These past few months have been difficult times for everyone, but among the hardest hit are Black Americans. Not only do Black people make up nearly 60% of the COVID-19 deaths in the U.S.--despite only being 22% of the U.S. population--but we have also witnessed the brutal murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. As a result, many Black Americans are experiencing higher rates of mental distress and are at a higher risk of developing trauma. Below, we have listed articles about how police brutality is affecting the mental health of Black Americans, in addition to providing resources on how you can support, donate, reflect, and educate yourself about this issue. This is in no way meant to serve as a comprehensive list, but we wanted to provide a starting point for people to learn more.
Mental health in the black community
Police brutality must stop: This article from the American Medical Association addresses police brutality in the context of the global pandemic, and how, now especially, the risk of physical and mental distress is heightened as a result.
Police killings can have profound effects on mental health of Black Americans: In this video, an expert talks about how police killings can have unintended adverse consequences on the mental health of black Americans, and provide suggestions of what people can do to help ease their mental distress during this trying time.
Psychiatrists say viral police brutality videos can take toll on African American mental health: Dr. Altha Stewert discusses how videos and audio clips of police brutality affect the psychological and physiological well-being of African Americans in particular. Emotions were already high due to the pandemic because the virus was killing minorities at higher rates and these videos add to the trauma of these situations.
George Floyd video adds to trauma: 'When is the last time you saw a white person killed online?: This USA Today article discusses how racism has had negative consequences on Black Americans, especially during this COVID-19 period. Not only are black people being disproportionately affected by the virus, seeing violence against fellow Black Americans can cause increased anxiety, leading to adverse mental health.
If you want to know how to help right now, here are a few ways to do so.
Show your support for the cause
Sign this Change.org petition. The petition calls on Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and District Attorney Mike Freeman to arrest and charge all officers involved in Floyd's death for police malpractice.
Pressure District Attorney Mike Freeman to charge and arrest the officers responsible for Floyd's death. You can call his office at 612-348-5550 or send him an email through citizeninfo@hennepin.us. Additional contact information can be found here.
Text "FLOYD" to 55156 and sign the Color of Change petition. The petition has currently reached its 3 million signature goal, demanding justice for George Floyd, but we still encourage you to show your support.
Donate to organizations helping to fight the injustice
Donate to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, which helps bail out people who are getting arrested while protesting.
Donate directly to George Floyd's family, who set up a GoFundMe. This fund is established to cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist the family as they seek justice for George.
Donate to Reclaim the Block. The grassroots organization based in Minneapolis invests in violence prevention, housing, resources for youth, emergency mental health response teams, and solutions to the opioid crisis—not more police.
Donate to Black Visions Collective, an organization committed to a long term vision in which ALL Black lives not only matter, but are able to thrive.
Donate to the Black Mental Health Alliance, which aims to develop, promote, and sponsor trusted culturally-relevant educational forums, training, and referral services that support the health and well-being of black people and other vulnerable communities. This is especially important during this time.
Educate yourself about the issue
"The Anti-Racist Reading List": “The best way to show your commitment to the Black community today and every day is by genuinely engaging with us. That starts with the books.” - Brea Baker
“Recitatif” by Toni Morrison
The Miner’s Canary by Lani Guiner and Gerald Torres
Possessive Investment in Whiteness by George Lipsitz
This Bridge Called My Back Edited by Cherrie Moraga & Gloria Anzaldúa
Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange
Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur
A Taste of Power by Elaine Brown
Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Divided Sisters by Midge Wilson & Kathy Russell
Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Passing by Nella Larsen
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Whiteness of a Different Color by Matthew Frye Jacobson
The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
But Some of Us Are Brave edited by Akasha Hull, Patricia Bell-Scott, Barbara Smith
Women. Race & Class by Angela Y. Davis
This article addresses four main points to explain how white people can hold each other accountable: 1) Trust black people and people of color, 2) Words aren't always enough, 3) Confront fellow white people, 4) Speak up, but know when to be quiet. Read this article for in-depth explanations of these key points.
This article explains how white people should leverage the privileges they have at all times, how they should consistently ask themselves how they can remove as many barriers as possible for people of color, and how they should ensure that the action being taken works with the work that a community is already doing.
Kelsey Blackwell explains the importance of places in which people of color can gather and be free from the mainstream stereotypes and marginalization that permeate every other societal space we occupy.
Podcasts (based on the list by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein)
1619
About Race
Code Switch
The Diversity Gap
Intersectionality Matters
Momentum
Pod for the Cause
Pod Save the People
Films (based on the list by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein)
13th
American Son
Dear White People
See You Yesterday
When They See Us
If Beale Street Could Talk
The Hate U Give
Black Power Mixtape
Clemency
Fruitvale Station
I Am Not Your Negro
Just Mercy
Selma
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
Reflect on your privilege
How To Act Beyond Social Media (from @jezzchung)
In what ways does my proximity to whiteness afford me privileges that aren’t extended to Black and Brown people?
In what ways have I been conditioned to believe in the superiority of whiteness?
In what ways have I engaged in rhetoric that promotes othering or stereotyping of Black people?
What can I do to better educate myself on the historical context of race in the country and community I exist in?
A Guide to White Privilege (from @courtneyahndesign)
1. White privilege doesn’t mean your life hasn’t been hard. It means your skin tone isn’t one of the things making it harder. There’s plenty of other privileges (socio-economic, male, heterosexual, cisgender, Christian, able-bodied), but white privilege is perhaps the most enduring throughout history.
2. White privilege exists as a direct result of both historic and enduring racism, biases, and practices designed to oppress people of color.
3. White privilege means you actively benefit from the oppression of POC.
You are the dominant representation on all media.
No one questions your citizenship.
Products are designed for you first.
You don’t get harassed for existing in public locations.
Inherited power and wealth. Your actions aren’t perceived as those of all your race.
4. Systemic racism exists at every level of society.
The wealth gap.
Black graduates are 2x more likely to be unemployed.
Black Americans are 30% more likely to get pulled over.
Black students are 3x more likely to be suspended.
Black Americans make up 40% of the prison population.
Black Americans are shown 18% fewer homes.
Black women are 4x more likely to die from childbirth.
5. What should I do with my white privilege?
Teach other white folks about the barriers to success for POC.
Promise to listen to and amplify the voices of POC.
Be more than “not racist”, but actively anti-racist.
Confront racial injustices even when uncomfortable.
Be intentional when taking action
From @imrileshed
"Don't treat this like the "tag five friends to draw an orange" challenge. The BLM movement is NOT A TREND. Post resources on your story. Take actual action. If you haven't made any calls or signed any petitions or donated if you have the means, you do not get to share the "chain" on your story. Showing solidarity is much more than tagging your friends. It's taking action and actually doing something to help dismantle a system that continuously fails BIPOC. Instead of tagging your friends, text them, call them, reach out to them and hold them accountable."
From @juliaakong
Take online actions into real life
“Let’s talk about ‘performative activism.’ Reposting or retweeting something is performative. It brings awareness, but you have not taken action. Action happens in the tangible world. Action is signing petitions, calling, donating, educating yourself, having uncomfortable conversations with your family, and your siblings, gently approaching your friends who haven’t spoken out.”
Be proactive
“Instead of creating excuses for why you can’t speak up, search for reasons why it is necessary that you speak up.”
“Raise awareness, yes. Gently call out people when they say something wrong. But endless back and forth between a stranger online who is hiding behind an avatar and has no other aim other than to trigger you - that is not worth your time or energy. Send them love and redirect that energy to speaking to those that will listen and want change.”
“Think to yourself: does the action I’m taking contribute to the overall cause? If yes, continue. If not, next.”
Lead with love
“A lot of anger, sadness, and frustration exists right now. That is a natural human response. That is okay. Your emotions are valid. When you have processed your emotions healthily, I say to lead with love for the sake of your mental health and those around you. Love is the highest vibration and a strong healing force. Have love for our fellow brothers and sisters. This is not a time to further divide ourselves, but to unite.”
Our hearts go out to the black community. We know that this article does not fully encompass the action and education that needs to be done, but we hope these resources promote understanding and empathy for those who are not part of the black community. Stay safe, we love you all.
