Step 1 in Being Anti-Racist: Educate Yourself

Actively acquiring knowledge and checking your own biases is a crucial starting point for helping to end systemic racial and social injustice. Get to work. 

amplify melanated voices

We can only strive to be ‘antiracist’ on a daily basis, to continually rededicate ourselves to the lifelong task of overcoming our country’s racist heritage.

Being anti-racist isn't simply a label we get to claim; it's not a box to check off. To borrow a quote from Ibram X. Kendi, professor and author of How to Be an Antiracist in The New York Times, “We can only strive to be ‘antiracist’ on a daily basis, to continually rededicate ourselves to the lifelong task of overcoming our country’s racist heritage.”

This list of resources below is by no means exhaustive — it is a start. It includes organizations and people doing important racial equity and social justice work; black voices in wellness; books to read; films to watch; podcasts to listen to. Start here. 

People to Learn From:

  • Rachel Cargle, author, activist and creator of The Great Unlearn: @rachel.cargle
  • Layla F. Saad, author of Me and White Supremacy, podcast host and teacher: @laylafsaad
  • Andréa Ranae, coach, activist and podcast host: @andrearanaej 
  • Shaun King, journalist, social justice advocate and educator: @shaunking
  • Danielle Coke, illustrator and activist: @ohhappydani
  • Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, history professor and author: @dribram (Twitter)
  • Ericka Hines and Desiree Adaway, consultants, curriculum designers and founders of Equity at Work: @divahines, @desireeadaway
  • Roxane Gay, writer and speaker: @rgay (Twitter)
  • bell hooks, author, feminist, teacher and scholar: @bellhooks (Twitter)
  • Ava DuVernay, filmmaker and founder of Array: @ava (Instagram), @ava (Twitter)
  • Maryam Ajayi, founder of @diveinwell, an organization cultivating space, conversations and change: @maryamajayi 
  • Sinikiwe Stephanie, founder of @naaya.wellness, which aims to root BIPOC in their well-being: @sinikiwe.stephanie 

Black Voices in Wellness to Follow:

Yoga, Spirituality & Lifestyle

Food & Nutrition

Mental Health

  • Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, licensed psychologist, speaker and creator of @therapyforblackgirls: @hellodrjoy
  • Dr. Jessica Clemons, MD, board-certified psychiatrist in New York City: @askdrjess
  • Alishia McCullough, licensed mental health therapist and social justice warrior: @blackandembodied
  • Ashley McGirt, MSW, LCSW, trauma therapist, speaker and author: @therapywithash

  • Black Mental Wellness, mental health community: @blackmentalwellness

  • Black Men Heal, therapy for men of color: @blackmenheal

  • Create The Space, soul coaching for men of color: @create_the_space

  • James Harris, therapist and founder of Men To Heal: @men_to_heal

  • Jay Barnett, LMFT, marriage and family therapist: @kingjaybarnett

  • Amina Shaw Moss, LCAT-LP, MPS, of Third Hand Healing, visual arts psychotherapy: @thirdhandhealing

  • Black and Well, a community, including a shop and magazine, embracing what it means to be "black and well": @blackandwell

  • Jimanekia, trauma specialist & sex educator: @jimanekia

  • Nala Simone Toussaint, activist and healer who works with women across the spectrum of identities, social and economic realities to support their health and well-being: @nalasimonet

Fitness 

Women's Health & More

  • Jessica Shepherd, MD, MBA, board-certified OB/GYN empowering women in health: @jessicashepherdmd
  • Latham Thomas, “self-care sorceress,” doula and founder @mamaglow, a maternity brand: @glowmaven
  • All Bodies Health, live and on-demand health workshops: @allbodieshealth
  • Black Mamas Matter Alliance, a resource to help black women thrive before, during and after pregnancy: @blackmamasmatter

  • Brandi Sellerz, doula and co-founder of Moms In Color: @bstereo

  • Charmaine Fuller, holistic health coach: @heycharmhealthcoach

  • Dr. Rachel M Knox, MD, MBA, endocannabinologist, consultant, educator: @racheldocknox  @theknoxdocs

  • Carla Moss, health coach for women going through perimenopause and menopause: @beingwellaware

  • Tracie Braylock, MSN, BSN, RN, holistic nurse and writer: @traciebraylock 

  • April Christina, women’s health and endometriosis expert: @imaprilchristina

  • Erica Chidi, CEO and co-founder of Loom: @ericachidi

  • Ericka Hart, sex educator and writer: @ihartericka
  • Dr. Darien Sutton MD, MBA, emergency physician in NYC and medical contributor for ABC News: @doctor.darien
  • MOBI NYC, curated social connectivity events for queer people of color to see their holistic self: @mobinyc
  • Lisa Hendrickson-Jack, fertility awareness educator and holistic reproductive health practitioner: @fertilityfriday

     

Black-Owned Businesses to Buy From:

Skincare and Beauty

  • Blk + Grn, a marketplace for high-quality, toxic-free brands by black artisans: @blkandgrn
  • Briogeo, hair care with clean ingredients: @briogeo 
  • Glam Body, body scrubs to nourish the skin: @iamglambody 
  • KNC Beauty, scrubs, masks and balms with lips and eyes in mind: @kncbeauty
  • Pretty Well Beauty: curated clean beauty products @prettywellbeauty
  • LIHA: beauty products that blend African roots with a "quintessentially British attitude": @lihabeauty
  • Pattern Beauty, curly and tight-textured hair-care brand from @traceeellisross: @patternbeauty
  • Golde, superfood blends and self-care products: @golde
  • Mischo Beauty, toxic-free, luxury nail lacquer: @mischobeauty
  • Foxie Cosmetics:, vegan, handcrafted bath and beauty products @foxiecosmetics
  • Pholk, vegan and affordable “soul food for your skin”: @pholkbeauty
  • Hunnybunny, all-natural bath and beauty products with a D.C. boutique: @love_hunnybunny
  • The LipBar, easy-to-use makeup products designed to match any complexion: @thelipbar
  • Asili Living Co., hand-crafted, non-toxic, vegan skincare products: @asililivingco
  • Himistry, skincare and shaving care products with natural ingredients for men: @himistry
  • Oyin Handmade, natural, gentle and cruelty-free hair and body products @oyinhandmade
  • Reserved and Polished, non-toxic nail and beauty treatments in NYC: @reservedandpolished

Wellness 

  • Glamourina, culturally inspired activewear brand for women of color: @shopglamourina
  • Mama Glow, supporting moms during pregnancy and after birth: @mamaglow 
  • Loom, classes and services for an empowered approach to sexual health education: @loomhq
  • The Honey Pot Company, plant-based feminine care products: @thehoneypotco
  • Ruby Love: underwear and swimwear with leak-proof protection — and lots of comfy and cute options: @shoprubylove

  • Heal Haus, a wellness community and café in Brooklyn with daily yoga and meditation classes: @Healhaus

Home

  • Bolé Road Textiles, colorful and vibrant fabrics designed in Brooklyn, handwoven in Ethiopia: @boleroadtextiles
  • Pur Home, earth-safe home cleaning products “changing the way you think about clean”: @purhomeclean
  • Love Notes Fragrances, NYC-based hand-poured soy candle company: @lovenotesllc
  • BLK MKT Vintage, a curated collection of black cultural artifacts and collectibles: @blkmktvintage
  • Dorcas Creates, illustrations, cards, accessories and more from UK-based artist and jeweler: @dorcascreates
  • The Wrap Life, premium headwraps and headbands: @thewraplife

Food and Drink

  • Partake Foods, gluten-free, vegan cookies for those with food allergies @partakefoods
  • Plantmade, plant-based, non-GMO protein powders created with people of color in mind: @plantmadeco
  • Brooklyn Tea, an authentic tea room in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, and an online store: @brooklyntea 
  • BLK and Bold, a specialty coffee and tea company that wants to “turn a daily ritual into a means of giving back": @blkandbold
  • A Dozen Cousins, “soulfully seasoned,” ready-to-eat beans inspired by black and Latino recipes: @adozencousins
  • McBride Sisters Collection, California wine company owned by half-sisters Robin and Andréa McBride: @mcbridesisters
  • EatOkra App, discover black-owned restaurants in your area and across the country 

Local NYC Businesses

If you are in New York, check out these resources to find local black-owned businesses — for whatever you're looking for! 

Social Justice Organizations to Support:

Books to Read:

Recommended by THE WELL Practitioners & Staffers:

  • The Inner Work of Racial Justice by Rhonda V. Magee, a mindfulness- and compassion-based approach to confront racial injustice, recommended by Pilin Anice, THE WELL Health Coach
  • Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad, leads readers through a journey of understanding white privilege and supremacy, workbook included
  • White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, by Dr. Peggy McIntosh, a 1989 essay written by American feminist scholar
  • Between the World And Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, in the form of a letter written to his son, Coates offers a powerful framework for understanding our nation's history and current crisis
  • Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold, a user guide for white women to become a great ally
  • Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde, essays and speeches from black lesbian poet and feminist writer
  • All About Love by bell hooks, the renowned feminist scholar shares a new path toward healing for individuals and the nation

More Recommended Reading:

Films, TV Series and Videos to Watch:

  • 13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
  • American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix
  • Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent
  • Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent
  • Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix
  • Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent
  • I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — Available to rent or on Kanopy
  • If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu
  • Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent
  • King In The Wilderness  — HBO
  • See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix
  • Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent
  • The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Available to rent
  • The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Hulu with Cinemax
  • When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
  • Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker — Netflix
  • 12 Years a Slave
  • Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives: Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett, Charlene Carruthers (50:48)
  • "How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion" | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26) 

Podcasts to Subscribe to:

Further Action to Take:


We've based this initial resource on this Google Document put together by activists Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein in May 2020. We have added to it and will continue to do so. 

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