#BlackLivesMatter: How You Can Listen, Learn and Act

“It is not enough to be quietly non-racist. Now is the time to be vocally anti-racist.” — Angela Davis

Although we are still in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, thousands upon thousands of protestors all over the world have gathered over the last few weeks to rally against police brutality and the unjust deaths of Black people including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and Breonna Taylor.

It is important to acknowledge that these rallies are not stand-alone events. For more than 400 years, Black communities have been fighting for an elusive equality that many of us take for granted on a daily basis.

Enough is enough. Now is the time to actively contribute to the healing process and stand alongside BIPOC communities until justice, equality and inclusivity prevail.

Above image featuring Hakeem Lawal (@fari_hara).

At Adesso, we know rectifying the longstanding structures of systemic racism is not going to be an easy task. But we are committed to devoting our time, energy and resources to the Black Lives Matter movement and supporting BIPOC communities.

Our goal is to continue to:

• Create a community that treats everyone equally with respect and dignity. We will not tolerate any kind of discrimination, harassment or racism in our stores or on our platform.
• Support and advocate for the Black community by using our platform and voices to educate the public on matters pertaining to racism, inequality and injustice. We will amplify the voices, protests and concerns of the Black community with the goal of changing an unjust system.
• Support and advocate for Indigenous rights in our communities as we believe that our Indigenous brothers and sisters face similar challenges as our Black communities.
• Create a diverse and inclusive brand where people of colour can work, thrive and create. We are committed to creating opportunities for Black businesses, artists, designers and models through our brand and our mission.
• Provide resources for individuals from all walks of life to educate themselves on important social issues and help create a more equal, confident society.
• Donate to organizations that are actively fighting for change in our communities. We have also donated to the Calgary Against Police Brutality‘s Calgary Black Empowerment Fund, which has raised over $54,000 and counting.

Above image featuring Sadiq Imam (@styledyyc). 

There are many other ways to get involved in bringing about equity for all, including:

• Understanding the history of the systemic racism.
• Educating yourself about how systemic racism affects BIPOC communities.
• Donating to additional organizations fighting against oppression.
• Supporting Black authors, artists and business owners.
• Acknowledging and correcting our own inherent biases, and learning to unlearn so that we can be better allies.

In order to stand with BIPOC communities in the fight for equality, we have put together a list of anti-racist resources we hope will contribute to the change — starting with the individual and furthering the civic, national and global movement.

Resources:

• List of Petitions
• Anti-Racism Books to Read
• “This is to My White Friends with Feed Fatigue”
• Guide to Allyship
• “10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship”
• “Why Inclusion is Not Enough and How to Take Action and Write to Your MLA”
• Syma Habib’s Letter Writing Example and Tips
• List of Alberta MLAs
• 1619 (New York Times Podcast)
• Non-Monetary Support
• “Existing Work to Support and Engage in Calgary”
• What is Racism?
• Justice in June: Ways to learn, inform, and act
• The Unlearning Channel
• “Why You Need to Stop Saying All Lives Matter”
• “When White People are Uncomfortable, Black People are Silenced”
• 158 Resources to Understand Racism in America
• “America’s Long Overdue Awakening to Systemic Racism”

Where to Donate: 

• Calgary Against Police Brutality‘s Calgary Black Empowerment Fund
• Black Visions Collective
• ACLU
• NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
• Black Lives Matter
• List of Additional Organizations

Organizations to Support: 

• CommunityWise
• ActionDignity
• Calgary Anti-Racism Education
• The Calgary Black Chambers
• Calgary Public Library's Race and Social Equality Resources
• Calgary Foundation's list of Black-led/Black-serving organizations 
• Inclusion Factor

Restaurants to Support:

• KFS BBQ Smokehouse
• Safari Grill
• Krazy Jerk
• Habesha Retail Store
• Abyssinia Restaurant
• Marathon Ethiopian Restaurant
• Geez Ethiopian
• Joycee’s Caribbean
• Merilyn’s Kitchen
• Luubann
• Africana BBQ
• Karibu Grill & Lounge
• Arinka
• Yenny Delights
• Nile Café
• MJ’s Cuisine and Convenience Store

Businesses and Creatives to Support:

• Fari Hara Custom Menswear
• 10 X 10 Calgary
• Knit Me Up Style Fashion Blog
• Sargeant and Comrade
• By Blacks Online Magazine
• Bethel Fit Mum Pre/Postnatal Fitness Training
• Chanel Lash Bar
• Sphere Optometry
• KAHXI | Men’s Boxer Briefs
• Meeliah Baby Clothes and Accessories
• Ladies Take Notes Fashion Blog
• Alora Boutique
• Sweet Cocoa Butter Cakes
• Simba Creative
• Sugar YYC 

Together, it is our hope that one step at a time we can break down systemic racism and rebuild an equal, inclusive and just world.

Banner image featuring Sam Effah (@sam_effah).