Conversations about race, justice, and the Black Lives Matter movement are happening at the community level. They were happening before George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25th, 2020 and they continue to happen now on Meetup.
As part of our commitment to advocate for equity on Meetup and at Meetup, we’re amplifying voices advocating for equity in our society. These groups are meeting on the topic of race, justice, the Black Lives Matters movement, and beyond. Learn how you can get involved with or start groups like these in your area or online. We’ve also shared a list of resources for organizers below.
Groups starting conversations
Read more about each group and their events on their group page.
Anti-racism
Boston Knapsack Anti-Racism Group
Boston, MA
“A multiracial/cross-class group of folks dedicated to the struggle for shared liberation, we engage in a variety of group discussions to build community and awareness, and take action to disrupt the systems of racism in the U.S. and beyond.”
Guilford Anti-Racism Alliance
Greensboro, NC
“Guilford Anti-Racism Alliance (GARA) is an anti-racist, information-sharing, collaborative, discussion-and-action group that has been meeting regularly for more than 10 years.”
Anti-Racism: This is the Time
Portland, OR
“A learning / doing community striving to be truly anti-racist! Committed to absolute equality, with peace & love we ARE the change.”
Book club & discussions
Racism Discussion Group
Durham, NC
“ALL are welcome! You should join this group if you have questions about the current dialogue on racism, if you have an experience related to racism that you would like to share, if you are interested in discussing possible solutions to racism, or if you are interested in discussing a topic that many find taboo.”
NYC Social Justice Book Club
Brooklyn, NY
“This book club is for anyone interested in reading, exploring and discussing social justice themed-books.”
Crossing Party Lines: New York
New York, NY
“The Crossing Party Lines mission is to create open dialogue between Americans with dissimilar ideologies in order to increase tolerance, build communities and encourage civic engagement.”
Learning through diversity
Auburn, WA
“Our country is hurting and sometimes strangers can bring you the most hope. This is an opportunity for a diverse group of people to get together and learn from one another.”
Ally-focused discussions
Latinos Against Injustice
Gaithersburg, MD
“A conversation about the injustice minorities face in the United States of America and in our countries of origin.”
BLM Group for White Allies
New York, NY
“I created this virtual group to serve as a safe and inviting space for white allies–all allies, to ask questions and gain direct insight as we all seek racial justice for black people in America.”
Resources For White Parents To Raise Anti-Racist Children
Edmonton, AB
“This group is to serve as a resource for white people and parents to engage in anti-racism work. If we want to raise anti-racist children then we need to dismantle white supremacy within ourselves and our families.”
Toronto WhiteSpace Online Discussion Group
Toronto, ON
“This is a space for white people interested in understanding their privilege and confronting their biases. The goal is for white people to explore our own racism and biases without putting the burden on people of colour to educate us.”
Educate to End Hate w/Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Foundation
Seattle, WA
“I’ve formed this meetup to learn more about racism, to re-learn what I’ve been told, to have open and frank discussions and to support the positive work being done by the Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Foundation (JTM).”
Events hosted so far
Here are just some of the events that have been hosted recently by Meetup groups. You can find more groups and events like these on Meetup.
- Hack for Black Lives Matter, hosted by NYC Coders
- Black Canvas: An Open and Honest Discussion about the Human Race, hosted by San Diego Tech Hub
- Anti-Racism Singalong by Choir!Choir!Choir!, hosted by Bucket List Toronto
- “Sick and Tired” Zoom Event by the National Association of Black Social Workers, hosted by W.O.K.E. (Women of Kolour Empowered)
- Conversations in Oakland: The Lasting Impact of the Black Panther Party, hosted by Oakland Uptown Rotary
- Why We Need Black Feminisms: Black Feminisms for Now and Beyond , 6/5, hosted by Radical Feminist Activists
Resources for organizers
- Letters for Black Lives (includes translated letters in over 30 languages)
- Follow-up Conversations Guide: A Talking Point guide for additional follow-up conversations with your friends and family about anti-Blackness.
- Black Lives Matters toolkits:
- National Day of Racial Healing
- Racial Equity Tools
- Dosomething.org
- Non-black People of Color Need to Start Having Conversations About the Anti-blackness in our Communities: A guide to starting anti-racist conversations with friends and family.
- Take Action to Disrupt Racism in your Community
- Vulture (Lauren Michele Jackson)
- The Opportunity Agenda
- Anti-Defamation League
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture
Last modified on March 20, 2023
