Editor’s note: Jessica Sage is marketing and events director, Women in Research, Bend, Ore. This is an edited version of a post that originally appeared under the title, “Join the Fight: An Anti-Oppression Resource Guide for the #MRX Industry.” WIRe’s team will be updating the original post with additional resources as time goes on.

This blog post was written after a week of global demonstrations against police brutality and systemic racism, but we would be remiss to ignore the legacy of labor put forth by communities of color that has led us to the crux of change we now find ourselves in. Many of us are just starting a journey toward action; for white folks, we’ve often been able to donate occasionally, show up when convenient and assume the power was out of our control. Now, we’re being asked by our Black friends, family, coworkers and community to authentically and purposefully stand alongside the work they’ve been doing. There is no turning back to absolve our guilt, there is only charging forward to strengthen the cause.

The guide below is intended to address all of those joining the fight against oppression from whatever place we might find ourselves in. Not all of us will be on the front line but each and every one of us can contribute to the eradication of systemic racism every single day.

When you aren’t sure where to start

There is no official guide to being an ally – it’s something we learn and adapt to every day. The journey starts when you make a commitment to change. Things to remember:

  • You will mess up. You will be uncomfortable. So many of us are afraid of saying the wrong thing when it comes to topics like racism. What you need to learn in the moment is when to listen and when to be vocal – it won’t always be clear, but learning is half the battle. Here’s a document from the Racial Equity Library on how to be a strong ally, featuring basic principles people of color have asked white allies to consider.
  • It is your job to educate yourself. Take initiative. There are thousands of books, articles, podcasts and documentaries waiting for you to learn from. A great start might be setting up a book club with friends and family who want to learn as well. Here are 10 books about race non-Black people should read as well as a list of Black-owned bookstores to order them from.
  • Find a space from which to contribute. We all have unique privileges, gifts and energy to give to the cause. Here’s a helpful guide from Solidarity Is and Building Movement Project on mapping our roles in a social change ecosystem. Find the space where your strength lies and leverage it to empower others.
  • Challenge your perspective. Systemic oppression isn’t just police brutality. Systemic oppression permeates every part of our society and every way in which we view and experience the world. If you are able to tune out, if you move in exclusively white spaces, if the authors and producers of your favorite content are exclusively white, you’ve been moving through the world with blinders on. It’s time to broaden your horizons. If you want to interrogate your own implicit bias, check out this test from Harvard.
  • Listen to Black people. Amplify Black voices. Do the work of finding the voices who are actively organizing right now and respond with action when they call for your support. Order from Black-owned restaurants in your community, shop from companies owned by Black people. Check in with yourself as you make these changes. What emotional walls go up? What limitations have you been inadvertently putting on yourself?
  • Find support. You don’t have to do this work alone. There are countless organizations on the local, national and global scale working to dismantle oppression from a myriad of perspectives and angles. Find the one that is right for you and be an active participant in the work they do. SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) is a good place to start.

Resources and actions

We can’t express just how many resources are being shared right now but we know it is not always easy to find them. Together, we have the tools and energy to uplift and empower each and every member of our community and to be better allies. We believe in the collective will to change and commit to seeing it through, together.

Voices and organizations to follow and support

For those who can’t donate but want to help (from the National Resource List):

  • On Twitter, someone created a twitter thread of alternative actions people without the means to donate can take. Here is that thread.
  • This document was written a number of years ago for people who cannot protest, whatever the reason may be.
  • YouTuber Zoe Amira is donating 100% of her ad revenue from this video to bail funds and memorial funds. You cannot skip the ads for this to work properly!
  • A non-official Black Lives Matter “Ways you can help” page.
  • A Twitter thread that has compiled petitions to sign.
  • Amplify Movement for Black Lives and their mutual aid work.
  • A master list of Companies’ Support for BLM.

For those who can donate

For those outside of the U.S. who want to lend their support

  • The Black Lives Matter movement is an increasingly global one and we’re actively seeking international resources to serve our community. Here’s a helpful article specifically on how those in Europe can lend their support.

For companies and managers

For continued learning

For parents, teachers and shapers of young minds