Our Thoughts and Commitment to Inclusivity and Anti-Discrimination | RES IPSA - RES IPSA

Our Thoughts and Commitment to Inclusivity and Anti-Discrimination | RES IPSA

 “Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up.” - James Baldwin 

As a brand it has taken us a while to articulate our thoughts and commitment to inclusivity and anti-discrimination. Our hearts are heavy with trauma and grief following the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tony McDade and so many others.  We are struggling with emotions ranging from sadness to anger to distress.  But we also have hope because it seems like America is engaged in the very early stages of what will inevitably be a painful reconciliation of the effects of structural and institutional racism. 

People around the world seem to be finally saying, enough-is-enough and are open to hearing from people who are suffering the daily and generational effects of racism, denied opportunities, and oppression. This fight is a personal fight.

America was built on the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. From the Civil Rights Era to Stonewall to Black Lives Matter, the story of America has been about the fight to expand the categories of people who get to be a part of that promise. We like to think the current protests are growing pains that will birth a more just society.

Charity begins at home. So does change. We all can and must do something. If we're serious about racial justice, our work is to engage in authentic, vulnerable conversations with the people closest to us. Let's continue to support one another, be a soft safe space to land for each other, and challenge our deeply-held biases and bigotry. 

We embrace the words of James Baldwin, who said "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." We can start to face racism at home. As a brand we are committed to doing everything we possibly can to educate ourselves and work on long-term initiatives within our community and company to shine a light on racial discrimination and inequality, as well as be an agent of change for all marginalized groups. 

Here is a list of some books, videos, and resources that have helped give us the language to have difficult conversations around racism. For anyone interested in unlearning racism or confronting racial injustice, the links below are valuable resources. 

Authors & Books 

Ijeoma Oluo - So You Want To Talk About Race

So You Want to Talk About Race 

Michelle Alexander - The New Jim Crow

The New Jim Crow

Crystal Marie Fleming - How To Be Less Stupid About Race 

How to Be Less Stupid About Race: On Racism, White Supremacy, and the Racial Divide

Ta-Nehisi Coates - Between the World and Me

https://www.amazon.com/Between-World-Me-Ta-Nehisi-Coates/dp/0451482212

James Baldwin - The Fire Next Time

The Fire Next Time 

YouTube Clips

The Danger of A Single Story - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

 

Jazz - Toni Morrison Interview (full video) 

 

Soul! - James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni (full video)  

Watch

13th - Netflix 

Who Killed Malcolm X? - Netflix

If Beale St Could Talk - Hulu

When They See Us - Netflix

Just Mercy - All digital platforms (free for month of June)

King in the Wilderness - HBO Max (watch for free)

Resources 

Vote - vote.org

Black Lives Matter - https://blacklivesmatter.com/

American Civil Liberties Union - https://www.aclu.org/

NAACP Legal Defense Fund - https://www.naacpldf.org/

The Bail Project - https://bailproject.org

Secure ActBlue - https://secure.actblue.com/signin

Equal Justice Initiative - https://eji.org/

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