5 Things Friday
Kids rise up, #MMIWG2S, and White Supremacy at the office. Here are your antiracism action steps for May 7.
11-year-old Ja’Mari Oliver was stopped at the Safeway in the Castro when a security guard accused him of stealing a sandwich. Photo by Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
These days, it feels like for every win, we get a leg sweep. Just as our COVID rates are dropping and shots are plentiful, we see our brothers and sisters in India suffering an almost reverse fate. So here's hoping you are doing your part, getting the shots we are so damn lucky to have access to (yes, that means both of them!), and chipping in to help countries without the same resources.
Over here, we're officially double vaxxed and feeling good. And we'll feel even better once you do your 5 Things.
KNOW THIS. Last week, 11-year-old Ja’Mari Oliver walked into the Safeway in San Francisco's Castro neighborhood to buy a sandwich for his lunch, which he would eat at school for the first time in more than 14 months. He was excited about seeing friends that day and feeling proud that his mom let him go into Safeway by himself. But after the fifth-grader paid for his meal at the deli counter and headed out to meet his mother, two security guards and a store employee stopped him, accusing him of stealing the items. While he was eventually let go after insisting he did nothing wrong and showing his receipt, he left the store in tears. When staff at his elementary school heard about the incident, they decided to fight back--nearly 200 children, teachers, parents and administrators from Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy took to the streets Wednesday, marching to the nearby Safeway grocery store on Market Street to protest an injustice against their classmate. A strong and inspiring reminder that injustice is happening all around us, daily, and we always have the choice to either stay silent, or do something about it.
DONATE TO THIS. This week Stop AAPI Hate released a new report showing that there have been 6,603 hate incidents reported to the center since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the numbers spiking dramatically in recent months—anyone following the news won't be surprised by these numbers. You can help by donating to local efforts through the Movement Hub, a platform that brings together 40 Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations across the U.S. that advance racial equity and intersectional justice. These organizations are part of the Shared Liberation Network, an anti-racism response network. While you're at it, brush up on your facts about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
READ THIS. “There aren’t any rockstars in public policy,” says Gwyneth Borden. “Most people don’t have any insight into the work that people like me do.” But if there were a rockstar, it would be her. Her handprint has helped reshape some of San Francisco’s most important industries: the transportation industry, the restaurant industry and now she’s helping shape cleantech via the diamond world, as the director of public policy for the Leonardo DiCaprio-backed Diamond Foundry. Read the full story on this inspiring Bay Area leader right here.
WATCH THIS. This past Wednesday, May 5th, was the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2Spirit people. Listen to Rosalie Fish, an 18-year-old member of the Cowlitz Tribe and a competitive runner from the Muckleshoot Reservation in Auburn, Washington, break down this horrendous epidemic and find out how you can help. For more resources and deeper reading, check out the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women.
SIGN UP FOR THIS. This month marks the one year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. Dr. Akilah Cadet asks you to think about the following: "What has your employer done to be anti-racist? Have you been provided tools to hold people accountable in the workplace? Are they in a place of being performative? If you are looking to do more at work (hint where we all spend the most time) this is the workshop for you. Is important to know how white supremacy shows up in the workplace through white dominant culture." Join Dr. Cadet Wednesday May 12th 5pm PT to learn how to be a better accomplice in the workplace. Sign up right here. Open to all. Be uncomfortable. Do the work.