On today’s show, we continue our journey to better amplify Black voices. Marilyn sat down with hair stylist Janet Jackson, chef Bianca Osbourne and chef Roger Mooking to hear about their lived experiences with racism and have an open conversation surrounding diversity, inclusivity and what changes need to be made for society to progress forward. Their poignant words challenged us to listen, learn and commit to change.
Below is a compiled list of ways that anyone, but especially non-Black people, can support the Black community by educating themselves, getting involved, donating and more. Thank you to Bianca Osbourne for sharing many of these suggestions.
A critical step in ensuring that the Black community in our country has access to necessary resources is to support charities and organizations. If you're financially able to, consider donating to help these Canadian-based groups fund their incredible efforts.
Making an impact doesn't always have to hold a monetary value. A cost-free way to make a difference is by signing petations with an aim for equality, justice and holding those in positions of power accountable.
Gaining new perspectives is always important - and diversifying your bookshelf is a great place to start. These titles share powerful and painful experiences that will help you learn from the struggles and the triumphs of those around you. If you can purchase these books locally from a Black-owned book store, supporting those businesses is another good way to amplify Black voices.
If you already have access to a popular streaming service, consider adding one of these series or films to your watch list. From documentaries to comedy shows, there are a variety of genres that amplify eye-opening stories of the Black community.