In response to our church community’s desire to do justice, we are concentrating our efforts into an anti-racist action campaign culminating in a Juneteenth observation.
Juneteenth (June 19, 1865): The oldest known African-American celebration. On June 19, 1865, slaves in Galveston, Texas, received word of their emancipation two months after the Civil War had ended, and two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had gone into effect on January 1, 1863.
Each day, we will have a different activity to focus on together (though, of course, this is lifelong work and you can—and should!—revisit past days). Visit this page each day or follow us on Facebook to participate!
Friday, June 19 Juneteenth
Today is Friday, June 19—Juneteenth! Our three weeks of anti-racism daily action steps culminate today on one of our country's most significant holidays. While historically as a country we have celebrated July 4 as Independence Day, let us remember the paradox of July 4—for if we remember correctly the United States continued to celebrate its independence and freedom for 89 years before the abolition of slavery. Today we are charged with educating ourselves on Juneteenth.
Read here to learn more about Juneteenth. You are also encouraged to read "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July," a speech in 1852 by abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
Thursday, June 18 Listen to and Read Queer Black Voices
For Thursday we are highlighting a handful of Black queer voices.
Wednesday, June 17 Marsha P. Johnson and the Stonewall Uprising
It's Wednesday, and we're taking today to learn about one of the most important Black voices in the LGBTQIA+ liberation movement. Marsha P. Johnson's identity as a Black American and a trans woman place her at the intersection of two of the most persecuted groups in this country to this day. Today we want to lift up her life and legacy. There is no Pride month without Marsha P. Johnson and her prominence in the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 and her continued activism until the end of her life.
"You never completely have your rights, one person, until you all have your rights."
–Marsha P. Johnson
New York Times "Overlooked" Obituary on Marsha P. Johnson
Documentary: "Pay It No Mind"
Film: "Happy Birthday, Marsha!"
Tuesday, June 16 Intersectionality
This Tuesday in our anti-racism work, we are exploring intersectionality, a concept coined in 1989 by Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American lawyer, civil rights advocate, philosopher, and a leading scholar of critical race theory. Intersectionality is not simply about the intersection of identities, but rather the intersection of oppression.
For today's action steps we are encouraging you to listen to two videos and explore one website. The first video is a short one explaining the concept of intersectionality, while the second is a TEDtalk by Crenshaw explaining the urgency of work with intersectionality specifically relating to police brutality against Black women. And the last link takes you to the African American Policy Forum where you can explore many of the campaigns and initiatives pertaining to intersectionality.
Video: Kimberlé Crenshaw: What is Intersectionality?
Video: The urgency of intersectionality | Kimberlé Crenshaw
The African American Policy Forum
Monday, June 15 Day of Rest
Again we are designating Monday as our day of rest in our anti-racism work.
Overworking and the need for perfection are manifestations of white supremacy in our culture. As Austin Channing Brown stated, "Self-care is rebellion." May we be quite rebellious today.
Sunday, June 14 Sunday Worship: Siblings, Strangers, and Neighbors
We hope you will join us for worship this morning as we explore the nature of siblings, strangers, and neighbors. After worship, think about the people in your life. Who are your siblings, by birth or by choice, the people who accompany you through life?
Who are your neighbors? Are there people who live near you, yet apart from you? Do you know their names, their stories, or their struggles?
Who are strangers? Who are the people and communities who are absent from their lives? Do you notice their absence?
Saturday, June 13 Let’s Talk About It: Conversations with Family and Friends
Saturday is here! We are encouraging you to do one of the harder tasks of talking about your anti-racism work with friends and family. While this can be difficult work, below you will find a few resources that might be helpful. Let us know how it goes and if you have any additional resources you've found helpful!
Friday, June 12 #FollowFriday: Social Media Accounts to Follow
In the age of social media, like diversifying our bookcases, it is important to diversify the content we're scrolling through daily. Look below to see a few links that will help you with this. And as a next step, think about what kinds of accounts you already love to follow on social media—now seek out Black voices within those spaces (e.g.: sports, parenting, comedy, science, tech, home design, art, etc.).
14 Anti-Racism Educators & Activists To Follow And Support Online
25 Anti-Racist Instagram Accounts to Follow for Listening, Learning and Action-Taking
Thursday, June 11 Listen Up: Podcast Suggestions
For Thursday, we're recommending some podcasts to help in our anti-racism work. Listen to one today and let us know what you think!
In Recovery: "Racism is an Addiction" (episode)
Wednesday, June 10 Register to Vote
It's Wednesday! Today we are focusing on registering to vote. We know the importance of using our voice in elections, so let's make sure we are prepared. In Colorado, our next opportunity to use our voting voice is in the state primary on June 30. So check your voter registration status, register if you need to, and share on your page to help others get registered!
Tuesday, June 9 Donate to Anti-Racist Organizations and Causes
Tuesday is our day of donating to anti-racist organizations and causes. Here is a starting list of places we'd recommend. (There are others out there that have stated they are no longer taking donations at this time due to overwhelming support, so please be mindful of this as we do our searching.)
We invite you to donate. We also invite you to share organizations you already support that are doing anti-racist work.
Colorado Freedom Fund (one of our ongoing One Thing Partners!)
General Commission on Religion and Race (The body in the United Methodist Church charged with anti-racism work inside and outside the church)
Belong Church's Justice Fund (Donate to our fund to help continue our anti-racist efforts. Make sure to click the drop down to select Justice Ministries.)
Monday, June 8 Day of Rest
Today is Monday and it is our day of rest.
Now that may seem quite odd, given the important and urgent work ahead of us in ourselves and our country. However, here at Belong, we recognize this work to be lifelong. And in order to engage in this work for the long haul, we must care for ourselves and create rhythms of rest. So even if we are feeling the resistance in ourselves to rest, we encourage you to embrace rest today.
How are you resting today to enable yourself to be present to the work of anti-racism this remainder of the week?
Sunday, June 7 Sunday Worship: Liberation and the Struggle for Black Lives
Saturday, June 6 Support Local Black Restaurants
We recommend checking which restaurants are doing take-out. Let us know what other’s you’ve found, and where you’re planning on getting take-out or gift cards from today!
275+ Black Owned Businesses to Support in and Around Denver from 303 Magazine
A List of the Black Owners and Chefs Leading the Front Range Culinary Scene from 5280
Community Recommendations
Friday, June 5 Read Black
Friday is focusing on reading content from black writers! Below you will find some of our favorites. We'd love for you to share with us some of yours, as well as share what you're choosing to read today and your thoughts on the readings.
For Moral Clarity
Because It’s Art
James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time (Amazon)
Theology
Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Disinherited (Amazon)
Pamela R. Lightsey, Our Lives Matter: A Womanist Queer Theology (Amazon)
James H. Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Tree (Amazon)
Literature
Poetry
With Your Kids
Kwame Alexander (author) and Kadir Nelson (illustrator), The Undefeated (Amazon)
Grace Byers (author) and Keturah A. Bobo (illustrator), I Am Enough (Amazon)
Thursday, June 4 What’s next for Belong Church? Zoom call @ 7 p.m.
Tonight Belong will be holding a Zoom meeting to discuss the future anti-racism work our church has before us. While Belong leadership will share some of the plans we have in place to support this work, in the end the church is each and every one of us, so much of our conversation will be focused on the anti-racism practices each of us, as disciples, can and should commit to.
If you call Belong your church home, join in tonight! If you are looking for a community to do this work alongside and haven't found one yet, join in! If you do have a church home and your church isn't doing this work, we encourage you to be a part of changing that. Ask your leadership why this hasn't happened yet; if you're part of the leadership, ask yourself why this hasn't been a priority; AND no matter what the answers are to that...change the story, start the work, it is what we are called to!
Zoom (Meeting ID: 868 0186 3042)
Wednesday, June 3 Shop Local Black Businesses
Let's add shopping in Black-owned businesses today. Below we will share some resources for local black owned businesses in Denver, as well as some other online locations. If you have more ideas, please share a link!
Official Black Wall Street Directory (you can filter by state/city)
11 Black-Owned Vegan Businesses to Support That Ship Nationwide
Tuesday, June 2 Anti-Racism Letters and Calls
Today is focused on making calls and writing letters/emails to demand action in dismantling the systematic racism in our country.
Minneapolis Solidarity Phone Zap: Call the following numbers to demand criminal charges for all police responsible for the murder of George Floyd. (Update: Chauvin And 3 Former Officers Face New Charges Over George Floyd's Death)
Governor Tim Walz: 651-201-3400
Mike Freeman, Hennepin County Attorney: 612-348-5550