AMPLIFY ALLYSHIP TOOLKIT
DISCLAIMER: This is a collection of helpful resources put together (for Canada and the US) that is meant to AMPLIFY black voices and focus on them.
There is a huge amount of valuable information and resources circling around the internet, and we thought it may be helpful for people to be able to navigate that by compiling (some of) it in one place.
This is not a way for us to speak on behalf of something we cannot understand, it’s a way to use our privilege to redirect attention to the people who need to be heard. It helps shift the responsibility to educate ourselves back onto us. Anything that does not come from a black voice will come from an informed ally who is either speaking about allyship or sharing resources. If there is anything on this list that does not reflect these goals, please let us know. If there is anything you'd like to add please let us know HERE.
Table of Contents (Click to Jump To)
DONATION PAGES
*YOUR DONATIONS ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE ON CHANGE.ORG*
*DO NOT DONATE TO SHAUN KING*
Donation Compilations
Donate by Streaming / For Free
Bail Funds
Black-Led or Allied Organizations
Rebuilding Initiatives
BIPOC Queer Organizations and Funds
For Victims’ Families
PROTEST INFORMATION
General Information
Protest Preparation & Safety Resources
Numbers to Call in Case of Unlawful Arrests at Protests
Los Angeles, CA: 310-313-3700
SATX: 210-227-1515
Richmond, VA: 804-291-8520
NYC: 783-346-6322
Minneapolis, MN: 612-444-2654
Atlanta, GA: 404-689-1519
Philadelphia, PA: 484-758-0388
Louisville: 502-705-0081
Say Their Names: List #1 + List #2 + List #3
PETITIONS
Mass Lists
U.S.
Toronto & Canada
CONTACTING OFFICIALS
U.S.
Toronto & Canada
OTHER MASS INFORMATION TOOLKITS
General Mass Information
Allyship Grand Lists and Initiatives
POLICE DEFUNDING
*See “Contacting Officials” for Templates to Call for Defunding*
Learn About Defunding
ACAB & Police Instigation, Propaganda, and Criminality (*Content Warning: Violence*)
CONVERSATIONS AS AN ALLY
Family & Friends
Children: Parenting & Classroom
Canadian Exceptionalism Mentality
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES BY/FOR BLACK POC
BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT
Anywhere
Canada
U.S.
BLACK SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW
Instagram
Twitter
BOOKS TO READ
*BUY FROM LOCAL BLACK-OWNED BOOKSTORES WHEN POSSIBLE*
Grand Lists
Black-Led Bookstores, Book Clubs, and Publishers
By Black Authors
By Allies
Black Authors to Support (Twitters or Websites linked)
THINGS TO WATCH
(Synopsis Credit: Kieran Turnbull – Trailers Linked)
Do The Right Thing (dir. Spike Lee, 1989)
- A powerful, visceral look at racial tensions on a hot summer day. You’ll find anger, kindness, cruelty, empathy, violence and warmth in this film, and once you get to the tragically relevant ending, you’ll surely be doing a lot of reflection.
BlacKkKlansman (dir. Spike Lee, 2018)
- 29 years after Spike Lee made Do the Right Thing, he made an equally powerful, equally nuanced film that, despite being set in the past, could genuinely not feel more urgent.
If Beale Street Could Talk (dir. Barry Jenkins, 2018)
- The story of a young black woman fighting to free her childhood friend and lover from being accused of a crime he didn’t commit. The amount of generosity, beauty and wisdom in this film is insane, and it has one of my favourite quotes in all of cinema: “Remember love is what brought you here. And if you've trusted love this far, don't panic now. Trust it all the way.”
Moonlight (dir. Barry Jenkins, 2016)
- A huge moment in Oscar history! Moonlight was the first film with an all-black cast AND the first LGBTQ-related film to ever win best picture. One of the finest examinations of identity and humanity ever put to film.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (dir. Joe Talbot, 2019)
- Co-written by Jimmie Fails (along with Rob Richert and director Joe Talbot), who also stars in this movie as himself, The Last Black Man in San Francisco follows Fails and his best friend Montgomery as they try to reclaim Jimmie’s childhood home from a rapidly gentrifying community. A loving look at black identity and friendship, coupled with the best score in any film from last year.
Tangerine (dir. Sean Baker, 2015)
- Shot entirely on an iPhone 5S (although you might not know it when you watch this beautiful film), Tangerine’s urgent energy is matched with a genuine sense of warmth and care that follows two transgender sex workers (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor, who did NOT get enough awards buzz for their amazing performances) as they track down a cheating boyfriend on Christmas Eve. Baker is amazing at honestly and empathetically representing underrepresented voices through film.
Minding the Gap (dir. Bing Liu, 2018)
- A powerfully humane documentary that follows the decade-long friendship between three skateboarders as they grow up dealing with both race and class struggles in their search for purpose. It balances genuine and brutal hardships with the joy and vitality of skateboarding. One of the best documentaries out there.
La Haine (dir. Mathieu Kassovitz, 1995)
- La Haine follows 3 young ethnic minorities through the tumultuous day after police brutality sparks a violent riot in a French housing project. The film grapples with racism, anger and violence, both institutionalized and personal. Its aggressive energy manages to make way for stark moments of humanity, as it seeks to find the meaning behind all the violence. Not to mention, it has a wildly profound opening quote and an even better ending.
Hoop Dreams (dir. Steve James, 1994)
- This three-hour documentary spans roughly eight years as it follows two black boys in Illinois and their aspirations to make it to the NBA. We get to witness everything from their triumphant successes to their heartbreaking failures, all with the sensitivity and realism that can only be found in documentaries. Nothing in Hoop Dreams could ever have been written, for even the best writer could never conjure up as vivid a tapestry of emotions as Steve James does with his camera. One of the best portraits of black life in urban America that I’ve seen.
Mudbound (dir. Dee Rees, 2017)
- There are not enough films directed by black women. End of discussion. It’s an injustice that’s pervaded the film industry for time immemorial, and it’s such a shame. Dee Rees’ Mudbound is powerful, melancholic, raw, and beautiful. You’ll notice small details around every frame of this film that help paint a blistering portrait of post-War racism. Oh, and cinematographer Rachel Morrison became the first woman ever nominated for cinematography at the Oscars for her work here!
The Entire Filmography of Ava DuVernay
- Recently, you’ve probably been seeing a lot of people recommend films like Selma, 13th and the 4-part When They See Us. Those people are all correct in recommending these remarkably powerful works of cinema, all of which came from director Ava DuVernay! Dive into her filmography and you’ll see for yourself how incredible a filmmaker she is.
Fruitvale Station (dir. Ryan Coogler, 2013)
- One look at what this film is about and you’ll see how achingly relevant it is. The remarkable thing about Fruitvale Station, though, is that its relevancy and urgency is coupled with an overflowing compassion for the small things in life. Coogler’s portrait of the last day of Oscar Grant III’s life is so rich, empathetic and vivid that you’ll spend the entire film hoping and wishing the inevitable doesn’t happen. However, no amount of preparation will ever ready you for the tragedy when it comes.
*Streaming or Trailers Linked*
Other Movies
Documentaries
TV Shows
Black-Led Film Festivals (Canada)
Ted Talks
Other Watchable Resources
- Interviews and Lectures by Black POC
PODCASTS