What is this page about?
THE Intention
Held In The Heart has ALWAYS and continues to be a space that is open to ALL people. Our mission is rooted in honoring individuals in their unique experiences & unique self-expression, and holding space for the healing & personal growth from their unique traumas as well.
Another root of our mission is to help people work with the balance of, and learn how to honor, both their spiritual AND their human existence. I know the work of anti-racism to be of tremendous importance in this human lifetime we have chosen, and therefore it is clear it must become a more public part of this community platform as well.
As an American, I feel passionate that we all have a right to know the true history of our country – largely we have ALL been sheltered from the actual truth surrounding the founding of the U.S. and far too many of the decades that followed. Honoring the stories & history of our Black sisters, brothers, and fellow humans is our duty. This work has been personally very meaningful for me in the recent years, and I feel strongly it will be for you as well. Thank you for your efforts.
THE Invitation
This page is an evolving offering. We will edit as we grow and learn more together. Held In The Heart is not affiliated as a business with any of the people/businesses/organizations listed here, nor are we receiving any compensation/incentives for anything shared on this page. This information is here solely for the purpose of helping to inform our community and provide a starting point for your personal research.
The Work is all of ours to do. As always, I encourage you to pause, reflect, and choose conscious self-responsibility in your own healing and personal spiritual development. The Sacred Work of unlearning racism is a very real part of our human experience, and I lovingly invite you to join me in exploring this essential and important territory.
As well, I highly encourage you to DONATE wherever/however you are able, and compensate the artists and teachers whom have so, SO generously created the countless FREE social media resources, guides, and tools available for us to learn more and become better. Let’s be sure to share with others and support their work! 🖤
RESOURCES FOR ADULTS | Reading, Film, Audio
BOOKS to read
— FICTION —
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi
Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad
So You Want to Talk about Race by Ijeoma Oluo
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
The Color of Money by Mehrsa Baradaran
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
— NON-FICTION —
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Dedicated to supporting local, independent bookstores.
Films & TV to Watch
— ON NETFLIX —
When They See Us
13th
Dear White People
American Son
See You Yesterday
— STREAM ON HULU —
The Hate You Give
If Beale Street Could Talk
Hidden Figures
— AVAILABLE TO RENT —
I Am Not Your Negro
Selma
Stranger Fruit
Just Mercy
Fruitvale Station
The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till
The Black Power Mixtape
Freedom Summer
Back to Natural
AUDIo TO LISTEN
— CLICK TO OPEN —
Revolution Playlist by Rachel Cargle
1619 Podcast by Nikole Hannah-Jones
Pod Save the People Podcast by DeRay Mckesson
The Nod Podcast by Bittany Luse & Eric Eddings
About Race Podcast by Reni Eddo-Lodge
Witness Black History Podcast by BBC World
websites to Explore
RESOURCES FOR YOUNG ONES | Books
Ages 2-4
Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi
Harlem’s Little Blackbird by Renée Watson
Don’t Touch My Hair! by Sharee Miller
The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler
An ABC of Equality by Chana Ginelle Ewing
Rosa by Nikki Giovanni
The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez
Ages 8-11
Stamped (for Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi
Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History by Walter Myers
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down by Andrea Pinkney
Ages 5-7
What Is Given From the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack
My Hair is a Garden by Cozbi A. Cabrera
Coretta Scott by Ntozake Shange
Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
Sojourner Truth’s Step-Stomp Stride by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford
Teen & young Adult
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi
We Are Not Yet Equal by Carol Anderson
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
See even more titles!
CSM’s mission is to ensure digital well-being for kids everywhere.
CONSCIOUS ALLYSHIP | For White-Raced Humans
What does it mean?
Being an ally requires you to educate yourself about systemic racism in the U.S., and then taking action. Allyship is not a place you arrive at, it is a conscious, continual practice, just like any other part of your healing and spiritual work. Here are some quick resources to give you an overview of what being an ally means and looks like:
Allyship Definition
“Allyship is a process, and everyone has more to learn. Allyship involves a lot of listening. Sometimes, people say “doing ally work” or “acting in solidarity with” to reference the fact that “ally” is not an identity, it is an ongoing and lifelong process that involves a lot of work.
A white ally acknowledges the limits of her/his/their knowledge about other people’s experiences but doesn’t use that as a reason not to think and/or act. A white ally does not remain silent but confronts racism as it comes up daily, but also seeks to deconstruct it institutionally and live in a way that challenges systemic oppression, at the risk of experiencing some of that oppression.
Being a white ally entails building relationships with both people of color, and also with white people in order to challenge them in their thinking about race. White allies don’t have it all figured out, but are deeply committed to non-complacency.” – From Dismantle Collective
Did you learn something from this guide?
GUIDE: 10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship
By Mireille Cassandra Harper
Send a THANK YOU to Mereille!
Venmo: Coming Soon
For Our White Friends Desiring to Be Allies
By Courtney Ariel
Send a THANK YOU to Courtney!
Venmo: @CourtneyArielMusic
Resources, Articles, & Tools for White Allyship
By Dismantle Collective
Send a THANK YOU to Dismantle Collective! Donate Here
SHORT VIDEOS | Simple & Significant Doses of Learning
LONGER VIDEOS & TALKS | Dive a Little Deeper
NON-PROFIT ORGS | Donate & Support The Work
Dismantle Collective
“The Dismantle Collective is a person of color-led group of Certified B Corps. Our goal is to name, disrupt, & dismantle white supremacy. White supremacy & racism are serious problems in our society that affect us all. In addition to providing a space for conversation, The Dismantle Collective desires to be a starting point for white allies to do the work and engage in analysis, education, & action on anti-racism. we believe that dismantling white supremacy is a necessary precondition to creating an inclusive economy for everyone.”
black lives matter
“#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc. is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.”
until freedom
“Until Freedom is an intersectional social justice organization rooted in the leadership of diverse people of color to address systemic and racial injustice. At Until Freedom, we believe that those closest to the pain are closest to the solution, therefore, we focus on investing in those who are the most directly impacted by cyclical poverty, inequality, and state violence. We are a clearinghouse to work linearly to uplift all of our people. Everyone is worthy, everyone is needed to win.”
Black Visions Collective
“We aim to center our work in healing & transformative justice principles, intentionally develop our organizations core “DNA” to ensure sustainability, & develop Minnesota’s emerging Black leadership to lead powerful campaigns. BVC envisions a world in which ALL Black Lives Matter. We use the guidance & brilliance of our ancestors as well as the teachings of our own experiences to pursue our commitment to dismantling systems of oppression & violence. We are determined in our pursuit of dignity & equity for all.”
Loveland Foundation
“The Loveland Foundation was established in 2018 by Rachel Cargle in response to her widely successful birthday fundraiser, Therapy for Black Women & Girls. Her enthusiastic community raised over $250K making it possible for Black women and girls nationally to receive therapy support. Black women & girls deserve access to healing – that healing will impact generations. Through fellowships, residency programs, listening tours, and more, we hope to contribute to both the empowerment & the liberation of those we serve.”
color of change
“Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by 1.7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. We lead campaigns that build real power for Black communities. We challenge injustice and advance solutions for racial justice that can transform our world.”
music, art, stories, & teachings
AMPLIFYING BLACK VOICES
This Section Serves to Lift Up and Bring Attention to Black Creators & Activists
A FEW Singers I love
A FEW ACCOUNTS I ENJOY
— FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM —
Brittany Packnett Cunningham @mspacknetti
Tamika Mallory @tamikadmallory
Ijeoma Oluo @ijeomaoluo
Alex Elle @alex
Eso “Cool Urban Hippie” @coolurbanhippie
A Few Art Pieces That Move Me | Click to visit artist on Instagram
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES | Links to Browse
Do you know a helpful resource that’s not listed on this page? Know an artist or musician we should spotlight? →
PLEASE NOTE: This page is an evolving offering. We will edit as we grow and learn more together. Held In The Heart is not affiliated as a business with any of the people/businesses/organizations listed here, nor are we receiving any compensation/incentives for anything shared on this page. This information is here solely for the purpose of helping to inform our community and provide a starting point for your personal research. The Work is all of ours to do. As always, I encourage you to pause, reflect, and choose conscious self-responsibility in your own healing and personal spiritual development. The Sacred Work of unlearning racism is a very real part of our human experience, and I lovingly invite you to join me in exploring this essential & important territory. As well, I highly encourage you to DONATE wherever/however you are able, and compensate the artists & teachers that have so, SO generously created the countless FREE social media resources, guides, and tools available for us to learn more and become better. Let’s support their work! 🖤