Resources to Support Black Bodies in America
This is a compilation of links that people can use to donate to relief funds, black creators, and justice resources in regards to the George Floyd protests.
On May 25, George Floyd was murdered by police officer Derek Chauvin. Since the incident, protests and riots have broken out in a clear and loud attempt to combat police brutality. Many arrests have been made, and the Minnesota Freedom Fund has been working hard to aid those in jail. Following the massive wave of financial support they’ve received, they’ve requested that donors shift their focus to helping other organizations and independent creators. The following is a list of donation funds, bail funds, and black owned businesses that people can support.
Business Relief
Helping Hands - Access PR Black Owned Small Business Relief
We Love Lake Street
Northside Funders Group
Atlanta Black Owned Business Relief
Guns and Roses Boutique
Dallas Black Owned Business Relief
Black Creators
Uncle Funky’s Daughter (haircare)
Coloured Raine (makeup)
Silhouette Stylez (clothing)
Nubian Skin (clothing)
The Berry Shop (accessories)
Auctober Lover (jewelry)
So Beadiful (Jewelry)
BLK & BOLD (coffee)
Caribreoso Flavour Boutique (spices)
Justice Resources
Black Lives Matter
Black Visions Collective
Reclaim the Block
MOODI Cultural Resource Center
List of Community Bail Funds by State
Further Resources, Links, and Information
This is not a complete list by any means. It is meant to be a start to the process– it is important to support as many roads as possible that aid the fight for justice. By funding those who are oppressed by the system, change becomes possible.
Report: Nicolette Schneiderman
Clothing New York City's Homeless LGBTQ+ Youth
In the present year of 2020, the coronavirus has scourged the world, and among those most vulnerable are New York City’s homeless youths, 20%-45% of which identify as LGBTQ+. Deeply sympathizing with their plight, the founders of the menswear fashion label Private Policy sought to aid this downtrodden population.
In 1990, the documentary Paris is Burning spotlighted the New York City drag ball culture, which was pioneered by the city’s black and Latino LGBTQ community. The documentary was filmed during the AIDS crisis, and many of the drag performers were homeless people who had been disowned by homophobic and transphobic families. Amazingly, members of a historically marginalized group’s profound sense of togetherness resulted in the creation of such an impactful contribution to the fashion world, as well as the mainstreaming of drag performances.
In the present year of 2020, the coronavirus has scourged the world, and among those most vulnerable are New York City’s homeless youths, 20%-45% of which identify as LGBTQ+. Deeply sympathizing with their plight, the founders of the menswear fashion label Private Policy sought to aid this downtrodden population. Collaborating with the Ali Forney Center, the largest homeless shelter for LGBTQ+ youth, designers Siying Qu and Haoran Li created the project #LoveAli. Private Policy is selling their own version of the traditional “I Heart New York” t-shirt for $80, with the proceeds going towards the aforementioned Ali Forney Center. A prestigious fashion label like Private Policy, which provides genderless clothing for both men and women, showing solidarity with the LGBTQ community is reflective of the social progress made since Paris is Burning. The film’s introduction of drag culture was integral to humanizing gay and trans people, as well as properly crediting them with their fashion innovations. Now, while there is still progress to be made, three decades of activism have led to outright, unabashed support from a plethora of public platforms.
Report: Nia Hunt
At the rise of Covid-19 many of us first questioned the timeline of fashion week and would we see the regular calendar continue - the question weighed over many of us for months! It was refreshing to see design houses and designers across the globe take advantage of the uncertainty and plow into production mode - thus my interest in Jerri Reid New York - The Black Designer based in Brooklyn New York wow’d instagram with his latest collection paying homage to the Black Is King film which debuted earlier this year in July. I was taken aback at quick of a turn round the young designer produced and released his well crafted designs reflecting some of the films most memorable moments.