Black Lives Matter: Donations, shirts, resources and how to help

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Resources for staying educated and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement

Black Lives Matter
(Image credit: Black Lives Matter)

On May 25, George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the latest in a long line of senseless killings of black men and women. This event has sparked a new wave of protest and pleas for what should be an obvious and universal truth: Black lives matter. Your social media feed has likely been flooded with discussion around police brutality and racial inequality in the United States, and you might be looking for ways to help. We are too. 

Tom’s Guide stands behind our black colleagues at Future Publishing and beyond, some of whom have helped shape the site’s vision and delivered some of its most engaging and helpful content over the years. Like our colleagues at Tom's Hardware, Laptop Mag, TechRadar, PCGamer and GamesRadar, we're committed to equality and diversity in the workplace and beyond.

Our mission is to help people in their daily lives, and that mission extends to explaining a movement as global and undeniable as Black Lives Matter, and providing resources for those who want to learn more on the topic and help those in need.

What is Black Lives Matter? 

Black Lives Matter is a human rights movement that was started to bring awareness to issues such as racial injustice, police brutality and the unlawful and unjustified murders of African-Americans in the United States. The movement rose to prominence in 2013 following the murder of 17-year old Trayvon Martin, and has grown around the globe as a means of protecting black lives and speaking out against unjustified violence. 

According to the Black Lives Matter website, the movement’s mission is to “eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.”

Black Lives Matter organizes protests and marches, provides access to petitions and resources for those who want to speak out and receive aid, and creates art and culture exhibitions that highlight the Black experience. 

Black Lives Matter donations: Where you can help

There are a number of ways you can aid the Black Lives Matter movement financially, as well as contribute to causes that are working towards police reform, policy change and and keeping protesters safe. Memorial funds are also available for black lives taken at the hands of police violence, including George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

Here are some fundraisers we recommend checking out.

Black Lives Matter resources

If you're looking to learn more about the movement or ways to help, or want to educate yourself on the history of systemic racism, here are some resources we recommend looking at. 

Black Lives Matter shirts

If you want to support the Black Lives Matter movement when you're out and about, there are a number of shirts and merchandise options available. The official Black Lives Matter shop has a number of BLM shirts and sweaters, as well as face masks, stickers, pins and hats that feature the movement's logo.

Black media to watch and read 

We also recommend checking out the many great works created by black filmmakers and authors. Some are especially relevant to the state of the world today, while others drive home just how many beloved and critical works of entertainment come from black creators. Elle’s Anti-Racist Reading List is a great resource for those who want to learn more about the history of racism in the United States. Below are some of our recommendations for black movies and books to check out. 

Movies & TV

Books & graphic novels

Michael Andronico
Michael Andronico

Mike Andronico is Senior Writer at CNNUnderscored. He was formerly Managing Editor at Tom's Guide, where he wrote extensively on gaming, as well as running the show on the news front. When not at work, you can usually catch him playing Street Fighter, devouring Twitch streams and trying to convince people that Hawkeye is the best Avenger.