5/29/2020
Anti-Blackness and Black Solidarity in API LGBTQ+ Communities
The continuing vigilante and state violence against the Black community is an ongoing legacy of white supremacy. Anti-Blackness within the API LGBTQ+ community is complicit in enabling this violence. Tou Thao is an Asian American police officer involved in the recent murder of George Floyd. Just like the 2016 murder of Akai Gurley by Officer Peter Liang, Asian Americans are once again directly implicated in perpetuating state violence against Black communities.
We grieve for the many Black lives lost in the past few months. We grieve for Black trans women, like Nina Pop and Monika Diamond. We grieve for Black trans men, like Tony McDade. We grieve for gay Black men, like McKinsley LaKeith Lincoln. We grieve for Black cis women, like Regis Korchinski-Paquet and Breonna Taylor. We grieve for Black cis men, like George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and William Green. We are outraged at the dangerous threats of police violence used against Christian Cooper and countless others that are not caught on video.
In order to dismantle the systems of white supremacy, heteronormativity, and the gender binary that dominate and allow for anti-Blackness to continue, we—as the API LGBTQ+ community—need to do the work of dismantling anti-Blackness and being in active solidarity with Black communities. This work will take place in our communities, in our organizations, in our homes, and in our hearts. And, we must directly support Black leaders and organizations who are doing the work.
Our liberation is deeply tied to Black liberation. The API LGBTQ+ community has benefitted directly from the work of Black trans, queer, and feminist freedom fighters. Black people are part of all API LGBTQ+ communities. We must act to dismantle white supremacy and anti-Blackness and all the systems that allow for violence and murder of Black people to continue.
As members of API LGBTQ+ communities in Los Angeles, we can do the following:
1. For non-Black API LGBTQ+ people, de-center ourselves and center the experiences, feelings, organizing, and care for Black people in our solidarity work
Practices for non-Black people: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAv0yu1AVFB/
2. Educate ourselves about anti-racism and anti-Blackness:
Anti-Racism Resources: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAq7yQOgIYa/
What to do Instead of Calling the Police: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAt22FRDysu/
Stop Using Anti-Black Language: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAv00XXA2bM/
Learn about prison abolition (comic): https://www.instagram.com/p/CAZJRzfAzdG/
Rachel Cargle’s Racial Justice Resource Roundup: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAsvErdHF27/
Liz Kleinrock’s Police Lesson: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17974357960066044/?hl=en
3. Donate to support the families and organizers on the ground: bit.ly/blackfundsandactions
4. Support Black communities and Black-led organizations in LA:
Black Lives Matter - LA: https://www.blmla.org/
LA Black Worker Center: https://www.lablackworkercenter.org/
Dignity and Power Now: http://dignityandpowernow.org/
LA Community Action Network (LA CAN): https://cangress.org/
Black AIDS Institute: https://blackaids.org/
Black Women for Wellness: https://www.bwwla.org/
Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM): https://www.beam.community/
5. Seek out and respond to calls to action and mutual aid efforts from Black organizers: bit.ly/blackfundsandactions
6. Learn how to address harm and take accountability
Transformative Justice
Transformative Justice 101 - Mia Mingus
Transformative Justice Handbook (English, Español, Català) - generationFIVE
Transformative Justice Readings and Media - Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective (BATJC)
Transformative Justice Resources - Transform Harm
Worksheets
Pods and Pod Mapping - Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective (BATJC)
Books
Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from the Transformative Justice Movement
Color of Violence: The INCITE! Anthology
I Hope We Choose Love: A Trans Girl's Notes from the End of the World
The Revolution Starts At Home: Confronting Intimate Violence Within Activist Communities
Accountability
Self-Accountability - Mia Mingus
Non-Violent Communication
Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication Workbook - meenadchi
In solidarity,
API Equality-LA Steering Committee and Staff