Anti-Racism Resources for the Puttylike Community

Hello, multipotentialite friends.

As you know, there’s been a lot happening in the last few weeks in the U.S. At Puttylike, we stand in solidarity with Black communities.

As a small editorial team with no Black folks on staff, we want to be mindful of how and how much we’re using our voices right now. This is part of why we decided to remain silent last week rather than publish our regularly scheduled content. We hope that you have been accessing and hearing Black voices.

Today we’re going to use our platform to try to amplify Black organizations and voices, and some resources that might help you in your fight against racism. It’s an intentionally short list, so that you don’t let overwhelm or indecision keep you from taking action today. If you’re looking for more resources around something specific, reach out or comment below, and we’ll try to link you to something if we can.

Mental health support for Black folks

• The Loveland Foundation Therapy Fund provides financial assistance to Black women and girls nationally seeking therapy.
• BlackLine is a 24/7 hotline that provides a space for peer support and counseling, reporting of mistreatment, and affirming the lived experiences to folxs who are most impacted by systematic oppression with an LGBTQ+ Black Femme Lens.
• National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network has a Mental Health Fund that provides financial assistance to queer and trans people of color to increase access to mental health support for QTPoC by QTPoC.

Organizations to donate to

Consider donating to any of the organizations in the section above. Here are three more:

• Black Visions Collective in the Twin Cities is committed to a long term vision in which ALL Black lives not only matter, but are able to thrive. Through the development of powerful strategic campaigns, BLVC seeks to expand the power of Black people across the Twin Cities metro area and Minnesota.
• National Bail Out is a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers and activists building a community-based movement to support our folks and end systems of pretrial detention and ultimately mass incarceration.
• The Movement for Black Lives is made up of hundreds of organizations that coordinate actions, messages and campaigns. Their fund supports Black-led rapid response efforts and long-term strategy, policy and infrastructure investments in the movement ecosystem.

Education for white folks and non-Black people of color

• There are scores of books that can jumpstart or continue your education around race. Two in particular I want to recommend are So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo and Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad. I’ve also heard a lot of great things about How to Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi.
• Watch 13th by Ava DuVernay on Netflix.
• Listen to podcasts like Code Switch from NPR, Intersectionality Matters! with Kimberlé Crenshaw, or 1619 from the New York Times.

Your Turn

What will you do today to take action against racism and for racial justice?