Black Lives Matter: Black Feminist Organizations to Support

Photo by Grounds for Health: women waiting for a cervical cancer screening at an Ethiopian health clinic.

Photo by Grounds for Health: women waiting for a cervical cancer screening at an Ethiopian health clinic.

In times like these, it is hard to find strong enough language to express solidarity, anger at inequity, the injustices by society against the minority, the gross and systemic betrayal of humanity, the intentional polarization and gaslighting of the experiences of others, to list but a few. 

We look to the words of a more powerful voice: 

“Is home the place we are born, where, as we say in Haiti, our umbilical cords are buried? Or is home the place we die, where we are buried? The place to which we’ve sacrificed our youth, our strength, the place to which we have given the best years of our lives? Some of us are born speaking one language and will die speaking another. We are seeds in one soil and weeds in another. 

We don’t always get to decide where we call home. Many times it is others who decide, gatekeepers, immigration officers, border guards. Is home where, as the physician and poet Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. said, 'our feet may leave, but not our hearts’? Or is it as the novelist, essayist, and activist James Baldwin wrote, ‘not a place but simply an irrevocable condition’? Do we define home where we welcome others in, or as where we keep others out? These days it certainly seems as though the latter is prevailing, but the voices you are reading here will not be published out. They will not go unheard.

‘Tell us,’ the novelist Toni Morrison said in her 1993 Nobel lecture, ‘what it is to have no home in this place. To be set adrift from the one you knew. What is it to live at the edge of towns that cannot bear your company.’”

Those are the words of Edwidge Danticat, Haitian writer, and poet, in the foreword to The Penguin Book of Migration Literature, in which the many pieces describe a *forced migration* (the first entry in the anthology comes from the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano).

Thankfully, language is not the only tool we have. We are each gifted with an agency, with decision-making power, to show up for our diverse neighborhoods, to make the necessary difference in the lives of our oppressed neighbors and fellow humans. 

You, the community of the Women in Coffee Project, care about equity, or you wouldn’t be reading this right now. Equity is not just one person or one gender’s fight. There is no gender justice without racial justice. Equity is universal, it is imbued with the belief that we are in fact, created equal, and yet the disparate experiences of some need to be accounted for before equity can be achieved.

The fight for equity began with the advent of humanity. It’s about justice, period. It isn’t right to live in a society that chooses what unspoken contracts to honor when it is convenient for the powerful. It has to be about racial justice. The active injustices we push up against are societal, cultural, institutional, and long-lived — we know this. 

What do we do? We all have a part to play. Non-profits, capitalist businesses, community organizations, each individual — all of us. Some to listen, some to teach, some to learn, some to unlearn, some to talk to our youth, some to be physically present in the face of the authorities, some to offer financial support, some to write the history of this time, some to make educational resources available to all, some to care for the bodies being harmed on the front lines, and other, endless roles — but all should carry the passion for the truth and an equitable future in their hearts. 

We are going to suspend donations on our website for a while. We recommend our community to instead, with whatever means you have, support organizations doing the essential and daily work toward equity and empowerment for Black women. We will be donating some of our own funds to these organizations, focusing on a few each week. We encourage you to do the same. 

As a dear friend noted this week, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Some have been running for a good, long while. It’s our privilege to uplift their work and their words and join in their good company in this rally for racial equity.

(Also, a note to say we feel this isn’t the time to dilute attention merited elsewhere, so we have decided to postpone La Molienda Project. In the meantime, we will be working on a resource to celebrate coffees produced by Black women, and Black-owned coffee companies. We feel strongly that is the direction we should go with La Molienda — it is designed to be a celebration of the gifts of our industry and the women who make it possible, and it will be. It will be made even better by shifting the celebration to Black women-produced coffees.)

Here is an evolving list (please comment to share others):

  • Black Women’s Blueprint (@blackwomensblueprint) — “Our purpose is to take action to secure social, political, and economic equality for #EveryBlackWomen in American Society now.” 

    • Supporting Black Women’s Blueprint also funds Sistas Van: "Sistas Van is a trauma-informed, survivor-centered Mobile Healing Unit created and managed by Black Women’s Blueprint. This wheelchair-accessible van is an all-gender affirming space that centers the experiences and needs of Black women and femmes to close the gap and fill the need for support services across the spectrum of sexual and reproductive health."

    • Supporting Black Women’s Blueprint also funds The Institute for Gender and Cultural Competency: "The Training Institute delivers prevention education and intervention curricula based on an understanding of the complex interplay between the individual, relational, social, cultural, environmental, historical and persistent systemic factors that influence the spectrum of discrimination, oppression and violence that impact people’s lives. Using proven effective pedagogy and methodologies, the Institute works to equip organizations and institutions with a framework for the development of strategies that directly address civil and human rights measures, offers anti-oppression analysis and key points for intervention."

    • Supporting the Black Women’s Blueprint also supports The Matriarchy Project. 

  • The Loveland Foundation (@thelovelandfoundation), founded by Rachel Cargle, which is "committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls."

  • The Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) : “The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.”

    • Supporting the Equal Justice Initiative also funds the Legacy Museum: "EJI believes that the history of racial inequality and economic injustice in the United States has created continuing challenges for all Americans, and more must be done to advance our collective goal of equal justice for all. The United States has done very little to acknowledge the legacy of slavery, lynching, and racial segregation. As a result, people of color are disproportionately marginalized, disadvantaged and mistreated. The American criminal justice system is compromised by racial disparities and unreliability that is influenced by a presumption of guilt and dangerousness that is often assigned to people of color. For more than a decade, EJI has been conducting extensive research into the history of racial injustice and the narratives that have sustained injustice across generations. Our new museum is the physical manifestation of that research.”

    • And the National Memorial for Peace and Justice: "The Memorial for Peace and Justice was conceived with the hope of creating a sober, meaningful site where people can gather and reflect on America’s history of racial inequality."

  • The Essie Justice Group (@essie4justice), "a nonprofit organization of women with incarcerated loved ones taking on the rampant injustices created by mass incarceration. Our award-winning Healing to Advocacy Model brings women together to heal, build collective power, and drive social change. We are building a membership of fierce advocates for race and gender justice — including Black and Latinx women, formerly and currently incarcerated women, transgender women, and gender non-conforming people."

  • Black Girls Smile (@blackgirlssmile), "a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging positive mental health education, resources and support geared toward young African American females.”  

  • Girl Trek (@girltrek), “a health movement for African-America women and girls grounded in civil rights history and principles through walking campaigns, community leadership, and health advocacy.”

  • The Feminist Press (@feministpress), “the vanguard for books on contemporary feminist issues of equality and gender identity. The Feminist Press published books that ignite movements and social transformation. Celebrating [their] legacy, [they] lift up insurgent and marginalized voices from around the world to build a more just future.”

  • Grounds for Health (@groundsforhealth), “a mission-driven, international non-profit organization, born out of and with enduring ties to the coffee industry, and focused on increasing coverage of cervical cancer prevention services.” (Currently working in Ethiopia and Kenya.)

  • Sister Song: Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective (@sistersong_woc), “a Southern-based, national membership organization,” whose “purpose is to build an effective network of individuals and organizations to improve institutional policies and systems that impact the reproductive lives of marginalized communities.” 

    • Supporting Sister Song also funds Trust Black Women, a national partnership and project: "Black-women-led organization members and individual black women members across the US are working together to transform how the country views and treats black women. We are using powerful communications and events to eradicate stereotypes and uplift black women’s voices. We are training black women to be media spokespeople, and mobilizing black women and allies in national organizing for black women’s rights. We are connecting black women with holistic self-care techniques and resources, and building grassroots community. Joining forces with the Movement for Black Lives, we are spotlighting and addressing all of the intersecting oppressions in black women’s lives, and showing the country that we will be heard, that Black Lives Matter, and that it is past time for the US to honor and Trust Black Women to lead our own free lives.”

  • Higher Heights for America (@higherheights4), "the only national organization providing Black women with a political home exclusively dedicated to harnessing their power to expand Black women’s elected representation and voting participation, and advance progressive policies.”

  • BYP100 (Black Youth Project 100) (@byp100), "a member-based organization of Black youth activists creating justice and freedom for all Black people. BYP100 is National, member-based organization of Black 18-35 year old activists and organizers, dedicated to creating justice and freedom for all Black people. We do this through building a network focused on transformative leadership development, direct action organizing, advocacy, and political education using a Black queer feminist lens.” 

  • The National Council of Negro Women (@ncnw_hq), "an 'organization of organizations' (comprised of 300 campus and community-based sections and 32 national women’s organizations) that enlightens, inspires, and connects more than 2,000,000 women and men.  Its mission is to lead, advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families, and communities.”

  • The National Black Women’s Justice Institute (@nbwji), an organization that "works to reduce racial and gender disparities across the justice continuum affecting Black women, girls, and their families, by conducting research, providing technical assistance, engaging in public education, promoting civic engagement, and advocating for informed and effective policies. NBWJI works independently and in collaboration with a number of universities and organizations to improve outcomes for women and girls impacted by criminalization and economic marginalization.”

  • The National Congress of Black Women INC (@ncbwnational), is a non-profit that “serves as a nonpartisan voice of advocacy on issues affecting the appointment of women at all levels of government with a goal to increase the participation of women of color in the educational, political, economic, and social arenas.”

  • The Black Women’s Health Imperative (@blkwomenshealth), "the only national organization dedicated solely to improving the health and wellness of the nation’s 21 million Black women and girls — physically, emotionally, and financially."

  • Girls for Gender Equity (@ggenyc): "As we approach the 2020 election, Girls for Gender Equity (GGE) is centering the needs of cisgender (cis) and transgender (trans) Black girls and gender nonconforming (GNC) Black youth. This project, A National Agenda for Black Girls, is a collaborative project engaging organizations across the United States who are committed to the well-being of Black girls. Black girls are the experts of their own lived experiences. The National Agenda includes six national policy priorities that speak to their needs:

    • Passing a national Black Girl Bill of Rights

    • Expanding education justice and opportunity, specifically ending school pushout

    • Expanding democracy for young people

    • Healing, well-being and reproductive justice

    • Ending sexual and gender-based violence, and building cultures of consent

    • Immigrant and racial justice

    These policy priorities will be introduced to the 2020 presidential candidates throughout the election cycle via a series of digital town halls held by a steering committee of youth activists."

  • Trans Women of Color Collective (@twocc_collective): "Our work is led by the narratives, leadership, and voices of our community members who exist at the nexus of state sanctioned violence; sex workers, poor people, homelessness and folk experiencing housing insecurity, folks deeply entrenched in complex, seemingly inescapable traumatic environments. Through healing and restorative justice, are building a network of trans, non-binary Black and people of color who are artists, healers, entrepreneurs, and creators sharing and cultivating sustainable projects for us and by us."

  • Black Girls Code (@blackgirlscode), an organization "devoted to showing the world that black girls can code, and do so much more. By reaching out to the community through workshops and after school programs, Black Girls CODE introduces computer coding lessons to young girls from underrepresented communities in programming languages such as Scratch or Ruby on Rails. Black Girls CODE has set out to prove to the world that girls of every color have the skills to become the programmers of tomorrow. By promoting classes and programs we hope to grow the number of women of color working in technology and give underprivileged girls a chance to become the masters of their technological worlds. Black Girls CODE's ultimate goal is to provide African-American youth with the skills to occupy some of the 1.4 million computing job openings expected to be available in the U.S. by 2020, and to train 1 million girls by 2040.”

  • INCITE! “A network of radical feminists of color organizing to end state violence and violence in our homes and communities.” (Find comprehensive resources on their site for organizing.)

  • The Audre Lord Project (@audrelordproject), a "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans, and Gender Non Conforming People of Color center for community organizing, focusing on the New York City area. Through mobilization, education, and capacity-building, we work for community wellness and progressive social and economic justice. Committed to struggling across differences, we seek to responsibly reflect, represent, and serve our various communities.”

  • Fierce (@fiercenyc), a "membership-based organization building the leadership and power of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth of color in New York City.  We develop politically conscious leaders who are invested in improving ourselves and our communities through youth-led campaigns, leadership development programs, and cultural expression through arts and media. FIERCE is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of social justice movement leaders who are dedicated to ending all forms of oppression.”

  • Black Women for Wellness (@bw4wla), an organization that aims to "Increase accessible, appropriate and affordable health services that positively impact the health outcomes for Black women and girls. Build the personal, communal, and political power of Black women and girls within California by influencing public policy, organizing, and outreach. Expand capacity of our leadership to direct resources and validate Black women's and girls' experience. Strengthen and build BWW's internal infrastructure to optimally support its mission. Conduct, gather, and share research on the history and current challenges and issues of Black women’s health. Train speakers for panel discussions, academic lectures, and organizational programs on all aspects of Black women’s health. Provide health education and information on strategies to prevent illness and to maintain and restore health. Refer women to culturally sensitive health providers and counseling services. Advocate for African women’s health through membership on boards, commissions, and task forces. Publish information and educational materials from Black women’s perspective.”

  • Heal A Woman To Heal A Nation: "Women leaders crave the resources, lessons, and skills necessary to elevate their business, careers, and life.  HWHN  creates a platform for women leaders to not only grow their network, harness their skills and ability as an expert in the marketplace, but to develop personally to maintain their physical, mental, and emotional health.” 

  • Black Women Physicians (@blackwomenphysicians): "The Association of Black Women Physicians is an organized network of African-American women physicians committed to the improvement of public health and welfare, through the advancement of knowledge concerning women and the community health. We are a nonprofit organization, serving as a philanthropic source of funds to projects committed to improving the health and wellness concerns of traditionally under-served communities and assisting in eliminating health disparities. We also endeavor to enhance the personal and professional quality of life for present and future African-American women physicians.”

  • Center for Black Women’s Wellness (@cbwwatlanta): “Over the past 30 years, the Center for Black Women’s Wellness has created a legacy in the Atlanta community. That legacy ensures that women and families will always have access to quality healthcare. We know physical, mental, emotional, and financial health is the foundation for full and productive lives where individuals can thrive and not merely survive. Our programs, incredible staff and volunteers, and host of partners and service providers address those areas with excellence. We believe in the promise of the individuals we serve, knowing that as their health and understanding of their health improve, families and communities become stronger.”

  • Sisters Helping Each Other Reach A Higher Height (SHERAH), a "nonprofit organization that creates safe spaces for women and girls of color.”

  • FPA-Foundation (@fpafoundation), an "activist advocacy organization that services the 5 boroughs. We help organize the community around social justice issues and people affected by the child welfare system, such as Parents, foster parents, grandparents, fathers, and children.  We provide community advocates for foster youths and organize parents around injustices that they are having with the child welfare system.”

  • Movement for Black Lives (@mvmnt4blklives), a “space for Black organizations across the country to debate and discuss the current political conditions, develop shared assessments of what political interventions were necessary in order to achieve key policy, cultural and political wins, convene organizational leadership in order to debate and co-create a shared movement wide strategy. Under the fundamental idea that we can achieve more together than we can separately.”

  • Open Society Foundation (@opensocietyfoundations), “the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights, working to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens.”

  • The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (@sylviariveralawproject), an organization that “works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination or violence.”

  • The Young Women’s Freedom Center (@young_women_free), “a leadership and advocacy organization led by systems-involved young and adult women and transgender gender non-conforming (TGNC) people of color who have grown up in poverty, worked in the underground street economy, and have been criminalized by social services such as foster care, welfare, and the mental health systems.”

  • The S.O.U.L Sister Leadership Collective (@leadsoulsisters), an organization '“support[ing] new leaders that have “lived and breathed” the inequalities of our legal, educational, and economic systems” by “mobiliz[ing] systems-involved girls and femmes of color – black, brown, and indigenous – to interrupt cycles of state violence, poverty, and oppression. [Their] four pillars are leadership, healing, social justice, and the arts.”

  • A Long Walk Home (@alongwalkhome), an organization that “empowers young artists and activists to end violence against all girls and women. [They] advocate for racial and gender equity in schools, communities, and our country-at-large.”

  • The Global Fund for Women (@globalfundwomen), an organization that “envision[s] a world where movements for gender justice have transformed power and privilege for a few into equity and equality for all. [They] fund bold, ambitious, and expansive gender justice movements to create meaningful change that will last beyond our lifetimes.”

  • Black Women Enterprises (@blackwomenenterprises), an organization “providing a variety of business technical assistance, resources and procurement information to Black women-owned enterprises.”

Educational Resources

Amaris Gutierrez-RayComment