How do I speak up about racism as a white person?

 Hey {NAME}, Angela Davis said, "In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist." To me, this quote highlights the fact that we can’t consider ourselves part of the solution if we are staying silent about racism -- we have to be actively and vocally against it. You’ve probably seen that we are undergoing a massive revolution when it comes to racial injustice. In your heart, you may want to speak up, but you might not know how to do so or what to say. I recently asked [my Instagram followers]( what is holding them back from speaking up during such a critical time and I received responses like… - "I don’t feel like I know enough to share helpful information. I don’t want to just repeat someone else." - "I’m afraid to say the wrong thing." - "As a white person, I’m not fully aware yet what I can do." - "What do you do if you’re not American? I want to help, but I feel like it’s not my place." - "I’m afraid of being shamed or criticized for my lack of knowledge and experiences." As a white woman myself, I can empathize with how you’re feeling -- the fear, shame, guilt, and confusion about where to begin. But as Desmond Tutu said, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." If you are new to this work, but want to learn more, I compiled a medley of guided resources to help you educate yourself on systemic racism, white privilege, and how you can begin to take action and be part of the solution. [You can check out the free guide right here!]( This guide includes definitions that are important to know, links to helpful articles and books, anti-racist educators to follow, and more. Virtually all of the resources in this guide were created by black and BIPOC leaders (not myself) because their voices are the ones we should be listening to most right now. I wanted to create this guide because I noticed that so many people in my community want to speak up, but don’t know how, and are overwhelmed with where to start. I hope this guide helps you to begin your journey to understanding the complexities of racism and how you can begin to dismantle it within yourself and the world around you. And if you’d like to hear more about my personal perspectives on what’s happening in the world right now, I share frequently in [my Instagram Stories]( (you can check the Social Justice highlight for past stories, too). If you identify as a white person, I believe that the first step is to educate yourself. Read the definitions in the guide. Read the suggested books. Follow people who are speaking up and learn from them. [Click here to check out the free guide to learn more about anti-racism work.]( Please feel free to share this guide wherever you’d like. I encourage you to share it with white friends, family members, and your communities. No credit to me is needed. I’m also going to be matching donations up to $5,000 total to organizations that are supporting black lives and racial justice. Some of my favorites: - [Black Lives Matter]( - [Black Visions Collective]( - [Minnesota Freedom Fund]( - [Loveland Foundation]( In order for your donation to be matched, please donate to one of the organizations above, screenshot your receipt, and send it to me in an email response. I will match it! I know this email is different than what I normally send you, but it matters tremendously. Your voice is needed. Your self-education is needed. It’s time to stand up for a better world. <3 Love, Melyssa  If you no longer wish to receive our emails, click [here](. Melyssa Griffin, LLC, 520 Broadway Suite 200, Santa Monica, California 90401, United States