Tugboat Yarning’s Anti-Racism Action Plan

I am learning to mute my voice so as to amplify much needed voices in our communities. This is Maggie H-G, owner of Tugboat Yarning, a white woman living in West Michigan, writing to make sure you know that I stand with BIPOC and POC, not just in the times of Covid-19, or in these heightened times of racial unrest that may seem “recent” but are instead generations and centuries of harm we need to undo in our culture, in our systems, in our homes, in my home. The work has been there for a while, so let’s get to it.

In the past week, I know I’ve been inundated with the many ways I can do the work to support BIPOC and POC communities, that I can speak out against racism, and I can work on my own inner biases, prejudices, and assumptions. With that in mind, I’ve created a printable Action Plan that you can put your own name on, and then write down the many ways you can work on being anti-racist. Print it, write your name on it, fill it out, and flip it over to the other side if you have additional ideas. This could be your weekly plan, your monthly plan, or your plan for what remains in 2020. Let’s get to work!

This is a PDF, but if you have any trouble with formatting, please don’t hesitate to email me tugboatyarning[at]gmail[dot]com.

Make note that there is a space for you to write your name so that you can take ownership of your work. There is also a spot to write the name of your accountability partner. Have a friend know what you’re working on, unpack what you are learning, and be a safe space to call you out if you aren’t following through. We can’t do this work alone!

Need some ideas? Here are some basics: Books, Podcasts, Documentaries, Local Social Justice Organizations, National Social Justice Organizations, Movies with BIPOC and POC characters, writers, producers, BIPOC & POC Comedians, Sermons, Biographies, Auto-Biographies, Instagram Accounts, Facebook Pages, Writers, Journalists, News Outlets. Got hobbies? Look for BIPOC and POC that are hobbyists like you. What is your church doing? Encourage steps being made or challenge movement that isn’t happening.

And finally, from this small business, from this quirky blog space, from this mother to young children, from a white woman who wants to do better to help battle injustice in our world, these are the promises I am making:

It should not be for my BIPOC & POC friends to do the work for me, but I hope that I can be a safe space, a learning space, and an ally in the fight against racism. If I’m doing it wrong, call me out. And if I’m missing something, call me out.

Walking beside you in this VITAL journey,

~Maggie