5 ways to continue supporting Black Lives Matter in Birmingham

Your Instagram may be back to food and fashion, but the message remains the same. Black Lives Matter is a movement, not a moment. Your voice still matters and will always matter. Here are five ways to keep supporting BLM in Birmingham.

1. Continue to educate yourself

Let’s start with possibly the easiest way to support the Black Lives Matter movement. At the core of it all is education. Being aware of the many forms of systematic oppression present today allows us to identify biases we still may hold.

Whether you like to get involved with local groups, read, watch TV, or listen to podcasts there are so many different ways to continuously educate yourself. Here are a few places to start:

Join Black Lives Matter Birmingham Chapter

I recently discovered Birmingham’s BLM Chapter on Facebook and I’m sure glad I did! It’s an online community used to build connections to fight racism, spark necessary dialogue and encourage solidarity. Learn more about the local chapter, here.

Books to add to your reading list

Films to add your binge-watch list

Check out these local podcast

Last month, we found some local podcasts worth a listen. Two that stood out to me include “2 Americas” and “Following Harriet.”

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“2 Americas” follows two local musicians Corey Nolen and Jesse Suttle as they have conversations about topics people tend to steer away from by using humor and transparency.

“Following Harriet” is produced by Tanya Ott and serves as a companion podcast to the 2019 film, “Harriet.” The podcast goes way beyond what you learned in history class.

2. Make it a habit to support black-owned businesses + restaurants

Here at Bham Now, we’re all for supporting local businesses. A direct, sustainable way to support BLM on a local level is by shopping at some of Birmingham’s many black-owned shops and restaurants. Minority communities have been affected disproportionally by the pandemic so your support means a lot more than you’d think.

Don’t know what biz to support first? Start by visiting BE BHM and taking a look at some of our articles:

• 17 Black-owned Birmingham retail shops + creative services
• 17 Black-owned restaurants to eat at in Birmingham
• 15 Black-owned bakeries + dessert shops
• 9 local Black-owned startups you need to know about

3. Purchase a local $5 smart bracelet to share Black Lives Matter resources

Local tech startup, Linq, has designed a smart bracelet that directs users to a list of resources that help you take action, educate yourself and donate to organizations around the globe.

All you have to do is tap the bracelet with your smartphone and you’ll be directed to a curated list of resources that help promote systematic change. It’s only $5 and proceeds from the bracelet go towards an organization of your choosing.

For more information and the scoop on where to get them locally, click here. If you’re ready to send it and order your bracelet now, click here.

4. Continue to peacefully protest

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It has been two months since the death of George Floyd and yes, people are still protesting. Your social media feeds may have gone back to “normal” and you probably haven’t seen much coverage on local, peaceful protests. Don’t let this fool you though. The movement is still advocating for equality.

One source that I follow for constant updates on upcoming protests in Birmingham is BhamStands. They use multiple social media platforms to promote unheard voices, artists and groups that stand for change. Thanks to their Instagram, I’ve been able to plan and attend multiple peaceful protests around Birmingham, Homewood and Mountain Brook.

5. Donate to an organization + sign petitions

You can still support the BLM movement from the comfort of your home. If you aren’t comfortable protesting or visiting stores, your couch is just as effective. Your contributions can help fund programs and organizations that you believe in. Which local organizations would you donate to?

If you need some inspo of local groups to get involved with, we’ve got you covered. Check out this article highlighting seven social justice organizations to support in Birmingham now.

How do you plan to continue your support? Let us know on social @BhamNow + @now_bham on Twitter.