ELLA-MAE O'SULLIVAN
The recent murder of George Floyd in the USA has sparked protests and riots worldwide as, in the wake of such tragedy, people are rising up against the systemic racism that society has consistently refused to abandon. Although the Black Lives Matter movement has now become more prevalent than ever, we cannot pretend that this is a ‘new’ issue or merely an ‘American’ problem.
Racist values have been ingrained within political, cultural and social spheres for generations across the globe and despite the great progress that has been made, in 2020, racism remains as rife as ever; it’s just hidden under a different mask. Whilst many white people would recoil in horror at being called a racist, such denial does not lessen the fact that they are inherently part of and have benefited from a racist system; whether they like it or not.
Here at The Elephant in the Room, we pride ourselves on being a platform through which people can have their voices heard; voices that may otherwise be silenced or ignored and often have been for far too long. Yet, as has been seen in the recent outpour of black squares and performative protests across social media, we must not allow for any kind of ‘white saviour’ activism to overshadow the voices that genuinely need to be heard. 'Black Lives Matter' is not a trend or a hashtag used to 'look good' in the moment only to be discarded when something else comes along. Rather, it is a movement that signifies far more than what one tweet or blog post could ever capture and, for so many, what it signifies is so much greater than what we as white people could ever understand.
We do not pretend to know what it is like to be targeted because of the colour of our skin; we are not claiming any ability to speak on behalf of those who are and we do not want to distract from their voices, but amplify them. We must all stand in a place of solidarity and support as opposed to obstruction, and most importantly, we must keep standing when the media frenzy falls.
One of the most essential ways that we can do this is through education. In teaching ourselves what traditional school systems did not and breaking down the feeling of discomfort that surrounds doing so, we can take the first necessary step to understanding, recognising and attempting to dismantle our own positions within an unjust and dangerous system. In order to fight, we must first know what we are fighting against and why it is crucial for the fight to be won.
Here we have compiled a list of various resources that can provide a start towards gaining this key education. From books and articles to Netflix documentaries and Instagram accounts, there is something in here for everyone; meaning that no one has an excuse.
Documentaries/Films/Series:
13th (2016)
Freedom Riders (2010)
If Beale Street could talk (2018)
Moonlight (2016)
When They See Us (2019)
Dear White People (2017)
Self-Made (2020)
The Hate U Give (2018)
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Get Out (2017)
I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
Books:
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge
Me and White Supremacy - Layla F. Saad
The Bluest Eye - Toni Morrison
Beloved - Toni Morrison
So you want to talk about Race - Ijeoma Oluo
Don’t Touch My Hair - Emma Dabiri
Taking Up Space: The Black Girl’s Manifesto for Change - Chelsea Kwakye and Ore Ogunbiyi
The Colour Purple - Alice Walker
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou
Instagram Accounts to follow:
@Rachel.Cargle
@Trevor.Noah
@laylafsaad
@iamrachelricketts
@moemotivate
@theconsciouskid
@Galdem
@Privtoprog
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