r/blackladies • u/sometimeisnow • Jul 17 '13

If you're wondering what you can do, let's talk

I know many of you, like me, stared at the television in disbelief when the Not Guilty verdict in the Trayvon Martin case flashed before you. Many of you went to rallies, sat down to have "the talk" with your children, and tried think of what else you could do. What's certain is that the circumstances surrounding this situation didn't get created and won't get solved any time soon, but that doesn't mean we are powerless.

Here is a list of several activities anyone who cares can do to honor Trayvon's life. Please add your suggestions and I hope this helps someone.

Individual service:

  1. Become a Tutor. Literacy is non-negotiable in this society. It is also the key to self-expression, an important part of being fully free. Always remember, people actually died, so that you could pick up a book. We can’t let our children or ourselves be badgered the way Rachel Jeantel was and, yes, that happens in courtrooms frequently. Volunteer Match

  2. Become a Mentor. Trayvon had a strong set of parents with whom he had a loving relationship. Imagine if he didn’t; who would have fought for him? This happens every single day in America. Children in foster care and children with an incarcerated parent almost have a direct pipeline into prison. You could be the difference and; no, you don’t have to be perfect. Big Brothers, Big Sisters or Boys and Girls Clubs.

  3. Beautify Your Neighborhood. I know it sounds minor, but just the act of keeping your neighborhood clean and orderly reduces crime. Call the City/County as a last resort, but windows need to be intact, grass needs to be cut, and trash bins have to be put away. Trayvon’s father’s neighborhood had frequent burglaries, which is why George Zimmerman profiled Trayvon. Many cities have grants available for neighborhood beautification and starting community gardens.

  4. Get to know your neighbors. Simple as pie. Do you know their names?

Collective service:

  1. Ask your church, sorority, or fraternity what they are doing outside their four walls or allegiances? If the answer is not much, then start something.

  2. Start or get involved in a giving circle. The majority of our improvement started around a kitchen table and pooling our funds for activities that could improve our communities. This has evolved into giving circles. Community Investment Network can teach you how to start your own or connect you to an existing one.

Public Policy:

  1. Serve on a city or county board related to your community’s policing. After Trayvon’s murder, the police dropped the ball completely. Outside attention and/or pressure makes a huge difference. And, those of you in cities with good departments, they actually value having your input.

  2. Learn about the work and consider contributing to organizations doing the necessary research and advocacy to hold systems and those making decisions accountable: NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Southern Poverty Law Center, Applied Research Center. There are many other national organizations to consider, but these are a couple that have a racial justice or anti-racism lens to their work. Nothing will change until you get on the inside. This work is often hard to get funded, but they are working on this stuff when the rest of us can't. So, we need to pitch in ourselves.

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3

u/PullOnMyJeans Jul 18 '13

Very nice list. I'm saving it for future reference. Thank you.

1

u/sometimeisnow Jul 18 '13

Thanks, I was hoping we'd get more conversation going about what we could do.

I'm sorry I wrote a book, I just want us to all look at what we can do before the news cycle moves on.

1

u/PullOnMyJeans Jul 18 '13

Judging by the response, it seems like people have already moved on. I hope I'm wrong though, because that would be really sad.

You've written some real-life solutions that will have a positive impact on the community. Or, at the very least, it would have a positive impact on us as individuals.

2

u/SupersonicMotivated thick like that/stacked like that/down like that/black like that Jul 18 '13

I wish this could be on the sidebar. It's a great resource.

1

u/sometimeisnow Jul 23 '13

I don't know how to suggest it be in the sidebar, but feel free to use it. Maybe a mod will see it.