Date Published: 6/19/2020
Author(s): Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris w/Tamika Mallory and Dr. Angela Davis
Resource Link: https://www.facebook.com/538649879867825/videos/3091376634287446
Summary: In this episode of RTT, Jada invites Civil Rights activists Angela Davis and Tamika Mallory to the table to address the protests that unfolded after the murder of George Floyd and the growth of the Black Lives Matter Movement. The women discuss many topics including black demonization, the complicity of bystanders, and how the BLM movement intersects with other movements such as women's rights and LGBTQI rights. As matters of white involvement are addressed, non-BIPOC protest goers are encouraged to attend to interpersonal relationships and institutions that perpetuate white supremacy. White people need to work to deconstruct racism within their own lives in addition to attending black-led movements.
Take Action!
Participate in a training about how to engage in conversations on race, such as those organized by Denver SURJ's Education Team or other groups that do this type of work. Engage with other white people in your personal and professional realms when issues of race and racism come up. Think about what would support you with following through on this commitment such as preparing ahead of time for what you would say or finding another white person who can hold you accountable and do the work alongside you.