BLACK LIVES MATTER

Dear Project AFFIRM family:

In the wake of the horrific murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and more, protesters fill our streets to demand justice, accountability, and police reform related to anti-Blackness and white supremacy. We support these efforts, and we recognize that anti-Blackness and white supremacy are endemic to U.S. society. To our Black and Brown community members in Project AFFIRM, we know these murders come on top of COVID-19, which has disproportionally impacted Black and Brown communities. We know the pain, grief, anger, sadness, and fear are unimaginable. To all of our Project AFFIRM community, let us find specific ways we can take care of ourselves, our communities, and take the next steps in our journeys as anti-racists. May the resilience of our community be a source of support during these tumultuous days.

The staff and investigators at Project AFFIRM

To Learn More: Resources on White Privilege and Anti-Racist Solidarity

Articles and Resource Lists

Anti-racism resources (podcasts, books, films, & more)

Resources from Atlanta-based white privilege + racial justice facilitator Jen Willsea (podcasts, books, & more)

Anti-Racism Resources from Dr. Nicole Cook, University of South Carolina

Curriculum for White Americans to Educate Themselves on Race and Racism

How Do I Make Sure I’m Not Raising the Next Amy Cooper?

Your Black Colleagues May Look Like They’re Okay - Chances Are They’re Not

A Checklist to Determine if You Are Supporting White Supremacy

Affirming Black Lives Without Inducing Trauma

For White Allies Searching for a Solution to American Racism / When Folks of Color are Exhausted

Talking White Fragility with Robin DiAngelo

White People, Stop Asking Us to Educate You About Racism

Message to White Allies from a From a Black Anti-Racism Expert: You’re Doing It Wrong

The Role of White People in the Movement At This Time (Southerners on New Ground)

The Cost of Balancing Academia and Racism

The Case for Reparations by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The 1619 Project by the New York Times

Social and Cultural Literacy Resources for Classrooms

The Southern Poverty Law Center – Teaching Tolerance

Books

We Want To Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom by Bettina Love (2019)

How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi (2019)

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi (2017)

The Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing by Anneliese A. Singh (2019)

Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice by Paul Kivel (1995)

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander (2010)

Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad (2020)

White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son by Tim Wise (2004)

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo (2018)

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015)

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Monique Morris (2015)

The Possessive Investment in Whiteness: How White People Profit From Identity Politics by George Lipsitz (2006)

Charleston Syllabus: Readings on Race, Racism, and Racial Violence (2016) Killing Rage: Ending Racism by bell hooks (1996)

They Were Her Property: White Women as Slaveowners in the American South by Stephanie Jones-Rogers (2019)

White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson (2017)

White Trash: Race and Class in America (Eds., Annalee Nowitz & Matt Wray) (1996)

Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America’s Police Force by Radley Balko (2014)

Things to Do

75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice

5 Ways White People Can Take Action Against White and State-Sanctioned Violence

4 Compassionate Ways to Support Black Folks After Racist Tragedies

For White People Who Must Take Action When “Good Intentions” Are Not Enough

5 Ways White People Can Fight White Supremacy

Doing the Work: White People Must Invest in Anti-Racism

100 Ways White People Can Make Life Less Frustrating for People of Color

For Our White Friends Desiring to Be Allies

100 Race-Conscious Things You Can Say to Your Child to Advance Racial Justice

Covid-19 Message

Dear friends:

The staff at Project AFFIRM in New York, San Francisco, and Atlanta hope you are doing well in these difficult days of social distancing.

We know that the resilience and strength of our transgender, genderqueer, and gender non-binary communities is an asset to overcome difficult situations such as this. We may be social distancing now to protect each other from COVID-19, but our communities are united, and our history proves we can weather this storm together.

Our researchers are currently not meeting participants in person to prevent further spread of the novel coronavirus. Our teams in New York, San Francisco, and Atlanta are working from home on compiling data. We will share findings with you as soon as these become available.

As always, we will let you know about new opportunities to participate in Project AFFIRM as they become available. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions. Below, you will find resources for the current novel coronavirus pandemic. We will overcome this situation. Please take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Warmest wishes,

The staff and investigators at Project AFFIRM