On Saturday, Sounders FC broadcaster Steve Zakuani shared a powerful message about his lived experience as a black man and athlete, and the importance of being an ally to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Steve’s foundation, Kingdom Hope, wants to be there for those who have been forgotten and marginalized for far too long.
After receiving several requests from individuals for material assistance with basic needs, Kingdom Hope is creating a fund that will go directly towards meeting the basic needs of those individuals and businesses who have been affected by the pandemic and recent protests. Those who have lost jobs, or never had jobs to begin with, or who simply can’t cover basic living expenses.
Basic needs include groceries, rent assistance, utility & phone bills, meal replacement for those children who depended on school meals, plus many more. It’ll focus primarily on Washington State.
Donate to Kingdom Hope here.
As these crucial conversations continue to take place, Sounders FC has compiled a list of recommendations and anti-racist resources. This is by no means a complete record of all resources and organizations worthy of your support, but merely a starting point as we work together to create a more just and equitable community.
Support
Shop at black and minority owned businesses. Learn More.
Educate
Educate yourself and your children about racial justice. Learn More.
Anti-Racist Resource Lists:
- United Way of King County. Learn More.
- Port of Seattle. Learn More.
Vote
Vote for the good of your entire community. Register.
Census
Complete and submit your 2020 census. Be counted. Be seen. Learn More.
Donate
Support basic needs in communities of color across Western WA by donating to the RAVE Community Relief Fund. Donate.
Additionally, the Sounders FC Front Office staff has put together a list of books, articles, videos and additional resources for how to educate yourself, friends and family on the history of systemic racism and inequality in the United States.
Literature
- Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? By Beverly Tatum
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness By Michelle Alexander
- Uncensored By Zach Woods
- The Color of Law By Richard Rothstein
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism By Robin DiAngelo
- How to be an Anti-Racist By Dr. Ibram X Kendi
- Just Mercy By Brian Stevenson
- Invisible Man By Ralph Ellison
- The Autobiography of Malcolm X As told to Alex Haley
Articles
Films
- 13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
- American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix
- Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent
- Blindspotting (Carlos López Estrada) — Hulu with Cinemax or available to rent
- Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent
- Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix
- Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent
- I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — Available to rent or on Kanopy
- If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu
- Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.
- King In The Wilderness — HBO
- See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix
- Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent
- The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Available to rent
- The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Hulu with Cinemax
- When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
Videos
Support for Parents – Raising Anti-Racist Children
Talking with children about racial violence:
- Center for Racial Justice in Education: Resources for Talking about Race, Racism and Racialized Violence with Kids
- New York Times: Talking to Kids About Racial Violence, By Haig Chahinian
- University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education: Talking to children after racial incidents
Talking with children about race and COVID-19:
