by Author Phoebe Cross

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Black Lives Matter - Important Information & Resources

Following on from Youth Music’s statement in June 2020, we collated some resources to help people learn what they can do to help the Black Lives Matter movement. Credit for a lot of this post goes to Das Penman’s widely shared Instagram post. Please note this blog only scratches the surface but is a start, with some general information on racism and colonialism and some linking more specifically to this within music education. The work often starts with conversations at home – you don’t need a platform of hundreds or thousands of people to push back against racism, it can start with the people in your family or your close friends. And it’s also important to examine your own bias, prejudices and privilege. We aim to update this page frequently, especially as it gets a lot of traffic, from all over the world. This list was last updated in August 2024.

“It is not enough to be not racist, you must actively be anti racist” – Angela Davis.

General Resources

Music Industry/Music Education focus

Books (All widely available, we encourage using alternatives to Amazon)

  • Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge
  • Me And White Supremacy – Layla F Saad
  • Between The World And Me – Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • The Autobiography Of Malcolm X – Malcolm X & Alex Halsey
  • Teaching For Black Lives – Dylan Watson, Jesse Hagopian, Wayne Au
  • Black, Listed: Black British Culture Explored – Jeffrey Boakye
  • How To Argue With A Racist – Adam Rutherford 
  • Natives - Akala
  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness - Michelle Alexander
  • How To Be An Antiracist - Ibram X Kendi
  • So You Want To Talk About Race - Ijeoma Oluo
  • White Fragility - Robin DiAngelo (a good resource but note it is written by a white author)
  • Killing Rage: Ending Racism - Bell Hooks
  • Sister Outside - Audre Lorde
  • The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas
  • Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood - Trevor Noah
  • The Bluest Eye - Toni Morrison
  • If I Were A Racist - Nate Holder

Social media accounts to follow

Organisations and campaign charities you can donate to

Funding for change makers and activists

Documentaries, Films & Podcasts

Additional Resources in relation to race and class (added since original blog publication)