Becoming Anti-Racist

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Black Lives Matter

There’s no sugar-coating it. And I don’t want to. This is a difficult time in our country and the world – but the truth is, for black people and the larger BIPOC community, it has always been difficult. Difficult in more ways than I can comprehend.
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I acknowledge that I am a white, cis-gendered straight woman and see the world through extremely privileged eyes. But, I am determined to understand & learn more, to do & say more. I know I’ll never get it “right”, but I at least have to try.
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I am personally doing work to explore my privilege, and how I can become anti-racist. Being heartbroken, angry or upset, is not enough. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I am digging into books like So You Want to Talk about Race by by Ijeoma Oluo and White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. We are donating to causes like @mnfreedomfund and @collectivepac.

This blog post is meant to be a living document sharing tools and resources to help continue to navigate this conversation, and the dismantling of white supremacy. Please share yours in the comments or via DM on Instagram @ommamaco. Thank you so much to everyone in our community and beyond for sharing your education, discovery and intentions. Thank you to the BIPOC people for sharing your story, and how white people can support. I am sorry, I am listening and I am learning.

Parenting Resources

Check out @theconsciouskid and their parenting/education resources. Join their Patreon for access to additional tools and resources.

31 Children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance: See Them Here // Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester // A is for Activist (board book) by Innosanto Nagara

@readlikearockstar The White Families’ Guide to Racism

Recommended Reading

So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo  // Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates // Waking Up White by Debby Irving // The Memo by Minda Harts // White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo // How To Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi // So many more

Where to Donate

Minnesota Freedom Fund, The Collective PAC, Black Lives Matter, Black Visions Collective, Campaign Zero, NAACP, George Floyd Memorial Fund, Color of Change, The Loveland Foundation

The Black Maternal Health Crisis

It is important to acknowledge that the horrific events of the last few months are just the surface of generational trauma. The Black Maternal Health Crisis is an especially important topic I want to address more through our work at Om Mama Co. – the systemic racism against black women and maternal health. I am grateful to have been able to attend the Racism & Privilege in Birth Work Workshop last year with Sabia Wade (@theblackdoula), I learned so much; but I also acknowledge that I need to do more, and say more. 

Instagram post from my friend @mothersandco in Atlanta, GA

“Did you know that black women are 2 to 3 times more likely to DIE during childbirth than white women?
And did you know that THE VAST MAJORITY of these deaths were preventable?
And do you know what the CDC prescribes as one of the solutions to this problem? “Identify and address implicit bias in healthcare that would likely improve patient-provider interactions, health communication and health outcomes.” (Quoted from @cdcgov website)

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ADDRESS OUR IMPLICIT BIAS, white people?

This is not the time to be silent.
This is not the time to stand by and watch.
This is not the time to say, “I’m powerless, there’s nothing I can do.”
This is not the time to sit there and hope others will fix this.
This is just not the time; and it never has been.

If you are new, like I am, to active anti-racism, that’s fine. There’s no shame here, no judgment. Now is your chance.
If you are asking yourself what you can do, here are a few things:
1) Follow @moemotivate and pay her for one of her anti-racism courses.
2) Follow @bexlife and donate to the resources she shares.
3) Donate to @mnfreedomfund now.
4) Donate to @blackmamasmatter.
5) If you’re white, and ESPECIALLY if you work in healthcare with mothers, talk to other white people about white supremacy, systemic racism, and share these resources with them too. There are literally HUNDREDS of other resources. Find them. Donate to them with either your time or money or both.

I am new to this work. In the last few weeks I have learned more about anti-racism than I ever knew before. I am here to have this conversation and to do this work. Today. Right now. I am here to listen and learn. Are you?”

Here is a list of 9 Organizations Working to Save Black Mothers fighting black maternal mortality

Image via @pregnantchicken and @littlefeministbookclub

Additional Resources and Recommendations

  • Random Family is also amazing as is the entire series by Jesmyn Ward starting with The Men We Reap. – Jennifer Loomis
  • Sulwe is GORGEOUS. Absolutely beautiful and talks about this issue with such grace – Erin Schedler 
  • BIPOC Seattle Restaurants to Support from ULA & Us*: June Baby // Plum Bistro // Simply Soulful // Fat’s Fried Chicken & Waffles // Jerk Shack // The Wandering Goose // Witness // Ezell’s Chicken // Meskel Ethiopian on Cherry St // *This is not an all-inclusive list but we tried to include a variety of cuisine and neighborhoods (see more on Intentionalist)
  • How Can We Practice Virtual Inclusion? + 10 Ways to Weave Inclusivity into Your Wellness Work by Emily Wittenhagen and Three Moon Collective

If you seek support from Om Mama and our community, how can we serve you better? Please know our inbox (hello @ ommamaco.com) is always open. Please, continue to share your suggestions and calls to action with me/others. This is a long, and challenging conversation. Together, we can create real change and a better, safer, future.

Thank you to the artists for creating imagery to help talk about these issues. Share and credit Jane Mount (books) and Danielle Coke of Oh Happy Dani (signals + hands)

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