(main photograph credit – Jake Harvey and Rebecca Lowden instagram@sunflower.and.spider)
#Activists from either side of the Colne have been succesfully organising a campaign to fight racism in rural communities.
The launch of the programme took place last Saturday in Rowhedge and Wivenhoe.
Media coverage of the event can be found here: Guardian online: https://bit.ly/3fFyToD , BBC Look East. https://bbc.in/3io6gOB , Colchester Gazette and Colne Radio. For all the latest media coverage see here (updated regularly)
The first of our resources: our introductory leaflet aimed at white people who want to support #blm outside cities. To create real change, we need everyone to commit to becoming anti-racist. If you’d like the pdf or print version to share, please email blminthestix@gmail.com. pic.twitter.com/g4cWbbvw0Tâ blminthestix (@blminthestix) August 11, 2020
BLM IN THE STIX is about connecting rural communities together, sharing resources and supporting each other. To kickstart the campaign is putting together an entry level guide for white people in rural areas to help them take action against racism – to move from being not racist to anti-racist. The ultimate aim is work with similar groups collaboratviely across the country to develop a larger toolkit and more resources (already from Saturday’s launch there is interest from groups in Falmouth, Deal and several Councils across Suffolk and Norfolk). For all the latest resources see here
The launch included this brief and powerful performance by writer and performer A L Kennedy
“So what I’m hoping is that I can be an ally, a visible ally, then that makes a difference to somebody else.” #blminthestix aims to bring together communities across the UK to create a network of allies supporting #blm outside of cities. Photo credit https://t.co/w9ZRMoJmL8 pic.twitter.com/hEk3SwI2Ysâ blminthestix (@blminthestix) August 11, 2020
You can follow the campaign on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram (@blminthestix) and do use #blminthestix when posting. Or check out the latest resources here. To get in touch (or to get more involved) do be in touch at blminthestix@gmail.com
Here is how communities in Sidmouth have already adapted the resources:-
Resources included within the tool kit include:-
And I’d be remiss to not add a reference to Unity / Riksteatern Nina – a story about me and Nina Simone – the show I worked on for nearly 2.5 years which really drove home for me the reality of white privilege and why anti-racism is so necessary.
And a little more here
For a copy of all the resources, links and launch leaflet contact blminthestix@gmail.com