From education to politics and everything in between – representation matters
Published: Thu, 09/09/21
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow... Representation Matters
Representation matters. Whether it’s a rallying cry, empty corporate promises, said in frustration watching a child cry because they feel like they don’t fit in, or the reason for sweeping change, the Black community has experienced
it all. We have watched as creatives in our communities are passed up for awards and new opportunities, seen the blatant omission of our history from the history books, watched in horror as Black politicians are ostracized from their party, and felt the pressure of being the only Black voice in an organization.
There are too many Black voices standing up to make a difference to mention them all in this newsletter, but here are a few that you should get to know – and some you likely already
know:
Ava DuVernay: DuVernay has brought to life incredible stories on our screens such as Selma, When They See Us,
and Queen Sugar, giving a voice – and opportunities – to marginalized communities.
Wes Hall: A prominent voice within the North American business community, Hall created The Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism and the BlackNorth Initiative, committed to removing systemic barriers for
Black Canadians.
Ta-Nehisi Coates: Coates is an award-winning author and journalist who often focuses on the cultural, social, and political
issues facing the Black community.
Billy Porter: Porter is an award-winning singer and actor who is also an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and bringing
black voices to the forefront of the conversation.
Elaine Welteroth: Best-selling author and Former Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue, She was
instrumental in shifting the magazine to discuss social and economic issues such as cultural appropriation, representation, gender inclusivity, and politics from a younger lens.
Masai Ujiri: President of basketball operations of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, Ujiri is also co-founder of Giants of Africa, which uses basketball as a means to educate and enrich the lives of African youth, and his latest venture
Humanity, focusing on coming together as one voice.
Who are the people who inspire you? Share your stories with us either by responding to this email or tagging us on social media! (Instagram: @supportblackcharities | Twitter: @supblkcharities)
Featured Organization
Caribbean Bone Marrow Registry
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Sickle Cell Awareness Month so it seems fitting to feature the Caribbean Bone Marrow Registry and the work they are doing for people of Caribbean and Latin American descent. Serving
the worldwide community, this Florida-based organization has created a central registry of donors. The organization was started when it became obvious that there were very few donors from specific ethnic groups on worldwide registries. A lack of Caribbean and Latin American donors means that too many patients from underrepresented groups will succumb to diseases like leukemia.
The team behind the Caribbean Bone Marrow Registry is working toward a future where everyone could have access to a stem cell transplant, regardless of their ethnic and economic
background.
If you want to help, consider becoming a bone marrow donor and speaking with your friends and family about it.
