Friday Doughnuts with Trey Duvall: Uprooting Racism--What are you reading right now?

Prompt: What are you reading right now?

There are several great lists of material circulating right now as another facet of the Black Lives Matter movement and ongoing protests. One I wanted to share is An Antiracist Reading List by Ibram X. Kendi. The other is a list of books, resources, and suggestions put together by H. Crane that was passed on to me from a fellow artist at RedLine. I have included Crane's lists below. 

Personally, I’m currently reading Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates and slowly working my way through Peter Sloterdijk’s Rage and Time: A Psychopolitical Investigation.

-Trey

From H. Crane:

Books:

Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad

Fatal Invention; How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the 21st Century, by Dorothy Roberts

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, by Ibram X. Kendi

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DiAngelo

Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, by Michelle Alexander

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, by Bryan Stevenson

Citizen: An American Lyric, by Claudia Rankine

So You Want to Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Oluo

Killing Rage: Ending Racism, by bell hooks

Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice, by Paul Kivel

Towards the Other America: Anti-Racist Resources for White People Taking Action for Black Lives Matter, by Chris Crass

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race, by Beverly Daniel Tatum

{This list is intentionally not linked to a specific retailer. Research who you want to support when purchasing any of the above. -Trey}

Understanding Your Role in White Supremacy:

The Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture - This resource comes from SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice). SURJ is a national organization that has chapters in every state. This resource is simple and informative and I suggest it’s the first thing you read. Also, find your local SURJ chapter for other ways to get involved!

The Great Unlearn, by Rachel Cargle - This resource has its home on Patreon, which is a membership platform that allows content creators to be paid for their work. Rachel provides monthly content, for a fee, to help us engage with the history of race, racism, and America. The platform takes a little getting used to, but Rachel provides some really helpful and engaging content. 

Me and White Supremacy, by Layla Saad - This book has its origins in a month-long Instagram challenge in which Layla Saad challenged white participants to confront their privilege and their biases. In workbook form, it encourages reflection and ownership.

#DoTheWork, by Rachel Cargle - Another resource from Rachel Cargle. This is a free 30 day course with daily readings/course work. To access the course, simply add your name and email address in the link provided.

A description from Rachel: "This course is one designed to be an eye opener and a call to action for those who seek to be allies to black women. To #DoTheWork one must be intentional in breaking down the systems that continue to oppress and disenfranchise the black community with black women being the most affected. Going through these daily prompts you will be called to think critically and act tangibly in solidarity. Participating in this will be your first small step in working towards dissolving these systems, institutions and ideologies that continue to negatively affect black women and their communities yet benefit white people in this country.”

Using Your Wallet

Donate to organizations that fight racial injustice, police brutality, medical racism, etc. I’ve listed a few. In addition, think about where your money goes on a daily basis. How many black owned businesses do you frequent? Black Wall Street is a fantastic resource for locating black businesses in your area. Check it out!

Organizations:

Black Visions Collective - A black, trans, and queer-led organization that is committed to dismantling systems of oppression and violence, and shifting the public narrative to create transformative, long-term change. Based out of Minnesota

Reclaim the Block - Coalition that advocates for and invests in community-led safety initiatives in Minneapolis neighborhoods. Affiliate of Black Visions Collective. 

Campaign Zero - Online platform and organization that utilizes research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America. 

Unicorn Riot - Non-profit organization that is dedicated to exposing root causes of dynamic social and environmental issues. Based out of Minnesota.

Bail Funds - From a friend: "This is a site that allows you to donate to over 30 different community bail funds across the country. You can split your donation among all of them or donate to specific ones. These funds are especially important right now, not only because of the influx of arrests due to protests, but because prisons and jails are coronavirus hotspots."

Do research in your local areas. Call or visit your local SURJ chapter to determine where it is best to put your money!

Instagram Accounts to Follow:

-Erika Hart - @ihartericka

-Rachel Cargle - @rachel.cargle

-Sonalee - @thefatsextherapist

-Ijeoma Oluo - @IjeomaOluo

-Alishia McCullough - @blackandembodied

-Ibram X. Kendi - @ibramxk

Re-Imagining Safety: An Art Installation and Gathering (The Conclusion)

In our continued efforts to dismantle systemic racism and oppression, Anti-Racist Club, and Bonfils Stanton have partnered with the RedLine Contemporary Art Center to create Re-Imagining Safety: An Art Installation and Gathering. This installation is a living piece of artwork growing as protesters visit the site. It will exist on a fence in Civic Center Park in front of the City and County Building of Denver located at 1437 Bannock Street. This installation is in response to The Department of Public Safety & City Councils’ calls for community input surrounding the future of policing and safety in Denver. Special thanks to Denver City Council Members Robin Kniech, Amanda P. Sandoval, Jamie Torres, and Candi CdeBaca for their powerful messages of support! And a big shout out to Artist/Activist Kerrie Joy.

Re-Imagining Safety: An Art Installation and Gathering

In our continued efforts to dismantle systemic racism and oppression, Anti-Racist Club has partnered with the RedLine Contemporary Art Center to create Re-Imagining Safety: An Art Installation and Gathering. This installation will be a living piece of artwork growing as protesters visit the site. It will exist on a chain link fence surrounding the City and County Building of Denver located at 1437 Bannock Street. This installation is in response to The Department of Public Safety & City Councils’ calls for community input surrounding the future of policing and safety in Denver. 

RedLine Contemporary Art Center will host a Maker’s Day event: Posters for Protesters on Sunday, June 14th10am-1pm. This is a free public event that will follow the recommended guidelines for social distancing. Artists are encouraged to drop their protest posters off between the hours of 10am-1pm in the parking lot of RedLine. All other participants are welcome to create their own protest posters or messages of peace with supplies provided by RedLine. During this event, local Denver artist, Detour will create a new mural on our RedLine’s east wall.

Anti-Racist Club will install on Monday, June 15th on the chain link fence in front of City Hall. At 4pm- before the City Council takes the chamber- we will host a rally to celebrate the work installed on the fence with performances by local poets and musicians. 

It is our hope that this installation will inspire those who chose to exercise their 1st Amendment Right to peacefully assemble and petition. We hope to give voice to the voiceless and use art to lift the spirits of our city. As we demand equality, human dignity and justice, we are committed to provide a safe space for ideas to be shared and voices to be heard.

Friday Doughnuts: Black Lives Matter Edition with Lares Feliciano

Coffee and donuts has been a Friday morning staple at RedLine for more than 2 years. Every Friday morning, artists, staff and guests could enjoy a Voodoo Doughnut, a cup of coffee, and a conversation in the kitchen. We want to keep that tradition going! Every Friday morning at 10 am we will send a RedLine Resident Artist, current or alumni, a Voodoo doughnut, of their choice, and a list of conversational prompts. All they have to do is take a photo, video, drawing, or provide a short written piece that responds to one of the conversational prompts that they chose and send them to us to share with you!

This week’s artist is Lares Feliciano. She gives us her take on our current crisis and we salute her and her activism.

RedLine stands with individuals and organizations dedicated to the eradication of white supremacy and systemic racism. We strongly oppose the use of militarized police in our city and the violation of our First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble.
Our democracy requires greater care of its citizens. Although we do not agree with using violence or destruction of property as a tool for change, we do understand the pain that has caused those to take action. Our 12 years as an organization dedicated to social justice stands as testament to our commitment. This can be seen in the trust built with local community leaders, DEI non-profits, elected officials, schools and artists. 
This current crisis allows us the opportunity to continue to champion the unheard, unseen and undone. We will not turn our backs on our community when called upon and will stand to be counted among our fellow social justice warriors.
On Thursday, June 4th, we stood with Ru Johnson, Candi CdeBaca and the Denver Creative Industries Alliance to provide recommendations and demand action around reform and police brutality. 

Please add your name to the petition if you stand with us. 

Our values as an organization include that we are deeply connected. Part of that connection comes from our personal relationships with each other and our community. Of course, we do that with our art, but what is missing is the interaction from our open-door culture. Hopefully #RLFridaydoughnuts can serve as a way to fill in part of the gap that has been left in our absence from the building. These vignettes will be posted on our #RedLineAtHome blog page every Friday afternoon.

Friday Doughnuts with Regan Rosburg

Coffee and donuts has been a Friday morning staple at RedLine for more than 2 years. Every Friday morning, artists, staff and guests could enjoy a Voodoo Doughnut, a cup of coffee, and a conversation in the kitchen. We want to keep that tradition going! Every Friday morning at 10 am we will send a RedLine Resident Artist, current or alumni, a Voodoo doughnut, of their choice, and a list of conversational prompts. All they have to do is take a photo, video, drawing, or provide a short written piece that responds to one of the conversational prompts that they chose and send them to us to share with you!

This week’s artist is Regan Rosburg. Please enjoy her video! It’s filled with goodies.

Our values as an organization include that we are deeply connected. Part of that connection comes from our personal relationships with each other and our community. Of course, we do that with our art, but what is missing is the interaction from our open-door culture. Hopefully #RLFridaydoughnuts can serve as a way to fill in part of the gap that has been left in our absence from the building. These vignettes will be posted on our #RedLineAtHome blog page every Friday afternoon.