| Babeland Toy Store

BLACK LIVES MATTER

As a company, Babeland is outraged by the presence of and continuation of violence against the Black community, especially that which has been committed by police and law enforcement with no repercussions or justice.

We want to make sure that we take a moment to recognize those who we’ve recently lost to anti-Black violence:

     Ahmaud Arbery
     Rayshard Brooks
     George Floyd
     Tony McDade
     Nina Pop
     Breonna Taylor

These names are just a small fraction.

The type of inhumanity that leads to this targeted violence against Black lives is a direct result of the culture of white supremacy that is still so ingrained throughout our society. We especially see this perpetuated by the police, who rarely ever face any consequences for their actions. The result is a continuation of violence with no justice for victims and their communities.

This needs to stop.

Education supports change. Babeland has an education-based mission -- we are committed to continuing the unlearning of racism and dismantling of white supremacy through staff trainings, community workshops, and partnerships with local organizations.

While we could simply announce a one-time donation before going back to our "normal" routines, we instead will be focusing on continuing to support the organizations on the frontlines of needed institutional change, and encouraging our communities to do so as well.

We will be taking this time to ensure our actions have lasting impacts- and that this work will stay integral to our brand's operation, far past this one week.

Here’s what we are doing:

Restarting our fundraising platform- Come For a Cause - as well as donating directly to Black community organizations and bail funds.
Reassessing our staff training procedures to ensure that any existing anti-racist and anti-bias rhetoric present is updated and highlighted as an essential part of our company mission.
Ensuring that our hiring procedures maintain a diverse staff team on all levels, from each individual shop location to our administrative team.
Using our social media (Twitter, Instagram) to continue to uplift Black voices and add updates of resources and ways that we can continue to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
Listening to and learning from Black community voices so that we can continue to progress in how we navigate these issues on a company level as well as through our education and outreach initiatives.

We encourage those who are able to donate to their local organizations to do so. Here is a link that splits a direct donation to over 70 Bail Funds and Community Organizations (via ActBlue)

Understanding that donating may not be an accessible option for everyone, there are many other ways that we as a community can support this mission- mainly by educating ourselves and others on how to bring anti-racist values into the forefront of every aspect of our lives.

Here’s what you can do:

CONFRONT RACISM- If you see or hear someone being racist, supporting white supremacy, or discouraging anti-racist movements- call them out. Educate them if/when you are able, or if not- direct them to resources that can. It is especially important for non-Black folks to take the responsibility of emotional labor through call-outs and education.
GET ON THE FRONTLINES- If you can, show your support and solidarity in person by showing up to protests, marches, and movements.
VOTE- Making institutional change often requires the power of lawmakers, those in congress, and local governments. Vote in those who support change, and vote out those who are against it or are compliant.
DONATE RESOURCES- Medical supplies, food, water, and PPE are essential to the safety and well-being of those protesting. Find local organizations who will disperse these resources, or if you are able, set up a station nearby protests to help give them out yourself.
BE A LIFELINE- If you are not able to protest- make yourself available as a safety call, offer to pick up protestors from hot zones to transport them, and/or offer to watch children of parents who are organizers or plan to be on the frontlines.
SHARE INFORMATION- Use your social media as a platform to share resources like fundraising information, updates from community organizers, legal information, safety precautions, updates for those in your area, etc.
- @emergency_release_fund
- @reclaimtheblock
- @mnfreedomfund
- @blackvisionscollective
- @bailproject
- @fairfightaction
READ- Read books that tackle the topic of race from the lens of those who experience it firsthand, and learn the history behind these movements from Black authors and historians.
- If you are planning on purchasing these titles, support a Black-owned bookshop when you do. Here is a list of some places you can buy from online.
- If you cannot purchase these titles, consider contacting your local library to make these titles available for rental via eReader or App.
  - A Bound Woman is a Dangerous Thing – DaMaris B. Hill
  - Between The World & Me – Ta-Nehisi Coates
  - Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People – Mahzarin R. Banaji + Anthony G. Greenwald
  - The Fire Next Time – James Baldwin
  - The Fire This Time – Jesmyn Ward
  - Freedom is a Constant Struggle – Angela Davis
  - Have Black Lives Ever Mattered? – Mumia Abu-Jamal
  - Here For It – R. Eric Thomas
  - Hood Feminism – Mikki Kendall
  - How to Be an Antiracist – Ibram X Kendi
  - How We Fight For Our Lives – Saeed Jones
  - I'm Still Here: Black Dignity In a World Made For Whiteness – Austin Channing Brown
  - Just Mercy – Bryan Stevenson
  - Me and White Supremacy – Layla F. Saad
  - My Grandmother’s Hands – Resmaa Menakem
  - The New Jim Crow – Michelle Alexander
  - So You Want To Talk About Race – Ijeoma Oluo
  - Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You – Ibram X. Kendi + Jason Reynolds
  - This Book is Anti-Racist – Tiffany Jewell
  - White Fragility – Robin D’Angelo
  - Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge
  - Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria? – Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD
HOLD SPACE- The Black community is hurting and grieving. If you have the ability to, offer support by holding emotional space to listen to those who are affected by the news and the emotional labor associated with this movement.
- Checking in can take many forms:
  - Try and ask questions beyond the static and open-ended “how are you doing?”
  - Ask for the tangible needs of the person you are reaching out to- do they need food? A reminder to get rest? An ear to vent to? A break from heavier topics of conversation?
- Remember that offering help should not be about you and your process, but about being open to those who you are offering help to. If someone does not want to accept your offer, and says “no”- always respect that.
- Hold space for yourself.
  - Taking a break from the news and the constant inundation of graphic violence against the Black community on social media is important. Taking a step back can ensure that we do not burn out or retraumatize ourselves if we are experiencing these realities firsthand.

All of these ideas are just small steps that we can take towards the unlearning of systemic racism and towards ending anti-Black violence. There is and will be so much more that we can and need to do as this movement goes on, and so it is essential that we are diligent in making sure that all of our actions- however big or small- are ones that continue to fight racism in every aspect of our lives.

We stand with the Black community. We stand against racism, against oppression, and against police brutality.

We are taking action for that change, and we ask you to do the same.

In solidarity,
The Babeland team.

BLACK LIVES MATTER