It’s time we put our money where our mouth is. Here is a list (not complete by any means) of organizations and black creatives for you to support. Follow them, like their stuff, buy their products, support their livelihoods. It’s never too late to start your journey to being anti-racist.
Support Black Creatives
Here is a short list of organizations and specific designers that can either help BLM efforts pro bono or just great ways that you can help support these amazing POC. Please do your own research on top of these sites to see how you can help further. Don’t forget to follow more POC creatives on social platforms too to share their stuff!
This list is LONG and for good reason. Of course, ALL black lives matter, but I always have a particular soft spot for black creatives. Art has been one of the uniting factors during protests and demonstrations today and throughout history. Friendly reminder though: always always ALWAYS let black artists and their messages shine through.
(Pronounced hashtag black creatives) is a great resource for POC to relearn what is possible for them and their creative abilities. This site is great for black ideas and supporting those creatives. This website highlights everything from designers to musicians to artists. This group is all about freedom and staying accountable to yourself, your business, and to the community. Make sure you subscribe to their newsletter for some amazing content!
I cannot get over how amazing this type designer is, you guys. I’m such a sucker for print and poster design and the fonts available on this site were all developed from protest signage from tons of different eras.
I’m also a sucker for great typography and these fonts are gorgeous, minimal, and incredibly powerful. Perfect for any bold new project. I know that I’ll be investing in these typefaces myself. I highly encourage you to check out the full catalog for fonts that are currently under development.
If your preferred social media platform is Twitter, this is a great resource for you. This website acts as a database of different black creatives on Twitter. You can choose from categories like illustrators, writers, ux designers or even CEOs. You can nominate other creatives to be added to the catalog as well. They also have a great Slack channel that also serves as a great resource for creatives. If you’re hiring or just looking for new visionaries to follow, give this website a look.
This group is new to Instagram and has already gone through some foundational changes to better support its black members. DELORIS is a directory of BIPOC-owned businesses who are seeking pro bono creative work and for BIPOC-creatives who are available for paid work. This group’s whole purpose is to lift up black creatives and businesses and I would highly recommend giving their instagram a follow. Stay tuned for more information from them!
General Resources
Here is a list of some general #blacklivesmatter resources for your use. As we move forward as an anti-racist society, it is imperititve that we are constantly educating ourselves and putting less pressure on black folks to be our teachers. We need to support them in any way we can find through signing petitions, donating to bail funds, and evaluating our privileges and prejudices daily.
This is the official site of the Black Lives Matter movement. You can find a chapter in your area to show your support or donate to the cause. They also have great toolkits and resources for you to share on social media.
A Growing List of Resources for the Movement for Black Lives
AIGA is the one of the world’s biggest design organizations. They have put together a fantastic list of resources for you. They will continue to update this list, so please feel free to come back again and again to see how you can support the movement on your own.
Talking the talk is one thing. Walking the walk is something entirely different. Here is a list of petitions that support anti-rasist changes in all levels of government. Let your representatives and congress members know how you feel. Make sure your voice is heard by pushing for systematic change.
10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship
If you’re like me, you’ve been heartbroken over how black skin has been treated around the world and especially in America. I am acknowledging my white privilege and making sure I do what I can to be a good ally. Here is a quick guide on how to be a better ally and make sure that what you’re doing is for the betterment of society and not for selfish reasons. Nobody likes a fake influencer. Put up or shut up.
Never Stop
When the protests eventually die down, make sure that you are supporting black and brown lives every day. The fight doesn’t stop once the fires are out. Stay angry. Stay disgusted and stay proud to stand beside the people who are fighting the good fight. Make sure you are boosting black voices and supporting their businesses. Make sure that your government hears your beliefs and works towards actual change. Most importantly, this work comes from within. Make sure you continue to educate yourself and evaluate your inherent biases. This fight is not over until equity is achieved.
More reading: https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/support-black-lives-matter-online/