People around the world are protesting [1] after the recent killings of George Floyd [2], Atatiana Jefferson, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, shining a long overdue spotlight on the racism our country has been experiencing since before its inception. It's important now and always that we all take action against racism, whether we're within the Black community or joining as an ally [3] to those who have been fighting it for decades.
Black activists, educators, thinkers, and writers have been putting in the emotional and intellectual labour into research and education, sharing practical ways to make change happen. We're highlighting some of the women who have been actively calling us all to get to work and spread the word with their inspiring and honest videos, posts [4], articles, and books. Follow these women who will continue to hold anyone fighting against racism accountable and informed. Listen, read, learn, and support. We're all in this together.
Candice Brathwaite (@candicebrathwaite)
Blogger Candice Brathwaite [6] has focussed her message on more accurate representation of Black mothers in the media by founding the platform Make Motherhood Diverse as well as writing her memoir about Black motherhood, I am Not Your Baby Mother [7].
Rachel Cargle (@rachel.cargle)
Rachel Cargle is a public academic writer and lecturer who launched The Loveland Foundation [8], which supports marginalized people by bringing opportunity, access, and validation. She is also the founder of The Great Unlearn [9], an online self-learning resource to educate and encourage action. Visit her website here [10].
Feminstina Jones (@feminstajones)
Feminista Jones [11] is an author, activist, public speaker, and feminist-based writer who promotes all things social justice. Jones has written the books: Push the Button [12], I Don't Know Who Needs to Read This but . . . : 40 Lessons on Loving, Losing, and Living For Yourself [13], The Secret of Sugar Water [14], and the critically-acclaimed Reclaiming Our Space: How Black Feminists Are Changing the World From the Tweets to the Streets. [15]
Brittany Packnett Cunningham (@mspackyetti)
Activist, educator, and writer Brittany Packnett Cunningham [16] contributes to NBC and MSNBC news, is the co-host of iHeart Radio's best political podcast Pod: Save the People, and is the co-founder of Campaign Zero [17], a campaign to end police violence in America.
Aja Barber (@ajabarber)
Aja Barber [18] is a sustainable fashion writer and consultant who is taking on big brands that don't support people of colour, intersectional feminism, sustainable and ethical fashion, fair wages, and more. She uses her platform to say what big brands are doing that people don't necessarily see, and has most recently called on L'Oréal Paris, who fired a black trans women for speaking out in 2017 but is now publicly announcing support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Layla Thee Ancestress (@laylafsaad)
Layla Saad [19] is an author, speaker, and teacher who informs people about the topics of race, identity, leadership, personal transformation, and social change. She is a New York Times bestselling author for the book Me and White Supremacy [20], as well as the teacher of Good Ancestor Academy and is the host of Good Ancestor podcast.
Reni Eddo-Lodge (@renieddolodge)
The award-winning author and journalist Reni Eddo Lodge [21], is the bestselling author of Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race [22], as well as the host of the podcast series About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge. She is currently on a social media break.
Mireille Cassandra Harper (@mireillecharper)
Writer, sensitivity reader, publicist, and contributor to Girls Let's Talk [23], a community where women can learn, educate, inspire, and connect, Mireille Cassandra Harper has devoted her social media toward education and awareness throughout the police brutality protests and has even written a 10-step sensitivity guide for those who want to support the Black community moving forward.
Danielle Prescod (@danielleprescod)
Writer and style director for BET [24] Danielle Prescod [25] shared her thoughts on racism in the US with a viral video that calls on white women to join the movement against racism that Black people have been experiencing for far too long, to reflect, and to put words into action. As Danielle put it, "do the work now, I don't care if it's uncomfortable."
Alicia Garza (@chasinggarza)
Organiser, writer, and public speaker Alicia Garza [26] is currently the Special Projects Director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance. She also co-founded the Black Lives Matter network [27], which focuses on combating anti-Black state-sanctioned violence.
Angela Rye (@angelarye)
Principle and CEO of IMPACT Strategies in the nation's capital, as well as a CNN commentator and NPR political analyst, Angela Rye [28] is not afraid to speak out on all things social justice, including the Black Lives Matter movement.
Ijeoma Oluo (@ijeomaoluo)
Author of the New York Time's bestseller So You Want to Talk About Race [29], Ljeoma Oluo focuses her efforts on race and identity, feminism, social and mental health, social justice, and the arts.
Janet Mock (@janetmock)
Janet Mock [30] is a trail-blazing writer, director, and overall storyteller. She has written and published two bestselling memoirs [31] about being a trans woman, and is using her platform to speak up for social justice [32].
Toi Smith (@toimarie)
Founder of Black Women are Love [33] and Business for the People [34], Toi Smith is also a mother, creator, and teacher of business strategy. Her Instagram feed is filled with inspiring views on her passion for Black rights.
Tabitha Brown (@iamtabithabrown)
Typically known for her comedic food reviews, Tabitha Brown [35] has carved out an important space for the Black community on her Instagram by spreading awareness and positivity. Chances are you've seen her #BlackOutTuesday graphic reposted by others, which informs people on what next steps they can take to support Black justice.
Patricia A. Taylor (@patricia_a_taylor)
Patricia A. Taylor is the founder of the blog, Some Thoughts From Your Black Friend [36]. She is boldly telling her thoughts and feelings on the issues facing Black people, and her account is a great resource for education.
Ava DuVernay (@ava)
Ava DuVernay [37] is a writer, producer, director, and film distributor, and is one of the highest grossing black woman directors in American box-office history.
Yara Shahidi (@yarashahidi)
You may recognise Yara Shahidi [38] from ABC's hit sitcom, Black-ish [39], but in her free time, she uses her social media to educate about Black rights. Yara recently posted a video about ways to take action, discussing America's history with black people, and how to approach the situation at hand. As Yara said best, "when we learn something new we must be dynamic, and we must be willing to adjust what we believe to act effectively and responsibly."
Austin Channing Brown (@austinchanning)
Austin Channing Brown is the author of I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in the World of Whiteness [40] and devotes her social media and website [41] to supporting the work of racial justice.
Cleo Wade (@cleowade)
Influencer, artist, poet, storyteller, and author of the bestselling books Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life [42] and Where to Begin: A Small Book About Your Power to Create Big Change [43], Cleo Wade [44] has devoted her social media to being actively anti-racist by posting inspiring quotes and heartfelt graphics.
Amanda Seales (@amandaseales)
Amanda Seales [45] is a comedian, actress, author, producer, recording artist, poet, DJ, VJ, and TV personality; you may recognise her from HBO's Insecure, the daytime talk show The Real, or NBC's Bring the Funny. Seales is also the creator and host of the game show Smart, Funny, and Black, the podcast Small Doses [46], as well as the author of Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use [47]. With over a million followers, Seales is using her social media to spread Black awareness and promote change by creating videos, posting graphics, and sharing resources.
Blair Amadeus Imani (@blairimani)
Blair Amadeus Imani is a Black, bisexual Muslim who's not afraid to speak up for what is right. She has written two historical books: Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History [48] and Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and The Black American Dream [49].
Monique Melton (@moemotivate)
Anti-racism educator, published author [50], international speaker, and host of the Shine Brighter Together podcast [51], Monique Melton [52] has put in the work of making her Instagram account a great resource for those looking to learn more about Black rights. She founded the community Shine Bright Together [53], which is focussed on healthy relationships and diverse unity. Melton also travels the world to speak on topics like anti-racism, personal growth, diversity, and more.
Tamika D. Mallory (@tamikadmallory
Tamika D. Mallory [54] is a champion for social justice who's worked closely with the Obama administration and was one of the leading organisers for the 2011 Women's March. She's landed in Time Magazine's 100 Pioneers List and was also in Fortune Magazine's 2017 list of World's Greatest Leaders. Mallory currently holds the position as co-president of the Women's March movement [55] and is one of the co-founders of Until Freedom [56], a community of organisers, lawyers, and survivors of injustice who address systemic and racial justice.
Charlene (@charlenecarruthers)
Founding national director of the Black Youth Project 100 as well as the author of the bestselling book Unapologetic: A Black, Queer and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements [57], Charlene Carruthers has focussed her efforts on building a base for black activists for over 15 years.
Alishia McCullough (@blackandembodied)
Alishia McCullough [58] is a social justice warrior, author, counselor, and promoter of fat liberation and racial healing. McCullough wrote the book Blossoming [59], which discusses mental health, self-love, healing, and societal expectations. Her Instagram is filled with informative, motivational, and touching quotes about the Black community.
Megan Torres (@trustmeimasocialworker)
Megan Torres LISW [60] is a Black therapist with a background in human rights who speaks her truth on racial justice by educating her followers and inspiring them to take action. Her core value is "when you know better, you do better," and spreads her knowledge on Black rights by speaking out on Instagram.
Tina Strawn (@tina_strawn_life)
Tina Strawn [61] was a fitness professional for over 14 years who taught thousands of people, but truly found her voice after watching the police killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in 2016. She knew she had to take action and has since devoted her career to becoming an antiracism educator, facilitator, activist, and advocate.
Cristina Garcia (@shegrowswegrow)
Cristina Garcia has devoted the past decade to working on immigrant justice, underrepresented communities, and women's rights. She is the founder of She Grows We Grow [62], a community that connects women of colour and helps them embrace their voice.
Danielle Coke (@ohhappydani)
Danielle Coke has a whole business centreed around graphics that inspire justice and positivity [63], and she often posts her heartening art on her Instagram.
Ivirlei Brookes (@ivirlei)
Ivirlei Brookes [64] is a business and mindset coach, blogger, actress, and storyteller who's speaking up to white people about racism in a big way. In one of Brookes's recent videos, she discusses the ways that white people can help support anti-racism, the digging they need to do to self-reflect, and how they can make lasting change. As Brookes stated, "I don't care if you're an introvert, I don't care if it's not your normal thing or if it matches an identity you don't truly own yet, make it your new identity."