Black Lives Matter countdown to Juneteenth Day 1 - Performative Allyship

This week we're counting down to Juneteenth (Friday June 19th - African American Emancipation Day) by taking daily actions to fight racism. Here at the Lab we've been thinking a lot about the best ways we can be a part of the Black Lives Matter movement. While the Lab has always been a place to escape worldly cares, that doesn't mean we're exempt from taking action. In non-covid times, we would be out protesting (peacefully), marching and attending rallies but both of us have medical issues that make social distancing a requirement. We have also come to realize that it's time for white folks to stop yammering about themselves being good liberals and actually listen.

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It's time to give the voices of black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), especially women, the spotlight. We have to do more than march; we have to educate ourselves and take real action. We're starting by reading and sharing this great article by Holiday Phillips. She has steps we all can take to be allies. Real ones. Join us!
Performative Allyship Is Deadly (Here’s What to Do Instead)
Activism can’t begin and end with a hashtag
https://forge.medium.com/performative-allyship-is-deadly-c900645d9f1f

About this image: In 1839 a Mende prisoner named Sengbe Pieh (aka Joseph Cinque) led a slave revolt aboard the Amistad and became a beacon of hope for the abolition movement. Those principles - liberty and justice for all - are what is real. That is what we need to bring back into focus. That is the true meaning of Juneteenth (Creative Commons image collage by Ame Stanko).