At Superfoods Company, we pride ourselves on being a loving, supportive, and inclusive community for our team members and customers. Now more than ever, it is essential that we strive to become a more informed, inclusive, community of allies for racial justice. This article shares a bit about what we have learned, and how we continue to grow in our learning. Black Lives Matter.
We Are a Work In Progress.
We acknowledge that every person and every company has so much to learn, and needs to own the responsibility to do better. Now more than ever, it is essential that we strive to become a more informed, inclusive, community of allies for racial justice.
We have spent time this past week listening, learning, and developing initiatives within our company for our team to do better and be better. We strive to become more informed of the systemic issues in our nation. In addition, we want to use our platform as a space to share what we have learned with the members of our Superfoods Company family — all of you!
If you read no further, read this: Black Lives Matter.
What It Means to Say Black Lives Matter
If reading that sentence makes you feel uncomfortable, excluded, or unseen, we highly encourage you to read this article written by Good Housekeeping about the phrase “Black Lives Matter” and what it truly means.
During this time of need, we do not want to distract nor recede by saying All Lives Matter. When we say Black Lives Matter, we are not saying all lives don’t matter, nor are we saying Black lives matter more than. Instead, this phrase acknowledges years of racial injustices that members of our community of Americans have endured.
As a company, we believe that knowledge is power. With knowledge comes growth — and sometimes growing requires us to feel uncomfortable. We understand talking about race may be a touchy subject. Sometimes, we may not know how best to approach it. In order to keep our promise to keep our community informed and knowledgeable, we have compiled a list of resources that we have found to be helpful and informative when it comes to racial relations. This list includes podcasts, books, movies, and more. We encourage you to explore whichever medium you find will be helpful for your growth.
It’s time to step up and care for our neighbors — and that starts with educating ourselves.
1) GET EDUCATED
Here are some resources we have discovered to further educate ourselves. We hope these inspire you to make change during a time in which our country truly needs us to take action.
PODCASTS: For those who are all ears.
- Code Switch, by NPR
- Pod Save the People, by Crooked Media
- 1619, by The New York Times
- Witness Black History, by BBC World
- About Race, by Reni Eddo Lodge
MOVIES & TV SHOWS: For those who seek the power of cinema.
- 13th, by Ava DuVernay
- If Beale Street Could Talk, by Barry Jenkins
- The Hate U Give, by Goerge Tillman Jr.
- Selma, by Ava DuVernay
- Just Mercy, by Destin Daniel Cretton
- Dear White People, by Justin Simien
- Fruitvale Station, by Forest Whitaker
- When They See Us, Ava DuVernay
BOOKS: For those who find strength in words.
- Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?, by Beverly Daniel Tatum
- Evicted, by Matthew Desmond
- Locking Up Our Own, by James Forman Jr.
- How to Be an AntiRacist, by Ibram X. Kendi
- Just Mercy, by Bryan Stevenson
- So You Want to Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Oluo
- The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
- How to Be Less Stupid About Race, by Crystal Fleming
- The Racial Contract, by Charles Milles
- The Color of Law, by Richard Rothstein
- Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You, by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
CONTENT CREATORS: For those using the power of scrolling for good.
- @Rachel.Cargle – Activist & Author
- @Dometi_ – News, Hip-Hop-, and Culture Journalist
- @LibbyChristensen – Athlete & Fitness Model
- @Ivirlei – Activist, Business Owner, Actress, Storyteller
- @TamikaDMallory – Activist, Speaker, & Social Justice Leader
- @MsPackYetti – Activist, Author, & Speaker
- @BlairImani – Podcast Host, Author, & Speaker
- @MoeMotivate – Activist, Podcast Host, & Speaker
- @ChrissyFord – Activist, Brand Consultant, & Mental Health Advocate
- @ColorMeCourtney – Designer, and Fashion Blogger
- @StyledByKemi – Fashion Creative, Stylist, & Shopping Guru
- @EatFamous – Food Blogger & Podcast Host
- @ElaishaJade – Business Owner, Meditation Coach, and Mental Health Advocate
- @Afiya.Francisco – Style Advisor, Life, & Wellness Blogger
- @MyVoguishDiaries – Fashion, Beauty, Motherhood, & Lifestyle Blogger
- @SashaExeter – Fitness, Wellness, & Motherhood Blogger
- @MyCurvesNdCurls – Style, Home, Motherhood, & Travel Blogger
- @SamSwey – Activist and Data Scientist
- @JordansDiamonds – Activist & Author
2) TAKE ACTION
DONATE
If you are financially able, one of the best ways to take action is to donate to organizations who are currently fighting for racial justice. These donations are used to fuel non-profits, provide legal support to those wrongfully incarcerated, and purchase supplies for those most in need.
Organizations: For those who choose to generously donate.
- NAACP
- Black Lives Matter
- Color of Change
- Black Movement Law Project
- Black Voters Matter Fund
- Showing Up for Racial Justice
- National Council of Incarcerated Women and Girls
- Highlander Center
SUPPORT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES
By supporting Black-owned businesses, you are supporting the livelihoods of Black business owners & their families! If you like to shop, we recommend checking out these awesome brands.
Black-Owned Brands: For those who love to shop.
Black-Owned Restaraunts in Austin, TX: In support of our neighbors who love to make a good meal.
ENGAGE IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY
In addition to offering donations, organizations in your community might be seeking volunteer support! We encourage you to check out the websites of local organizations and see how you can volunteer your time.
Local Organizations in Austin, TX: Here’s where we’ll be lending some helping hands in the coming weeks.
- Austin Justice Coalition
- NAACP Austin
- African American Youth Harvest Foundation
- Creative Action
- The AFIYA Center
- Black Mamas ATX
- Texas Civil Rights Project
- MEASURE Austin
- The Inside Books Project
Not in Austin?
- Search for your local NAACP branch using this link. Reach out and see how you can help.
- Research local organizations that support the Black community in your area.
- Support local Black-owned businesses! You can search for this easily online by searching “Black owned businesses in (city, state)”.
We are a wellness brand, and we cannot truly stand for health and wellness without taking a stand for racial justice and equity.
We encourage you to speak out, have difficult conversations, and push yourself to learn more every day. Black Lives Matter.
If you have any suggested resources to add to this list, leave us a comment below!
In loving memory of David Joseph, aka Pronto. Classmate, Brother, and Friend. May one day we see justice. – B. Ortiz