Black Lives Matter

BreakOut West is incredibly proud of Black artists and industry in our community and we stand with them during this pivotal time in history, both in America and here at home in Canada. As such, our team has been reflecting on the current status quo and our personal biases, privilege, and levels of in-action. 

Embracing the Black Lives Matter and #AmplifyMelanatedVoices movements and observing #TheShowMustBePaused yesterday, we have been diving deeper into the resources available to educate and inform ourselves. Below are a list of articles, podcasts, books, and documentaries that the BreakOut West team have been working through. We hope they bring value to you as well. 

The injustice of violence against Black people is the catalyst, but we recognize that we should not need a reminder. Anti-oppression work is urgent and must be at the forefront every day as a lens through which we review our programs, policies, and practices.

These voices need to be continued to listened to, and responded to.

Team BreakOut West recommendations...

Videos:
13th - "it’s a shocking eye-opener and I’ve had a lot of intensive emotions while and after watching this."

Trevor Noah On George Floyd, Amy Cooper & Racism In Society - "I keep circling back in my mind to the thoughts and simple perspective Trevor puts forward."

I Am Not Your Negro: James Baldwin and Race in America

If Beale Street Could Talk

Hale County This Morning, This Evening

Do the Right Thing

Selma

Dear White People

Sorry to Bother You

Podcasts/Interviews:
Code Switch, Speaking of Racism, Hoodrat To Headwrap - "all excellent podcasts I've added to my subscribed to list."

The province of Jamaica episode of The Secret Life of Canada podcast - "great podcast overall but this episode focuses on black history in Canada and is SUPER interesting."

Small Talk at 125th and Lennox by Gil Scott Heron

Winnipeg Jets Blake Wheeler Interview - "I listened to this full interview as his home is Minneapolis, talking about living there and taking more of an active role going forward in regards to race in hockey."

Books:
Between the World and Me: Notes on the First 150 Years in America by Ta-Nehasi Coates, Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon, Cane by Jean Toomer - "all of these were really important works for my learning about race."


Websites:
www.AfroBiz.ca - "amazing resource for finding black-owned businesses in Canada."

Anti-racism Resource List - "an excellent collection of resources to continue to guide learning and conversations."

Places to donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-fund-for-blackled-mental-health-supports?fbclid=IwAR3sY9C9SdMyvTkTFJLUUzs3Ln4fVwRbYbLNRtp2HyGKRLhkEaah0NGx6yI
https://www.dben.org/support-us
https://blacklivesmatter.ca/donate/
http://band-rand.com/site/

Entertainment:
Little Fires Everywhere - "I know this is fictional but it is an amazing depiction of racism, white-supremacy, white-saviours, etc."

What resources have been diving into? We would love to hear. Send us a DM on Instagram or leave a comment on our Black Lives Matter post on any of our social media platforms.