We See You, Black Lives Matter
On June 1, 2020, I launched a pre-order for t-shirts and totes featuring original artwork to help raise awareness in the wake of George Floyd’s unjust death. Together, in less than two weeks, we raised over $500 which was donated to Black Visions Collective, an organization that utilizes donations to further transformative justice principles, develop Minnesota’s black leadership, and promote the truth that all Black Lives Matter.
In anticipation of Juneteenth—an annual holiday on June 19th that commemorates the emancipation of slavery in the United States—and in recognition of the continual work needed to dismantle systemic racism, I am revitalizing the same artwork from a year ago and repackaging my design into BLM acrylic pins, prints, and stickers. My hope is that by wearing an acrylic pin or displaying a print or sticker through this second installment of the Wear Your Mind initiative, it invites continued conversation, continued awareness, continued action and continued compassion.
Pre-order for the acrylic pins and prints will be from 6/1/21 to 6/6/21 (stickers will be available year-round) with the goal of all orders arriving before June 19th. 25% of proceeds from the acrylic pins, prints, and stickers will be donated to Black Visions Collective.
The following are resources that I have found helpful:
Journal articles:
An Existential-Humanistic Perspective on Black Lives Matter and Contemporary Protest Movements. Read here.
(This is a broad overview of the BLM movement, protests, and privilege)
Racial Disparities in Fatal Police Shootings: An Empirical Analysis Informed by Critical Race Theory. Read here. (This provides a synopsis of the Critical Race Theory and its application to public health issues)
Advancing Health Equity by Addressing the Social Determinants of Health in Family Medicine (Position Paper). Read here.
(This outlines the social determinants of health that contribute to societal inequities)
Books:
Critical Race Theory: An Introduction, Second Edition by Richard Delgado
Websites:
Black Lives Matter (official movement page). Visit here.
Black Visions Collective. Visit here.
Race Forward Research Reports. Visit here.
Resources for Exploring Systemic Racism. Visit here.
Milner Library Illinois State University Systemic Racism Resources. Visit here.
Instagram accounts:
@blklivesmatter
@blackvisionscollective
@antiracismdaily
@readaboutracism
Donation history:
I contacted Black Visions Collective and they are unfortunately no longer accepting donations. Instead, $46.00 was donated to the Advancement Project on 6.25.21. You can view the donation receipt here.
*25% of all BLM sticker proceeds will continue to be donated.