Published on May 29, 2020, updated weekly.

““…I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard.” ”

— Martin Luther King Jr.

On Monday, May 25, an unarmed black man named George Floyd was killed after Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Mr. Floyd’s neck for more than seven minutes, while Floyd—handcuffed and unarmed—pleaded for his life. This encounter was videotaped and George Floyd can be heard saying, “I can’t breathe.” As of the date of this post, Officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, a charge many would say does not fit the crime. Riots rage in Minneapolis as the frustrated masses demand to be heard.

In a statement by Barack Obama:

“It's natural to wish for life "to just get back to normal" as a pandemic and economic crisis upend everything around us. But we have to remember that for millions of Americans, being treated differently on account of race is tragically, painfully, maddeningly "normal" — whether it's while dealing with the health care system, or interacting with the criminal justice system, or jogging down the street, or just watching birds in a park.

This shouldn't be "normal" in 2020 America. It can't be "normal." If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must be better.”

It’s not simply enough to condemn this behavior. It isn’t enough to repost graphic images or colorful illustrations with decorative font. As a society, we must do better. In order to make lasting and constructive change, we must educate ourselves and take action. It’s far easier to advocate for change without taking the steps necessary to do so.

While we don’t always have all the right words to say, we hope that these resources provide the necessary groundwork to incite long-lasting change towards the America that we all want to live in and aspire to.