Murchison-Hume Stands in Support of Black Lives Matter
This week has been tough. We felt shocked and outraged by the brutal killing of George Floyd. Those horrifying eight minutes and forty-six seconds forced us to recognize the very real and ugly fact of enduring racism in this country. But, as tough as it’s been to watch, it’s nothing compared to the systemic racism that our Black sisters and brothers have had to endure for generations.
And we knew.
I think we all knew on some level that racism was still knocking around; in power, in politics, on the police force, even swept to the back corners of our personal biases. We just imagined it was relegated to the fringes of society. But more importantly, we didn’t know what to do about it.
The double tragedy of Floyd’s death in the middle of a global pandemic means that it’s less likely that we will move on like we have so many other times before. This time, we’re at home, forced to confront our inaction. But being at home also allows us the space to educate ourselves about race in America and why this keeps happening. This time we’re not satisfied with just being “non-racist, “this time, we’re trying to figure out how to be actively anti-racist.
More importantly, the death of George Floyd has finally sparked a global conversation about race. We don't in any way want to diminish or forget the lives of those taken unjustly that came before him, but for whatever reason, this time, this death seems like it will finally be the catalyst for change.
We’ve watched, read, listened, and pulled together a list of resources that we’re engaged in, to try and confront our own biases, unlearn them, and then move on to do whatever we can to help right this listing ship. We ask that you do the same.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LISTENING TO:
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE WATCHING:
- Jessica Yellin - Former CNN White House correspondent has a daily live Instagram feed of factual news and serves it up, minus the noise and opinion we see on cable services.
- The Baldwin vs. Buckley Debate at Cambridge University, 1965 - This iconic debate on The American Dream is (tragically) still relevant today.
- I Am Not Your Negro - A documentary envisioning the book James Baldwin was never able to finish
- Selma - A film that chronicles the marches of the Civil Rights Movement
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE READING (ARTICLES):
- The 1619 Project by The New York Times. Try and read the entire thing, particularly this essay by Nikole Hannah-Jones
- I Was the Mayor of Minneapolis and I Know Our Cops Have a Problem/Politico.com
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE READING (BOOKS):
- Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
- Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
- How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE DONATING:
- Black Lives Matter - The official Black Lives Matter global network who work to “end state-sanctioned violence, liberate Black people, and end white supremacy forever.”
- ActBlue - This ActBlue page will let you split your donation between 60+ different community bail funds, mutual aid funds, and racial justice organizers.
A LIST OF RESOURCES AND WAYS TO HELP:
- https://docs.google.com/
document/d/1CjZMORRVuv-I- qo4B0YfmOTqIOa3GUS207t5iuLZmyA /mobilebasic - https://www.finimpact.com/blacklivesmatter-support-black-owned-small-businesses/
At Murchison-Hume, we believe that a Home is a sacred place, with no room for blatant social injustice or savage racism. We feel a responsibility to watch, read, comment, listen, ACT, and VOTE to finally achieve equal rights for everyone. We’re all in this together.
In solidarity,
Max Kater
Founder, Murchison-Hume