Action Items: How Oklahoma residents can support BLM

As we all watch nation-wide protests enter their third week, conversations in our homes and in our work meetings have expressed our outrage and sadness. At Anglin PR, we’re working to educate ourselves and humbly acknowledge what we all, as individuals, can do better. There is an abundance of great resources to help us dissect the disparities that disproportionately affect our communities of color and we’d like to share them with friends of Anglin PR. We’re committed to learning and doing more ahead of the year’s Juneteenth celebration. For those who don’t know, (and don’t be embarrassed, because we’re learning that too many of our schools neglected this important moment in history) Juneteenth falls on June 19 and commemorates the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved people in the U.S. The Anglin PR team has created a list of resources that we found beneficial in educating ourselves and supporting black-owned businesses and those organizations on the forefront of the BLM movement.

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Educational Tools

• This resource is a short, quick guide that can help you see racial discrepancies through statistics.

• A conversation on police reform moderated by Emily Bazelon, a writer at NYT. The conversation includes people who are well respected and have held multiple roles in their careers that intersect with this topic: founder & the chief executive of the Center for Policing Equity, a principal of Black Futures Lab, president and chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a founder of We the Protestors, and a former police chief.

• Voting is a great way to enact change. Here is a list of leaders you can vote for in your community who have a significant impact on social and racial justice.

• This article addresses disparities in income and equity through a discussion including the statistics on costs for a black household vs a white household in the United States. This also goes further to explain how this may affect the financial futures for the next generation.

• This article discusses education disparities in OKC. This article addresses calls for changes in policing partnerships with schools among other concerns.

• This OK-Chamber Final Report resource below assess our community’s criminal justice system by analyzing the processes that lead to jail population, understanding how the decisions in the process are made, identifying the costs associated with processes and decisions, recommending priorities to responsibly reduce jail population with associated costs, and outlining long-term sustainability options. One of the more insidious impacts of inequality is the disproportionate impact our justice system has on people of color. Our client The Criminal Justice Advisory Council is working to change that, and they offer numerous resources for us all to learn more and get involved

OK-chamber-final-report

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Download PDF • 4.38MB

• The movie Just Mercy gives a dramatized look into the true case of Walter “Johnny D” McMillian, a man unjustly put on death row for a murder his community and evidence proved he didn’t commit. It is free for streaming through the month of June.

• This article gives a look into the movement across America to support BLM. At the bottom of the article it links to newsrooms in cities around the United States who write about updated protests happening around the United States.

• In Robin DiAngelo's book ‘White Fragility’ she reflects on how socioeconomic differences have affected the interaction of privilege but overall white communities are protected from race-based stress. From here DiAngelo dissects how to continue to address and work against these systems that allow racial divide to flourish.

  • For a list of books that take in in depth look into racial disparities and how to actively work to be anti-racist check out this link.

  • Here is a link of books for children to begin learning about Race

• This can be a helpful resource for parents on why it’s so important to talk about race and how you can make the first step.

• The Intersectionality Matters with Kimberlee Crenshaw podcast focuses on different issues through conversations with experts on that week's topic. This episode specifically focuses on unpacking the protests that have happened around the U.S with the Lead Prosecutor in the George Floyd Case, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, a scholar in Critical Race Studies, a Member of the #SayHerName Family Network and a Professor of American History at UCLA.

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Events

We’re looking forward to this year's powerful Juneteenth events to help support the Black Lives Matter movement. Check out the events happening this weekend and plan which to attend and support!

Friday, June 19

• The @BlackLivesMatterOKC chapter along with other organizations is hosting "I too, am America Juneteenth Rally for Justice" on Greenwood Ave the Home of America's historic Black Wall Street.

  • Click here to donate to @BlackLivesMatterOKC.

• @ThePlaza will be hosting an event this Friday, June 19th from 5-10 p.m. called “Solidarity in the Plaza District: Black Lives Matter”. The event will feature black artists, makers and performers throughout the 16th Street Plaza District.

• March for Black Lives at OSU Campus, Edmon Low Library, 216 Athletic Ave., Stillwater, OK at 6 p.m.

• Rally Against Hate in Tulsa’s Veteran park,1875 S Boulder Dr., Tulsa, Oklahoma, from 6-8 p.m.

• Below is a flyer for the Tulakes Community Church, Pantry and Clinic's Juneteenth event

Saturday, June 20th

• Juneteenth Stroll at Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, 900 E. Oklahoma Ave., Guthrie, OK 73044 starting at 9:30 a.m.

• @BlackLivesMatterOKC chapter is hosting Know Your Rights: Learn how to stay safe during police encounters. Location: the parking lot of Nappy Roots Books, 3705 Springlake Drive (NE 37 & Kelley, OKC) at 3:30 p.m.

• Juneteenth Celebration in the parking lot of Nappy Roots Books, 3705 Springlake Drive (NE 37th & Kelley) at 6:30 p.m. Music by Shortt Dogg, Jabee, Nitro and more! Food trucks and activities for kids.

Sunday, June 21st

• Young People’s March for Justice: A march for people from pre-K through high school that starts at FD Moon school (NE 14th & ML King) and ends at Douglass High School Stadium (NE 10th & ML King). All young folks are invited to participate; adults are invited to support, protect and mentor. Email blacklivesmatterokc@gmail.com for information.

Tuesday, June 23rd

• BLM-OKC Protest Youth March at Stiles Circle Park, 900 N. Stiles Ave., OKC at 1 p.m.

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How to Help

• First, and most importantly, educate yourself and use what you learned to start a conversation with someone about racial justice. Now is not the time to remain in the dark, so if there is a racial justice issue you’re struggling to understand, do your due diligence, read and learn more.

• Show up to an event (with a mask on, and stand at a safe distance). If you can not attend any of the above linked events, consider supporting them with supplies like cold water, snacks and safety equipment.

• Support black-owned businesses in your neighborhood.

  • OKC Black Eats

  • Black Owned businesses in the 405

• Donate to BLM chapters in Oklahoma, or pick your favorite racial justice organization to support right now.

  • Donate to BLM OKC

  • Donate to BLM Tulsa

• ‘OKC Black Lives Matter Protest’ is accepting donations at Stiles Park this weekend. Their flyer with information is attached below

Most importantly let’s commit to long-term change. Let’s commit to not shying away from our discomfort as we face unsettling facts. Let’s commit to holding one another accountable and continuing to have conversations as we learn and share.