I’ve never shied away before on posting about my thoughts on large world issues and things that change our lives here on Land of Marvels. And I won’t stay silent on such a large issue facing our world today either. The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery in the past few weeks have catapulted the Black Lives Matter movement back into the forefront of our everyday lives and honestly, it’s tragic that it took more senseless killings of black men and women to bring it back to the forefront of many of our lives.The movement should be in our minds every day and I am challenging myself going forward to be a more active participant in the movement day in and day out, not just right now, not just this week. As a white woman, I admit it’s not always at the forefront of my mind to consider the horrific things that are happening daily to Black Americans and People of Color in my own country. I admit my missteps and I will move forward with more support, more thought, more learning, more listening.
Black lives matter. People of color matter. I won’t accept anything else.
No one should be profiled for the color of their skin. No one should be killed because of what they look like. No one should be ok that we live in a world where violence and brutality is just accepted because it was someone who looks different than I might. No one should be ok that someone who looks different than me should have less access to education, to freedoms, to dreams, to be able to their lives without fear.
Because of my skin color, I’ve never had to worry about a police officer killing me. I’ve never had to worry about being profiled because of the color of my skin. I can’t understand what that must feel like and I never will. But I can stand with anyone who has. I can support the movement for freedom and equality for everyone. I can support causes that help move this life-changing movement forward and I can stand with my brothers and sisters, people of all races, all colors, all backgrounds and together we can make a difference. This is a turning point, a tipping point. Let’s change the world forever and move forward together, freedom and equality, the cornerstones of this new world.
And so today, I’m sharing some of the organizations that I have found that I’ve donated money to. Donations are a really powerful way to help organizations that are fighting inequality on the ground right now and supporting People of Color in our communities. Please consider donating to some of the organizations listed below and do your own research to find organizations in your own areas that can do so much more with financial support.
Equitable Giving Circle – Their aim is to empower BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities in Portland by leveraging economic deposits from communities of privilege to empower BIPOC communities and begin to move towards economic equity. Shifting economic power will create ripples of real change.
The Black Resilience Fund – Organized by local Black Portlanders, the fund provides immediate support for Black Portlanders, including a warm meal, groceries, and unpaid bills.
Urban League of Portland – The Urban League of Portland’s mission is to empower African-Americans and others to achieve equality in education, employment, health, economic security and quality of life.
NAACP – The vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race.
NAACP Portland Chapter – If you want the money to go to a local chapter of this large organization.
There are so many more worthy organizations to support the Black Lives Matter movement and People of Color than just these that I’ve listed above and I will continue to do the research, learn and listen in the coming weeks, months and years as we make a better world together, an equal world alongside our brothers and sisters of every color.