There are many things we can all do this Black History Month to support Black communities, no matter the means we have at hand. From raising awareness or volunteering our time, to donating money, and consuming Black media and from Black-owned businesses — each of us plays an integral part in holding those around us, including the systems that govern, accountable. Here, we’ve created a Black History Month resources article for our readers to add to your arsenal as you educate yourself and others this month, next month, next year, and forevermore about Black History and the struggle toward justice and equality.
Canadian organizations to support
What started with a hashtag in 2013 is now an international movement working to protect Black lives against police brutality and other forms of racially-motivated violence. From donating money to fighting disinformation, there are many ways to support the organization. Check out the site to learn more.
This helpline provides services to youths across Canada. Through providing education, health, and community development, it works to prevent social and psychological breakdown in communities. You can help them in their mission by volunteering, partnerships, or through donations.
This non-profit movement is composed of organizations working to advance the social, economic, political, and cultural interests of Canadians of African descent. Check out their site for all the ways you can support its national efforts.
With the aim of eliminating gun violence in the Greater Toronto Area, this group performs research-backed outreach within the community. You can get involved by having the movement give workshops at your institution or by signing up for more info.
This non-profit legal clinic provides legal services for low income or no income Black Ontarians, free of charge. Check out their site to learn how you can get involved with their School to Prison Advocacy Initiative.
This youth-led organization works to empower Black womxn and non-binary and gender nonconforming survivors of sexual violence through mental health education, advocacy, and support. Check out their site to learn how you can support their Love Offering Community Emergency Relief Fund, which is working to support Black Canadian Womxn during COVID-19.
Black Business and Professional Association
This non-profit addresses equity and opportunity for Black community in the areas of business, employment, education and economic development. You can support them through membership, volunteering, and donating.
This is a community-based organization that promotes holistic wellness in Toronto. It was created exclusively by and for Black womxn and now runs accessible yoga and meditation classes, and a mental health workshop. Though they are not accepting donations at this time, head over to their instagram to find out other ways to show support.
American organizations to support
What started with a hashtag in 2013 is now an international movement working to protect Black lives against police brutality and other forms of racially-motivated violence. From donating money to fighting disinformation, there are many ways to support the organization. Check out the site to learn more.
Check out their site to learn about how you can volunteer and support America’s first and largest grassroots civil rights organization.
Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ)
SURJ works to ensure that majority-White communities in the U.S. join in multiracial coalitions so as to win racial and economic justice across the country. Check out their site for information on how you can get involved in their movement for justice.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Organization
This coalition is made up of more than 200 organizations working to promote and protect civil and human rights for all in the U.S. They work through advocacy and outreach in targeted constituencies with the goal of creating a just nation. You can take action by making donations and signing petitions on their site.
This Black-owned social and wellness club is designed to celebrate people of color online and in real life. You can help them in their initiative to create healing spaces that center and celebrate people of color by becoming a member, sponsoring a membership, shop their marketplace, and even becoming a vendor! Check out their site for more info.
This immigrant youth-led organization works to empower people by helping them develop leadership and organizing skills. It also campaigns to fight for justice and dignity for immigrants and others. You can work with them to start a petition or donate to support their efforts.
They work to free those innocent people who have been wrongfully convicted and are serving time in prison, along with working to prevent wrongful convictions in the future. Get involved by signing up on their site and receiving info on how you can help them in their cause.
This organization is working to end police violence in all its forms in the U.S. Visit their site to read all the research and reports behind their campaigns, you can also share the graphics they have, and make donations.
Here are some recommendations on how to safely support Black Lives Matter online.
Current influential Black leaders to follow (on Twitter)
Eric Thomas — a public speaker who, in 2003, developed an undergraduate retention program at Michigan State University called Advantage, specifically meant for academically high-risk minority students.
Van Jones — a news commentator, author, and lawyer.
Dr. Bernice King — CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.
Pauleanna Reid — author of Everything I Couldn’t Tell My Mother and CEO of New Girl On The Block.
Ricardo McRae — an award-winning entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Wedge15.
Andray Domise — a writer, community activist, and co-founder of educational platform TXDL teaching tech skills to diverse youth.
Del Miller — an engineer with over 16 years of experience in high technology.
Jahmeelah Gamble — award-winning speaker and educator.
Ijeoma Oluo — author of So You Want to Talk About Race and Mediocre: the Dangerous Legacy of White America.
Sites worth bookmarking
Black in Canada – Black in Canada was created to fill a gap, working to shift the collective thinking about who Black Canadians are and what they contribute to the world.
By Blacks – it’s ranked the #1 Black Canadian online magazine, having won three National Ethnic Press Awards and recognition from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Black Archives – Black Archives is a gathering place for Black memory and imaginations, it is a multimedia platform that brings a spotlight to the Black experience.
Support Black businesses and Black talent
Official Black Wall Street — this is the largest #BlackOwned business discovery app! It helps you search and discover thousands of Black-owned businesses near you.
Support Black Art — works for the exposure of Black artists no matter where they are in the world.
Black Women In Tech – it honours and recognizes women in tech, curating a list of trailblazing Black women in tech to follow on Twitter.
More ways to support Black-Owned businesses online.
Films to watch
- Hidden Figures
- Malcolm X
- When They See Us
- BlacKkKlansman
- Straight Outta Compton
- Selma
- Do the Right Thing
- 13th
- I Am Not Your Negro
- Selma
- The Hate U Give
- If Beale Street Could Talk
- Just Mercy
- Fruitvale Station
- Mississippi Masala
- 12 Years A Slave
- Get Out
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Books to read
- The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.
- Black Futures by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham
- The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
- Make Me Rain by Nikki Giovanni
- Stakes Is High: Life After the American Dream by Mychal Denzel Smith
- Four Hundred Souls by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain
- The Dead Are Arising by Les Payne and Tamara Payne
- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- They Can’t Kill Us All by Wesley Lowery
- Have I Ever Told You Black Lives Matter by Shani Mahiri King
- Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- Policing Black Lives by Robyn Maynard
- Between The World And Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Your Silence Will Not Protect You by Audre Lorde
- How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
This list is by no means exhaustive, it contains only a slice of the organizations and leaders who are working to change the way the world looks for future generations. Think of this resource page as a jumping-off point for you to begin your own learning journey. The internet makes researching about and connection with thought leaders and activists as easy as hitting the like and follow buttons, but engaging and taking proactive steps is what matters most in carrying you throughout the rest of the year!