Black Voices in Wellness

The American people have stood up this week and said, “We demand change.” There are a lot of ways to make a difference right now and a ton of information about what to read, where to donate, and who to listen to being shared. It can be tough to keep track of, so we did our best to put it all in one place

Where to Donate 

Donate to 37 bail funds for protesters in America, your donation will be split evenly across all funds. 

Donate to George Floyd’s daughter’s gofundme to provide support to a grieving family. 

Donate to the Justice for Breonna Taylor gofundme for help support Breonna’s family in their fight for justice. 

Donate to Rebuild the Block to help rebuild black-owned businesses that have been destroyed nationwide

 Donate to Black Visions Collective to aid Black Minnesotans in investing in the long term liberation of Black citizens. 

Donate to Campaign Zero, an organization focused on ending police violence through policy and accountability. 

Donate to Black Lives Matter, the leading movement against police brutality, and institutional racism. 

Donate to Migizi, a native youth organization in Minneapolis. They are currently looking for support in rebuilding their building. 

Donate to the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network to support accessible therapy for people in need.

Donate to the BLH Foundation to support scholarships for people of color seeking careers in counseling and help make therapy services more accessible to young people in urban schools. 

Books on AntiRacism 

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibra X. Kendi challenges the reader to not just be not racist but to be actively antiracist and play an active role in building a more just society. Follow Ibra on Instagram @ibramxk

My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem offers a new way of thinking and working against white supremacy. Resmaa uses his background as a therapist to examine white supremacy from a trauma perspective and dives into the psychological effects of racism. Follow Resmaa on Instagram @resmaamenakem

So You Want To Talk About Race is the perfect starting place for anyone wanting to learn about racism in modern society and how to navigate conversations about privilege. Author Ijeoma Oluo attempts to have an honest conversation about race, intersectionality, affirmative action, and many more things. Follow Ijeoma on Instagram @ijeomaoluo 

Me and White Supremacy began as an Instagram challenge by Layla Saad to encourage white people to confront and address the ways they uphold white supremacy. The challenge went viral and soon became an online guide and now a physical workbook designed to guide readers through confronting their white privilege. Follow Layla on Instagram @Laylafsaad 

Documentaries to Watch 

13th is an American documentary titled after the 13th amendment of the constitution, an amendment added in1865, abolishing slavery. The film, created by Ava DuVerney, is a combination of interviews, video, and sound clips all supporting the claim that slavery continues to exist in America through the prison system. This documentary is a must-watch for those looking to learn about white supremacy, the war on drugs, and the prison system currently upholding racism in America. It can be found on Netflix. Watch the trailer here.

Time: The Kalief Browder Story tells the story of a 16-year-old boy who was accused of stealing a backpack. Being black and from the Bronx, Kalief was imprisoned for 3 years. This documentary highlights the racism inherent in the American judicial system, the prison industrial complex, and all of America. The documentary can be found on Netflix, watch the trailer here. 

Podcasts to listen to 

The Nod tells stories about Black life and history that you probably didn’t learn in school. Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings explore many aspects of Black culture and history that mainstream media ignores. Listen here.

Affirm is a podcast hosted by former therapist Davia Roberts made to give women of color a place to focus on their mental health. Listen here. 

Clever Girls Know is all about financial literacy, aimed at helping Black women get out of debt, save and invest in their future. Creator Bola Sokunbi shares financial tips and education many people don’t have access to. Listen here. 

Happy Black Woman Podcast creator Rosetta Thurman empowers Black women to go for everything they want in life and shares tips for changing your perspective and mindset in order to live a more happy and fulfilling life. Listen here. 

Black Men Can’t Jump was created by three friends as a space to discuss Black performances in Hollywood and analyze them through the lens of race and equality. Listen here.

Reid This, Reid That is a podcast by two professional journalists about pop culture, and the world. They give their own takes and behind the scenes info about all things media. Listen here 

Prominent Black Voices in Wellness 

Pilin Anice is a yogi, an activist and a fantastic resource for anyone looking for at-home workouts to do alone or with your kids! Pilin is plant-based and uses her platform to encourage followers to connect to earth and their bodies through movement. Follow her on Instagram @pilinanice 

Nikia Phoenix is the mind behind blackgirlbeautiful.com. She strives to create joy and laughter in her community as well as raise the self-esteem of young Black girls. Follows her on Instagram @nikiaphoenix 

Stevona Elm Rogers believes that wellness is an important way to show up for herself so she can show up for her community as an educator and a writer. She is the author of Black Women are for Grown Ups, an intimate chapbook centered on the experience of Black womanhood. Follow Stevona on Instagram @stevie_elm

Latham Thomas is a mother, yogini, and self-declared self-care sorceress. She is also the founder of @Mamaglow, a maternity brand that offers doula training and services. She’s the author of Own Your Glow, a book encouraging women to embrace their feminine experience and harness their power to create personal wellness. Follow Latham on Instagram @glowmaven 

Dr. Joy Harden Bradford is a psychologist, a mother, and a powerful advocate for Black mental health. She is the founder and host of Therapy for Black Girls (@therapyforblackgirls on Instagram), an organization that provides mental health resources and events for young black women. Follow her on Instagram @hellodrjoy 

This is everyone’s fight, at Hugs we are doing our best to stand up for those fighting police brutality and institutional racism and we encourage you to do the same!