The devastating current events—most recently, the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor—are a wake-up call for many looking to do better, help in whatever way they can and educate themselves. It is incredibly important to our editorial team and company to make sure that we're doing the necessary work, too. One part of that is using our platform to share some actionable ideas on how to combat racism and prejudice with our WWW community. We welcome anyone who would like to start a thoughtful conversation or add to these resources to email us at hello@whowhatwear.com.
1. Educate yourself, confront your own biases and work to be actively anti-racist. Use your knowledge to speak up.
This anti-racism resources document compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein in May 2020 includes books for adults and children, articles, podcasts, videos and films, and organisations to follow.
When buying books, especially ones to educate yourself on this issue, buy from black-owned bookstores: U.K. such as Roundtable Books, Ayebia, African Books Collective, New Beacon Books, Seven Oaks Bookshop. U.S.: Mahogany Books, Harrietts Bookshop, The Lit Bar, and Semicolon Bookstore. Our suggestion is to start with How to Be an Antiracist by Dr Ibram X. Kendi. Look for Black authors first.
(NB: Reni Eddo-Lodge, author of Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race, has asked that if you buy a copy, to also donate money to the Minnesota Freedom Fund or borrow a copy from a friend.)
Take Harvard's implicit bias test to learn your level of conscious and unconscious bias on things like light versus dark skin tone preference and many other categories including race, sexual orientation, religion, age, and weight. It takes about 10 minutes.
Some bite-size media snippets we found insightful:
Tarana J. Burke, founder of the Me Too movement, describing everyday life as a black family.
Novelist Toni Morrison puts race in perspective. (1:17–1:55)
Anti-racist educator Jane Elliott asks a room of white people a question.
A powerful visualization of privilege.
Exactly why the "All Lives Matter" sentiment is not helpful to social justice.
2. If you have the means, donate.
George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Atatiana Jefferson. Ahmaud Arbery. Tamir Rice. Sandra Bland. Mike Brown. Walter Scott. That’s just off the top of my head. Donate to the Minnesota Freedom Fund.May 28, 2020
Update: Per this Forbes article, the Minnesota Freedom Fund is no longer actively soliciting donations but encouraging people to donate to other local organizations run by black community members, such as Black Visions Collective, Reclaim the Block, and Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar.
Here are some additional places to donate:
National Bail Fund: Shares a directory of local community bail funds to support.
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund: A fund started by George Floyd's sister to cover the family's funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counselling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist their family in the days to come as we continue to seek justice for George.
I Run With Maud: A fund started by Ahmaud Arbery's best friend to benefit his mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, and her immediate family with financial support during this extremely difficult time and in their struggle for justice for the murder of Ahmaud Marquez Arbery.
Color of Change: The nation's largest online racial justice organization that works to end practices that unfairly hold black people back.
Brooklyn Community Bail Fund: An organization committed to challenging the racism, inequality, and injustice of a criminal legal system and immigration and deportation regime that disproportionately target and harm low-income communities of colour.
NAACP "We Are Done Dying" Campaign: A campaign by the National Association for Advancement of Colored People to expose the inequities embedded into the American healthcare system and the country at large.
3. Sign petitions and make calls.
Phone numbers to call to demand justice for Breonna Taylor are listed in this document.
Sign the Justice for Big Floyd Petition. The goal is to get to three million signatures. When you sign, the platform will automatically send your message to County Attorney Michael Freeman, who has the power to arrest and charge the police officers involved.
Sign the #JusticeForBre Petition for Breonna Taylor.
Text "FLOYD" to 551-56. Color of Change will text you back with a link to sign their petition for justice for George Floyd, or simply sign the petition here. Color of Change also has a petition for Breonna Taylor.
Change.org has many petitions including, Raise the Degree, Justice for George Floyd, and Disbarment of George E. Barnhill, a prosecutor on the Ahmaud Arbery case.
Black Lives Matter lists additional petitions to sign.
British Petitions and Organisations to Donate to and Support:
Protect Afro-textured hair: Amend the UK Equality Act to include hair. You can sign the petition here.
Support the survivors of the Grenfell fire, which disproportionately affected the Black and ethnic minorities community.
The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.
The Amos Bursary.
4. Use your spending power to support Black-owned businesses.
Fashion
Brother Vellies: Handcrafted, sustainable shoes designed in Brooklyn and made by artisans from Nairobi to New York.
Lisou: Incredible prints in luxurious silk is what you'll get from this British brand.
Duro Olowu: Super colourful striped midi dresses, bold suits and jacquard-printed gowns.
Fortie: Dramatic stage-looks as seen on the likes of Jorja Smith and Mabel.
Bianca Saunders: Selected by the British Fashion Council in 2018 as "One to Watch."
TTYA: Stocked on ASOS, this brand is for taller women.
The Folklore: Online store delivering Africa and the diaspora's top contemporary brands.
Pyer Moss: Mens and womenswear fashion label concerned with building a narrative that speaks about heritage and activism.
McMullen: Boutique and online store dedicated to global designer brands.
Telfar: Unisex brand including logo bags beloved by the fashion set.
Cushnie: Luxury women's ready-to-wear and bridal brand known for sculptural, clean silhouettes.
Christopher John Rogers: Colourful, dramatic eveningwear that won the 2019 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award.
Jade Swim: Luxe, minimal swimwear made of sustainable fabric.
Heron Preston: Award-winning workwear-redefined separates and accessories for both women and men.
Sami Miró Vintage: Limited-run clothing line made from upcycled vintage fabrics.
Slashed by Tia: A modern take on Renaissance-inspired clothing by a young NYC-based designer that has been worn by everyone from Lizzo to Gigi Hadid.
Maki Oh: Womenswear brand that fuses traditional African techniques with detailed contemporary construction.
Wales Bonner: Luxury womenswear and menswear brand focusing on "soulful tailoring."
Monrowe NYC: Handmade hats inspired by nuances of jazz culture.
Fe Noel: Vibrant, colourful brand inspired by the designer's Caribbean heritage.
Victor Glemaud: Statement knitwear designed for all people, genders, races, sizes, and personalities.
Beauty
Uoma Beauty: Inclusive makeup range.
Oui the People: Ultra-chic razor for those with sensitive skin.
Shea Moisture: Natural, cruelty-free hair and skincare products.
Unsun Cosmetics: Clean mineral sunscreen for people of all shades.
Black Girl Sunscreen: Sunscreen for women of colour made with natural ingredients.
Nyakio Beauty: Handmade small-batch skin and bodycare products made from cold-pressed oils crafted with ethical, sustainable, and natural ingredients from around the world.
Range Beauty: Clean beauty for "the forgotten shades."
The Lip Bar: Vegan, cruelty-free makeup line.
Kingdom Crown: Natural and organic reparative hair products.
KNC Beauty: Cult-favourite natural lip masks, balms, and eye masks.
Pat McGrath Labs: Namesake colour cosmetics collection by the legendary makeup artist.
Mented: Nontoxic, vegan cosmetics line that's passionate about pigment.
Briogeo: Clean and conscious haircare line with ingredients personalised for your hair type.
Fenty Beauty: Rihanna's cosmetics line created for everyone of all shades, personalities, attitudes, and cultures.
Floral & Curl: Natural, plant-powered haircare to nourish, hydrate, soothe and protect all curl types.
Big Hair: Redefining Afro and curly hair care.
Bouclème: This three-step system helps cleanse, condition, define will give you beautiful, shiny and nourished curls.
The Afro Hair & Skin Co: An award-winning afro beauty and wellness business located along the beautiful English coast.
Soap Smith: Artisan soap brand based in the UK.
Dizziak: A deep hydration for thick and afro hair.
Wellness and Home
Golde: Superfood-based wellness and beauty brand founded by the youngest black woman to launch a line at Sephora.
A Complexion Company: Clean wellness tonics and powders for women of colour.
Blk+Grn: Nontoxic marketplace stocking black-founded brands.
Laura Kay Innovations: Nontoxic household cleaning products.
Alexandra Winbush: Self-care focused candle and tea company.
5. Be aware of what your Black friends, family and colleagues may be going through.
Read "Your Black Colleagues May Look Like They're Okay—Chances Are They Are Not" by Danielle Cadet on Refinery29.
6. Post on social media thoughtfully.
Allies: Now is the time to be in the service of Black liberation.Limit your response to what is of real, tangible help to us. Give money, call your reps, protect Black people at protests, elevate our work and voices.Don't make us swim through your tears while we fight.May 30, 2020
7. Register to vote.
Your elected officials have the power to fight institutionalised racism. Gov.uk is where you can register to vote, check your registration status and get local election reminders. You can also find out the name of your local MP here.
This is an evolving list that we hope to grow. Again, please email hello@whowhatwear.com with your feedback.
This piece originally appeared on Who What Wear U.S. and has been updated by the U.K. team with U.K.-focused resources.