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It's Time For Growth & Change. It's Time To Listen & Learn

Over the last week I have been doing a lot of thinking, a lot of educating myself, and a lot of listening. I recognize my privilege as a white woman but that doesn’t change the fact that I want to be an ally. This is something I want to do to help the Black Community-- I want to support in any way that I can. I am proud of our country and communities for making the stand that it has and the peaceful protests that have been taking place. It speaks volumes as to how much change that is still needed but it also speaks volumes to how powerful peoples voices are and what can be heard from what they say. I have challenged myself to educate myself on white privilege, anti-racism, and racial justice. While I have never intentionally made racist comments or actions, I’ve also felt this past week that I also haven’t been actively anti-racist, and I want that to change. I want to do better. I want to learn and grow and make a difference. Instagram has been a great tool to help educate myself, hear different perspectives and find resources for organizations and people to support as well as voices to listen to. But it can also feel pretty overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. So I wanted to share a bunch of different and helpful resources, from influential voices to listen to, organizations to donate to, books to read, businesses to support, movies to watch, and content creators to follow. If y'all have any other suggestions about any other people or books or movies or organizations to look into, please comment down below.

POWERFUL VOICES TO LISTEN TO:

~Layla F. Saad | @laylafsaad | Author, Speaker, and Teacher

~Brittany Packnett Cunningham | @mspackyetti | Activist, Educator, Writer, Pod Save the People Co-Host, NBC News, and MSNBC Contributor

~Blair Amadeus Imani | @BlairImani | Advocate, Historian, Organizer, Public Speaker, and Author

~Ijeoma Oluo | @IjeomaOluo | Writer, Speaker, and NYT-Bestselling Author

~Rachel Elizabeth Cargle | @Rachel.Cargle | Public Academic, Writer, and Lecturer

~Whembley Sewell | @WhembleySewell | Executive Editor, Them Conde Nast

~Monique Melton | @Moemotivate | Anti-Racism Educator, Podcast Host, Author, Speaker

~Adwoa Aboah | @AdwoaAboah | Activist, Model, and founder of GURLS TALK

~Tamika D. Mallory | @Tamikadmallory | Social Justice Leader, Advocate, and Activist

CONTENT CREATORS TO FOLLOW:

~Nia Pettitt | @niathelight | YouTube channel: Nia The Light

BOOKS TO READ:

~White Fragility by: Robin DiAngelo

~Me and White Supremacy by: Layla F. Saad

~This Fire This Time by: Jesmyn Ward

~How To Be An Anti-Racist by: Ibram Kendi

~Sister Outsider by: Audre Lorde

~Are Prisons Obsolete? by: Angela Y. Davis

~I'm Still Here by: Austin Channing Brown

CHILDREN'S BOOKS TO READ:

~The Day You Begin by: Jacqueline Woodson

~Same, Same but Different by: Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw

~Be Kind by: Pat Zietlow Miller

~Hair Love by: Matthew A. Cherry

~Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by: Carole Boston Weatherford

~Happy in Our Skin by: Fran Manushkin

~The Youngest Marcher by: Cynthia Levinson

~Ruby Bridges Goes to School by: Ruby Bridges

BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT

FOOD & DRINK

~Bestow Baked Goods in Holly Springs | @bestowbakedgoods | desserts to mark special occasions

~Boss of Vegan in Raleigh | @bossofvegannc | fulfilling your fast food cravings with addictive taste and superior service

~Chick-N-Que in Rolesville | @chicknque | serves 100% N.C.-raised ostrich burgers and various types of chicken dishes

~Premier Cakes in Raleigh | @premiercakesscratchbaker | specializing in made-from-scratch, 9-inch, three-layer cakes, pies and international desserts and pastries

~Pure Juicery Bar in Raleigh-Durham | @purejuicerybar | juice and vegan food bar focusing on using high-quality, healthy ingredients to make great tasting, ultra-premium juices, smoothies and food

~Sweet Tea and Cornbread Grill & Eatery in Raleigh | @grumbleinmytummy | features Southern comfort fare with signature dishes such as fried green tomatoes and chicken pot pie

~The Chocolate Boutique in Raleigh | @chocolateboutique | an extravaganza of dark, milk and white chocolates made from the highest-quality ingredients and fair-trade Belgian and Swiss chocolate

~The Shrimp Truck Food Truck in Durham | @shrimptrucknc | a new seafood food truck serving up the Raleigh / Durham, RTP area with some delicious shrimp dishes

~Dame's Chicken and Waffles in Cary | @dameschickenandwaffles | “almost world famous” chicken and waffles pair world-class, comfort food combinations meant to fulfill your appetite's and heart's desire

~D’licious Icy’s in Wilson | @dliciousicy | here to serve you the best frozen treats

HOME DECOR

~Tracie Hervy | @tracie_hervy | ceramics, cups, bottles, bowls, plates

~GOODEE | @goodeeworld | sustainable marketplace with the best selection of original pieces

~Tactile Matter | @tactilematter | homewares and art

~DOMAIN by Laura Hodges Studio | @laurenhodgesstudio | a hub for sustainable home decor

~Clare Paint | @clarepaint | zero VOC paint and supplies

~Estelle Colored Glass | @estellecoloredglass | brand of hand-blown colored glass

~The Jungalow | @thejungalow | home decor and homewares

~Harlem Candle Company | @harlemcandlecompany | NY based candles are beautiful along with their artfully crafted labels

~Bolé Road Textiles | @boleroadtextiles | modern textiles for the home

~Rayo and Honey | @rayoandhoney | homewares with positive intent

~Lolly Lolly Ceramics | @lollylollyceramics | the coolest handmade ceramics for the home

~The ZEN Succulent | @thezensucculent | plant and succulent shop

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

~Cushnie | @cushnie | an investment but these pieces are timelessly beautiful and made to last

~The Tiny Tassel | @thetinytassel | fun and colorful earrings

~Coco and Breezy Eyewear | @cocoandbreezy | their designs are incredible and all of their lenses have blue light blockers

~Oma the Label | @omathelabel | some of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry out there

~Tree Fairfax | @treefairfax | unique leather goods

~Sika Designs | @sikadesigns | stunning garments that are ethically crafted in Ghana

~ZOU XOU Shoes | @zouxoushoes | shoes designed for women who dress for themselves

~Sweats By Sam | @sweatsbysam | hand-dyed loungewear sets

~LemLem | @lemlemofficial | beautiful, ethically made, African fashions

~Meow and Barks Boutique | @meowandbarksboutique | bright and colorful pieces

~House of AAMA | @houseofaama | a mother/daughter design dup and their clothes are 100% produced in LA

~Retro Rhapsody | @retrorhapsody | amazingly curated collection of silk camisoles, vintage earrings, and clothing

~Twelve AM Shoes | @twelveam.co | shoes, shoes, and more shoes

~Rebecca Allen | @rebeccaallenny | heels is all shades of nudes

~Salt n Sunscreen Swim | @saltnsunscreen | swimwear made to make you look effortlessly chic

BEAUTY & WELLNESS

~KNC Beauty | @kncbeauty | whole line of lip masks, eye masks, scrubs, and more

~Aba Love Apothecary | @abaloveapothecary | plant-based skincare and aromatherapy

~Mented Cosmetics | @mentedcosmetics | a vegan + non-toxic beauty brand

~Briogeo Hair Care | @briogeo | clean & conscious hair care for all

~Base Butter | @basebutter | #1 Aloe vera moisturizer for balancing oily + combo skin

~Makeup by Meggan | @makeupbymeggan | makeup artist based in New Orleans

~Carol's Daughter | @carolsdaughter | body and haircare

~Beauty Bakerie | @beautybakeriemakeup | sweets-themed makeup line

~Black Girl Sunscreen | @blackgirlsunscreen | now available at Target

~The Honey Pot | @thehoneypotco | feminine care products

~Golde | @golde | superfoods for beauty and wellness

ORGANIZATIONS TO DONATE TO

~Loveland Foundation | @thelovelandfoundation | Loveland Foundation is committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. The Loveland Foundation's effort is to bring opportunity and healing to communities of color--through fellowships, residency programs, listening tours, and more, ultimately we hope to contribute to both the empowerment and the liberation of the communities we serve.

~The Advancement Project | Rooted in the great human rights struggles for equality and justice, the Advancement Project exists to fulfill America's promise of a caring, inclusive and just democracy.

~Black Lives Matter | @blklivesmatter | Black Lives Matter Foundation's mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy.

~Every Mother Counts | @everymomcounts | Every Mother Counts is a company dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for all women – no matter your race, age or ethnicity.

~The Conscious Kid | @theconsciouskid | The Conscious Kid is an "education, research and policy organization dedicated to reducing bias and promoting positive identity development in youth.” They partner with organizations, schools, children’s museums to promote access to children’s books focusing on underrepresented and oppressed groups.

~Equal Justice Initiative | @eji_org | EJI is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society. They work with communities that have been marginalized by poverty and discouraged by unequal treatment…and they are committed to changing the narrative about race in America.

 

Like I said at the beginning of all of this, I am by no means any kind of expert. But I am committed to learning from people in the Black Community, hearing their stories, and making changes in my own life and in my own home. I’m committing to be better. I am dedicated to continue to listen, grow, learn, and change and I want to be an ally in any way that I can.

If there are any other organizations, businesses, restaurants, books, movies, shows, people to look into, I would love for you to comment below and share other black-owned businesses or accounts to follow or organizations you feel passionately about! Let’s keep the conversation going and all help each other make changes!

As always, thank y'all for stopping by and reading. I will see y'all back here next time.

Love, Dani

Thanks! Message sent.

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