5 Things Friday
A Black Friday Shopping Detox, Marin’s Dirty Secret, Quawan’s Story, and more
Illustration by @the.daily.don
It's Friday! And we are headed into a holiday season that will look nothing like the ones we have had in year's past. Maybe it's that Scorpio new moon (bringing mystery and optimism, if you vibe on that kind of thing), but we're taking it as a sign to ditch all the lame traditions we've been dragging around (ignoring the Indigenous genocide, Black Friday shopping like consumerist zombies) and start some new ones instead. Won't you join us? Here are your 5 Things.
WATCH THIS “Black people have given everything we’ve got to create an opening for white people to do their own work in their own communities. Don’t waste that opportunity.” Those are the words of Ash Lee Woodard Henderson from Highlander and the Movement for Black Lives, who was part of the inspiring and informative webinar, Recommitting to Racial Justice: White People's Work In The Days Ahead. Watch it now and get fired up!
KNOW THIS This year, quit the Black Friday sale chasing, once and for all. Instead, take the Reclaim Black Friday pledge to support BIPOC businesses and brands that have committed to giving back a portion of their sales to Indigenous and Black organizations from November 27th to 30th. A bunch of amazing brands have already signed on, including Bryr, Windy Peak Vintage, Meow Meow Tweet, tonle, Sotela, Grey Jays, Passion Lilie, Rosemarine Textiles, Lagusta’s Luscious, Slow Made and more. Find out more right here and get your shop on.
SEND THIS Longtime Marin resident and filmmaker Yoel Iskindir has turned his lens on his hometown, creating a series of short films and actionable campaigns to uncover and undo the segregationist policies and practices in Marin. Watch his latest film, then follow his easy steps to send an email now. Writes Yoel: "In 15 seconds, you and your friends can make a difference in Marin County, where it was uncovered that elected officials were deliberately segregating the only Black community." While you're at it, share his vid far and wide.
UNDERSTAND THIS Quawan “Bobby” Charles, a quiet 15-year-old boy who loved the outdoors and his dog, “My Baby,” went missing in Louisiana on October 30. His disfigured body was found four days later in a sugarcane field, 20 miles from his home. Quawan’s family (as well as the ACLU) are demanding accountability from local law enforcement, who refused to take a proactive approach to his disappearance—not alerting local news, or sending out an Amber Alert. Share his story, tag @agjefflandry, and call local officials at 337-608-9440 to demand a full investigation. As stated on @justiceforquawancharles: "If in conversations with others about your white privilege, you talk about what you would do if you were alive during the Emmitt Till lynching...Here's your chance. You can do it now for Quawan Charles."
SIGN THIS Grassroots Law project launched a huge effort to flood the Biden-Harris team with phone calls and a petitiondemanding that they get to work on these 55 justice-related policies they can enact without Congress. Now's the time to let the incoming administration know what we expect, and that we won't back down until change is made.