This piece is part of Rebel Well: a Starter Survival Guide to a Trumped America for Teens and Emerging Adults.
Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression, because power, real power, comes from our conviction which produces action, uncompromising action ― Malcolm X
Racism, already a powerful part of the fabric of society, on both a micro and macro level, is getting more transparent and more deeply codified in already racist systems. You are loved. You deserve dignified treatment. You have the right to take up space. And you are not alone.
Many of the institutions that have protected us may not do so any longer, especially government agencies and the rules they rely on to provide civil rights protections. The administration is actively attacking departments and offices responsible for addressing racial equity in contexts ranging from health care to educational opportunities. That makes it more important than ever to strengthen ties with other people and participate in mutual aid and other systems of community care. The Mutual Aid Hubexternal link, opens in a new tab is a great roundup of sites across the country, and there are similar listings of community resources such as free fridgesexternal link, opens in a new tab, community gardensexternal link, opens in a new tab, hackerspacesexternal link, opens in a new tab, and Repair Cafésexternal link, opens in a new tab where you can bring broken items from bikes to appliances to get help with fixing them. These are great places to find your people, and those people can help you navigate this scary world, whether they’re helping you with something specific or simply being there for you when you want to talk or process a traumatic event.
If you experience discrimination, document the details while your memory is fresh, including any evidence you have and contact information for people who witnessed it. Documentation can include email, letters, photos, video and/or audio recordings (know the law on recording phone calls, you may need to disclose that you are recording), photos, and written notes. If you’re taking notes, be sure to record when and where the event occurred, and who witnessed it. Some companies, schools, hospitals, and other entities have offices that address discrimination complaints, and you can file a report there. We know, however, that not all entities take such complaints seriously — and may not accept them at all. Civil rights organizations can provide you with information when your rights are violated. Consider contacting your elected officialsexternal link, opens in a new tab if you know they are likely to be advocates. Remember that being safe has to be your top priority: You are not a bad person if you opt not to draw attention to yourself by asking for help and focus on getting out of a bad situation.
Dangerous encounters with law enforcement — already a problem — are likely to get worse and more frequent, and our law enforcement guide has more information on handling police encounters. You are entitled to the same civil rights as anyone else in a police encounter, including the right to record, ask officers for their names and badge numbers, request information about why you are being stopped or held, and ask for an attorney if you are under arrest. If witnesses are present, make sure they can clearly see and hear what is going as well, and if possible, ask them to film or photograph what’s happening.
Advocating for your health care needs, already challenging at the best of times, is likely going to get harder. Our guide on dealing with doctors is a great resource for empowering yourself to find and interact with health care providers. In a reproductive health context, Black, Indigenous people of color are more likely to encounter discrimination, including pressure around which contraceptive methods to use and lack of information about pain management for IUD insertions, colposcopies, and other gynecological care. Our interview with Zena Sharman also provides information on building community in LGBTQ health care. The 19thexternal link, opens in a new tab, Yes! Magazineexternal link, opens in a new tab, and Prismexternal link, opens in a new tab are also great news sources if you’re looking for thoughtful reporting on people, events, and ideas that are building a better world.
Need some reading with actionable advice on making this world a better place? Kelly Hayes’ Organizing My Thoughtsexternal link, opens in a new tab newsletter is always an energizing and powerful read. GirlTrekexternal link, opens in a new tab, the No Name Book Clubexternal link, opens in a new tab, and Color My Outdoorexternal link, opens in a new tabs, among many others, provide great opportunities for building community and engaging in self care together.
We’d like to express our appreciation to reviewers Aarij, Sofi, Niesha Davis, and Ro, who provided invaluable feedback on this portion of Rebel Well.
