Over the past week, Black photographers and photographers of color have experienced an unprecedented amount of bigotry, racism, and emotional labor within the community surrounding the death of George Floyd and other racially-charged incidences.

It is time for photography industry leaders and corporations to use their platforms to speak out against the racism Black and minority photographers are facing within the industry. This includes mandatory diversity, inclusion, and equitable sensitivity training for photography vendors, executives, and leadership staff. And it also includes ambassadors, who are often the faces of photography companies.

To begin, we ask that you start with these initiatives:

• Racial-bias training

• Creating safe spaces for difficult discourse and conversations

• Identifying the areas of bias within the industry and proactively working to change them

• Creating anti-racism policies for all social media platforms

• Making all of these policies public knowledge and defending them accordingly

Gestures are not enough. Global actions are required now. It is only through facing systemic racism together that we can be the change that we want to see in the world. The time is now.

START HERE:

The Great Unlearn: Rachel Cargle

Talking About Race: National Museum of African American History + Culture

Anti-Racism 101 Crash Course with Monique Melton

Where Change Started

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

Good Ancestor Academy Layla F. Saad

Show Up Movement From Privilege to Progress

I’m Still Here: Black dignity in a world made for whiteness with Austin Channing

This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

How to be Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi

Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi

Anti-Racist Parenting Course with JORE Consulting

Parenting + Education through a Critical Racist Lens

Diversity + Inclusion Expert with Here We Read

Racism Scale

Overt White Supremacy

Comprehensive List of Anti-Racism Resources

Anti-Racism and White Privilege with Nova Reid

Racial Equity + Social Impact Event with Dr. Mica McGriggs

What Lies Between Us by Dr. Lucretia Carter Berry

The Half has Never Been Told by Edward E. Baptist

Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy for Enduring Injury and Healing by Dr. Joy Degruy

Childrens Book: I know My Bill of Rights by Mysonne Linen

2020 Winter: African-American Multigenerational Trauma + Implementing Models of Change with Dr. Joy Degruy

Dr. Edwin Nichols on Dichotomous Logic and Colorism