Welcome to the Black Lives Matter Capsule, a self-guided platform to actively honor Black Lives.
Today, and every day, all Black Lives Matter.
Black, White, and non-Black people of color are all diminished by systemic, anti-Black racism. Berklee staff, faculty, and students have a responsibility to help shift and transform the status quo in our world, our nation, our institution, and our personal lives; a status quo that does not serve us - and never has.
We have created this self-guided space for exploration, reflection, learning, and dialogue, to be used at your leisure, in a self-paced virtual learning environment. We hope that you will continually use this resource to prompt deeper reflection, commitment, and action.
Before you engage, consider the folks in your circle that may benefit from this experience. Take a moment to send a message, encourage participation, and get them engaged as well.
Racism will not be solved in one day. Anti-blackness will not simply be removed from the hearts, minds, and societal structures we rely upon. White supremacy will not be dismantled overnight. It will take all of us to move our institution forward in the pursuit of racial justice.
Together, we can begin unpacking and disrupting systemic racism. We can make a difference. We can do our own self work, embrace our discomfort, move forward when it’s inconvenient, and hold ourselves accountable to the ways we contribute to the systems that have harmed, and continue to harm, our neighbors, our peers, and our fellow community members.
It’s time to show up, and we promise - it won’t be easy, but… it is absolutely necessary.
Before you begin… let’s start with a writing prompt. Take a moment to make three lists:
List One
What actions did you take to combat anti-Black racism before the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and other Black individuals?
List Two
What actions have you taken to combat anti-Black racism since the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and other Black individuals?
List Three
What actions do you intend to take going forward, short term and long term, to combat anti-Black racism? Feel free to include “engaging with this self-guided platform” on your list.
Now that you have created your list… let’s begin.
How to engage:
We know, this may be uncomfortable for you; just remember, you are not alone. And we get it, this may feel overwhelming - just breathe.
Each category contains resources, reflection questions, and a centralized question for discussion at the top of the page. We have provided different opportunities for engagement - feel free to choose how you wish to engage. Please, PLEASE, note that these resources, names, materials, etc. are non-exhaustive. This is a starting place.
Okay, that’s about it - start wherever you’d like. There are currently ten modules at your disposal - just keep scrolling!
Know Their Names: Black People Killed by the Police in the U.S.
Need a break? Head over to our music page to listen to some tunes.
Ending reflection: After exploring the final module, The Prism of Intersectionality, return to the lists you created at the very beginning of this experience. Based on your engagement with this Capsule, revise and improve your lists. For the first and second lists, what could you have done differently?
For your third list, revise and improve your future plans with consideration for all you have explored and learned. Identify an accountability buddy - a friend, family member, work colleague, neighbor, etc. who is invested in holding you accountable - and share your lists.
Please note, although this platform has been carefully curated, we are unable to do due diligence to all of the Black lives taken away and traumatized due to police brutality, white supremacy, systemic racism, and intersectional violence.
Thank you for your engagement!
Website designed by Simone A. Francis