It’s been a week since George Floyd was murdered by a Minnesota police officer who knelt on his neck for over eight minutes. In the time since we have seen widespread protests, cities issuing curfews, and the President of the United States calling for violence against his own people.

The anger of the African-American community, which has been criminalised and disenfranchised for so long, has boiled over in a sea of rage. The murder may have been the spark, but the anger that has exploded is deep-rooted and systemic.

The United States has a shameful history of white supremacy and racism.

It is a country built on the roots of slavery, Jim Crow and systemic racism and discrimination. 

African Americans are more likely than white Americans to be arrested; and once arrested are more likely to be convicted; and once convicted, and they are more likely to experience lengthy prison sentences.

African-American adults are six times as likely to be incarcerated than whites, and one of every three black boys born in 2001 can expect to go to prison in his lifetime, compared to one of every seventeen white boys.

No wonder the community is angry. No wonder they are demanding action. We understand their pain and stand in solidarity with them.

HOPE not hate stands in full solidarity with those taking a stand against police brutality and white supremacy. We join those who say loudly, angrily and with resolve that Black Lives Matter. 

Like a lot of organisations, our team have been discussing the situation and sharing insights and practical ideas for what we can do to be good allies. I’ve collected together some of what’s been shared internally to share with you. These resources and things to read and organisations to donate to might not be new to everyone getting this email. Hopefully some will be, and will be helpful to you as they have been to us.

Firstly, this is a time to stand with organisations in the front line of tackling racism. Many people have joined HOPE not hate. We’re grateful for that and will put the money to good use tracking, confronting and exposing the far right. There are many groups who need our support - please give what you can if you can to the UK Black Lives Matter fund in the UK, and in the US Color of Change. This page allows you to donate towards support for people arrested while peacefully protesting.

There are so many social media accounts worth following, I am also hesitant to share some for fear of missing too many out, but here’s a few our team follows to learn, listen and support: Natalie Morris, Rachel Cargle, southasians4blacklives, Ibram Kendi, Afua Hirsch, Angela Saini, Reni Eddo-Lodge, The Conscious Kid, gal-dem. 

For those with children, there's Black Curriculum, a social enterprise run by young black people challenging the lack of Black British history in the UK curriculum and this fantastic thread of books for children, which are mainly US-focused but excellent for kids here too. This is another great book list for supporting conversations on race and racism with children, including short blurbs and recommended age ranges. 

Lastly, the job of being educated is never done. I’d like to recommend reading To White People, On Racism by my friend and former colleague here at HOPE not hate Maatin Patel. It’s thought provoking and practical. There are so many good, and important things to read:

Ayeisha Thomas-Smith from NEON has written a great piece for Vice about the relevance of Floyd's murder in the UK, and talks through some great starting points for black people and allies in this country

I also recommend this excellent piece by Yomi Adegoke on the risks of performative grief and 'pics or it didn't happen' activism in Vogue. 

It’s not a book, but if you haven’t yet listened to “About Race”, a podcast presented by Reno Eddo Lodge, I’d really recommend it.

Over the next few months we will raise money for organisations fighting racism as and when we can. We will encourage supporter education, with podcasts and articles that we think are interesting and useful. We will use our research resources to monitor online hate and transatlantic networks that will seek to intervene in the US elections with their hatred and lies, and we will put pressure on politicians here to take a stand against the politics of hate.

We all have so much more to do.

Nick Lowles
HOPE not hate