*This message was sent to a random selection of Color Of Change members regardless of racial identity.*
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What will you do to keep fighting for Black lives?
Making a sustaining contribution to Color Of Change is one of the most important ways that you, as a white member*, can deepen your support for racial justice and your commitment to dismantling white supremacy. |
My name is Johnny Mathias, and my name is Evan Feeney. And we’re white.
Together we’ve been working at Color Of Change for over 14 years combined. We work behind the scenes to support the brilliant leadership of the people you see in your inbox every week--Jade Magnus Ogunnaike, Arisha Michelle Hatch, and Rashad Robinson. You don’t hear from the two of us very often, but in this moment we feel it's important that we share directly with you what we know about how the white members* of the Color Of Change community can powerfully show up too.
The most important thing to know is that being an ally is not a noun, it is a verb. Being an anti-racist ally is not a title, it is a practice. We find ways to support and advance Black liberation, Black lives, and Black joy on a regular basis. As white people, when we wake up each day we have to choose to be anti-racist, to fight for racial justice and Black communities. One of the most important things white people can do to meet that responsibility is to use our financial resources, whatever they may be, to support independent Black political leadership.
Some of you have been long-time members of the Color Of Change community, but for many of you, joining Color Of Change this summer was the first time you took powerful action in the name of racial justice. Whether you're new to our work or have been here a long time, we’re glad you’re a part of this community because the movement cannot be sustained solely on the efforts and energy of Black organizers for whom this fight is a matter of life and death.
The work we do together in the coming months and years will be critical. The systems of anti-Black oppression and inequity that led to the rise of Trumpism, the devastating spread of COVID in Black communities, the racial wealth gap, and the resurgence of white nationalist violence were not defeated by this election. Already, we’re seeing establishment forces try to downplay and dismiss the necessary solutions racial justice advocates are demanding. If we do not seize this moment to push for unprecedented change, these anti-Black forces will only grow stronger.
All too often we think of racial justice as the sole responsibility of Black people. As white people, we have an obligation to dismantle racism and to do so by supporting Black leadership. We need to leverage our privilege and resources to meet gaps where white-controlled corporate and governmental structures have refused to value Black lives. Making a sustaining contribution to Color Of Change is one of the most important ways that you, as a white member, can deepen your support for racial justice and your commitment to dismantling white supremacy.
Until justice is real,
—Johnny, Evan, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Amanda, Marie, Gabrielle, Imani, Taurjhai, Stasia, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team.
*As an organization, we are committed to centering Black people in this movement. Most of our members are Black, but we felt it important to take this opportunity to speak directly to the hundreds of thousands of white Color Of Change members. Please consider sharing this with the white people in your life.*
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
