I’ve spent the past week thinking about what coping means and debating its value. I’m still not sure how I feel about it, but I’ve come to at least one personal conclusion: coping is not enough.
The news this week has been awful. The executions of Alton Sterling and Philandro Castile cannot be coped with. The violence of the state against black lives stretches out into every area of our criminal justice system. And the criminal justice system upholds the larger network of oppression built into the fabric of our society and lives every day. Coping is not enough.
In the face of all of this, it is natural for any one person to feel helpless and hopeless. So, here are some links to resources on how to do more than cope.
An organization dedicated to the idea that “we can live in a world where the police don’t kill people by limiting police interventions, improving community interactions, and ensuring accountability,” and which offers and promotes “a comprehensive package of urgent policy solutions – informed by data, research and human rights principles – can change the way police serve our communities.”
15 Things Your City Can Do Right Now to End Police Brutality
An article by Zak Cheney Rice, which offers some concrete responses to the questions “How, besides protesting, can we actually make sure no more black people are killed, beaten or tortured by the police? And how can we promote justice and equity in law enforcement more generally?”
The Real Cost of Prison Project
An organization that provides further links to numerous resources and organizations related to ongoing efforts to reform the criminal justice system.
If you’re not quite ready to act and want to start by educating yourself, Michelle Alexander’s book “about a glaring wrong that we have been living with that we also somehow don’t know how to face,” is a good enough place to start.
A site that compiles a large amount of articles and resources around the idea that “the movement for racial justice needs more White Americans to get involved. And it’s our responsibility to help each other get involved–and get involved productively.”