Getting Started

The options can be overwhelming. It can feel like you're not doing enough, but we all have to start somewhere. 1. I started by making a blank pyramid diagram. 2. In the base layer, I listed a couple actions I knew I could automate into my routine. 3. In the middle layer, I listed a couple actions that I could schedule regularly. 4. In the top layer, I listed 1-2 actions that would take time and energy, but that important for me to do at least once.

Pyramid Diagram:

Examples:

	Automate	Schedule	Big Push
Activism	Set up regular donations to specific causes Examples here.	Set a weekly event to contact senators, local government. Add phone numbers/emails and a template to the calendar event.	Participate: protests, donate to protests, host discussion groups at work and with friends. Examples: coming soon.
Support	Audit your purchase history (see below) find Black-owned alternatives. Examples: local Black-owned, or globally-accessible Black-owned.	Do you have a weekly takeout/date night? Add links to Black-owned restuarants in the invite ahead of time.	Get directly involved in fundraisers. Or do a bake sale for your favorite organization. Make masks for protesters. Dedicate your time and skills for a day or a week (or longer, but starting with a timebox helps).
Education	Follow Black people and causes on social media - listen to voices you may normally not be exposed to (*Emphasis on listening - do not ask them to do the work of educating you*).	Create a weekly/monthly time to read/watch educational material: learn more about Black history and white supremacy.	Attend an allyship training, and get your friends to join. Take notes, send them to friends/relatives.

Purchasing Audit

Automate daily habits for supporting Black-owned businesses via a purchasing audit. The following exercise took me 45 minutes.

1. Review last 3 months of bank account statements. 2. List each company you spent $ at. 3. For each company, search for a Black-owned version of that business. Bonus: for the remaining businesses, check on social media for whether they have made a public statement on #BLM. - If it was negative/unsupportive: cross them off the list, discontinue reoccuring payments, etc. - If there's nothing or it's positive and just seems performative - put them on a neutral list. Use them only if there's no better alternative. Maybe reach out to them and ask for accountability. - If it's positive and they're backing it up with actions, donations, etc- keep 'em.

Flowchart Version: