sensitivity Training for Employees and Membership
5. Creation of a Diversity Committee
6. Explore ways that the co-op can actively support an anti-racist agenda.
7. Neighborhood Engagement programs by Outreach