Instagram has shared a list of Black creators, Black-owned businesses, organisations and hashtags to follow.
“We hear you, we see you and we are with you,” Instagram said in a statement. “We stand against racism. We stand with our Black community.”
The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, shared more information over Twitter:
“These past few weeks have been depressing and infuriating. We all deserve to live with dignity and without fear of violence. The stories of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, and far too many more, are a reminder of how far we need to go and that we all have the responsibility to create change.”
Instagram plans to share weekly spotlights in the #ShareBlackStories hashtag, in order to continue to amplify Black stories. The first week’s spotlight highlighted the following:
Rachel Cargle
An academic writer and lecturer, Rachel Cargle‘s academic work and activism work to provide the intellectual tools and resources that explore the intersection of womanhood and race. Her many lecture series include “unpacking white feminism” and anti-racism workshops.
Through her Instagram, as well as other forms of social media, she aims to guide conversations, encourage critical thinking and nurture meaningful engagement with people across the world.
Texas Isaiah
Texas Isaiah from Brooklyn is a visual narrator. His work aims to shift the power dynamics rooted in photography to display different ways of accessing support in ones own body. His BLACKNESS project documented and celebrated the diversity of the African diaspora across spectrums of gender, sexuality and ethnic heritage.
More recently, his Every Image is an Offering project celebrates Black trans and gender expansive folks in partnership with the Marsha P Johnson Institute and VSCO.
Ashton Attzs
Ashton is a queer non-binary London-based artist, poet and designer, whose paintings and illustrations are created to empower the everyday person. Their work explores queer and POC identity, as well as capturing aspects of quotidian life. Their series Queering the Quotidian included the Evening Standard Art Prize winning piece, Don’t stay in ya lane. This piece looked at transmasculine people, a celebration of people who often wouldn’t go swimming due to dysphoria.
They are also the bassist for Brown Belt, the non-binary boi band of your dreams.
Chef Paola Velez
Paola Velez is an award-winning pastry chef at Kith and Kind in Washington, D.C. She was recently named as a finalist for the James Beard Rising Star Award and finalist for best pastry chef at the Rammy Awards for the second year running.
During lockdown, she is co-running the doughnut pop up, Doña Dona doughnuts, from Latin bar, Serenata, with a portion of the profits going to Ayuda D.C., supporting undocumented and immigrant families.
Antonio Moore
Antonio Moore runs the YouTube channel, ToneTalks. He is an attorney who updates on issues, including, but not limited to, mass incarceration, wealth inequality and the 2020 election. As well as this, his articles for the Huffington Post highlight racism within the US, and he worked as a producer on the Emmy-nominated Crack in the System, analysing mass incarceration and crack cocaine addiction across America.
Shirien
Chicago-based Shirien has had her Justice For George Floyd piece shared far and wide since his death. Her Justice For pieces show individuals killed by police. In recent days, she has created a piece for Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.
Her fusion of design and illustration aims to represent her passion for social justice and healing, as well as encouraging people to imagine and create new possibilities.
Roberto Lugo
A potter and activist, Roberto Lugo uses ceramics, primarily using the aristocratic surface to present images of poverty, social and racial injustice, and inequality. He combines classic decorative patterns and motifs with modern urban graffiti and portraits of those who are often historically absent on such pieces.
Hanahana Beauty
A skin care brand that works to fight the lack of transparency and sustainability within the beauty industry, Hanahana Beauty has a vision to uplift the voices of women of colour, as well as developing sustainable direct sourcing of all ingredients. They work with the Katariga women’s shea cooperative in Ghana to source shea butter, which is then combined with natural oils.
The Under Belly
The Under Belly is run by Jessamyn Stanley, who is dedicated to teaching yoga to all people regardless of body shape, ability, and level of yoga expertise. She also runs online classes and travels around the world teaching yoga. Her book, Every Body Yoga, challenges the wide issues of body acceptance and beauty, as well as helps both beginners and experienced people refresh their yoga practices.
HarperIman Dolls
HarperIman Dolls produces handmade, linen keepsake dolls. The dolls are custom made and you can request specific hair types and skin complexions, as well as the clothes, of course. The company began when its founders, Cynthia Watkins and Kathryn Burnett, found that dolls of colour were hugely underrepresented.
Inclusive Randomness
Inclusive Randomness sells buttons, patches and laptop stickers that promote inclusivity. Their varied pins cover anti-racist slogans, through to aspects of Black pride. The company is run by a Black woman based in Houston, Texas.
Black Lives Matter
If you’ve heard of the Black Lives Matter movement, you should know about this organisation, They campaign against violence and systemic racism against Black people. Founded in 2013 in response to Trayvon Martin’s murderer being acquitted, this global organisation aims to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene when violence is inflicted upon Black communities.
You can find out more about how you can help on their website.
Color Of Change
Color of Change lead campaigns to build real power for Black communities by challenging injustice, holding corporate and political leaders accountable, and commissioning game changing research on systems of inequality. With over 1.7 million members, they aim to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America.
Campaign Zero
Campaign Zero were created to end police violence in America. They aim to do this by limiting police interventions, improving community interactions and ensuring accountability.
Find out more about their proposed solutions to police violence that disproportionately affects Black people in America on their website.
NAACP
The NAACP is the US’ first and largest grassroots-based civil rights organisation, founded in 1909. Over 100 years later, they have over 2,000 volunteer and run branches across the country. They are currently calling for criminal justice reform, student loan relief, expanded Medicaid funding during the COVID-19 pandemic and federal funding to improve election administration.
ACLU
A non-profit legal and advocacy group, the ACLU are currently suing Minneapolis police for attacking journalists covering protests. They aim to realise the promise of the US constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.
Along with its Spotlights, Instagram recommends following the following hashtags:
Those wishing to more about learn how to donate or become active in the Black Lives Matter movement can do so via this resource.
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