lady liberty

To the #Blackout Community and Tumblr at large, 

We know you must have a lot of questions or are feeling distressed about the news. The world has been dealing with a lot this year, and it is an especially harrowing time for Black Americans and Black folks abroad. We know your biggest question right now could be summed up by a quote from Toni Morrison:

“What can I do where I am?”

Here at #TheBlackout, we have decided to help you start finding an answer to that question - we feel that we need each other. We need unity, organization, a clear sense of direction, but more importantly, a space where you can be yourself without judgement or fear.

So, in addition to boosting your art and businesses, our highest priority right now is to provide you all with resources to help you start from where you are.

This is a masterpost of places you can donate, find mental health + spaces for radical self-care, and just do something fun. We will be adding on as things change. 

Donate/Boost/Sign:

Minneapolis Freedom Bail Fund  & Louisville Community Bail Fund 

Reclaim the Block

Black Visions Collective

The Official GoFundMe of George Floyd’s Family

Official Petition for Breonna Taylor 

Justice for Regis Official Fund

Justice for Tony McDade Petition

Black Lives Matter Network

Mental Health Resources:

Ethel’s Club - Black-owned and operated social club offering access to Black therapists and a multitude of creative events for People of Color. 

Crisis Text Line - A different approach to crisis intervention, Crisis Text Line offers you help when you text 741-741. You’ll be able to chat with someone who is willing to listen and provide you with additional resources.

Shine Text. – Black-owned! Sign up to receive cheerful texts and tips every day. 

Therapy For Black Girls - A Black-owned a directory to help you find Black therapists in your area. 

Tips for Organizing/Protesting:

Knowing your rights - ACLU

How To Prepare for a Protest. (Remember to wear a mask in or to protect yourself!)

A Twitter thread of suggested readings

Fun Online Communities and Things to Do:

Some of our favorite online communities. 

Nerd Culture: @blacknerdproblems, @superheroesincolor

Poetry and Literary Spaces: Cave Canem Literary Balms program for Black poets,  Nuyorician Online Open Mic Events, Well-Read Black Girl

Podcasts: Therapy For Black Girls, Strong Black Legends by Netflix’s Strong Black Lead, The Read with Crissle and Kid Fury.

Hobbies: #BlackBirdersWeek by BlackAFinSTEM (5/31 - 6/8), Wellness Week by Black Girl Gamers. 

Join us for the 5/31 Emergency #Blackout/#BlackoutDay here on Tumblr and Twitter.

🥰💗💓💘💝💖💞💕🥰Dodger🥰💗💓💘💝💖💞💕 🥰Evans🥰 💗💓💘💝💖💞💕🥰and 🥰💗💓💘💝💖💞💕🥰his 🥰💗💓💘💝💖💞💕🥰stuffed 🥰💗💓💖💝💘💞💕🥰animals🥰💗💓💘💝💖💞💕🥰

[Note: When J. Elliot refers to her being classed as one of ‘your people’ in relation to black people of color, it’s based on her reputation of being an outspoken, anti-racism ally].

-Caroline Ouellette and Julie Chu (both former captains)

-Gillian Apps (former alternate captain) and Meghan Duggan (former captain)

-Jayna Hefford (former alternate captain) and Kathleen Kauth

tarlos + ocean blue

Geralt is heading east when he catches the scent and at first, he doesn’t think much of it. He’s imagining things, clearly, has been alone for too long now and he’s missing him. It’s a trick of the mind and nothing more. He can’t let himself get sidetracked in the middle of a hunt. But when the familiar scent becomes muddled with the sharp tang of blood, Geralt finds himself veering off despite himself. 

He follows the scent, keeping his pulse steady only because the scent of blood isn’t strong enough for it to be a fatal wound. But it’s human blood - or close enough to it - and that’s enough for him to be worried. Especially considering there’s no reason for Eskel to be this far north this time of year. So he walks a little quicker than he normally would despite trying to assure himself that everything will be fine. 

But when he finds Eskel, he’s huddled under a tree with his hood up and Geralt’s breath catches. When he focuses, he can hear Eskel’s heartbeat, the faint huff of his breath and it helps to soothe him, but he approaches slowly nonetheless. He knows Eskel can hear him, smell him, but he circles around to meet him from the front just in case. But Eskel turns away when Geralt gets close. 

“Don’t,” he says and Geralt frowns. In all the time they’ve known each other - longer now than Geralt can even remember - Eskel has never turned him away. “Don’t want you to see me like this.”