i know criticizing the south as being backwards and regressive is all the rage right now, but actually the south is home to some of the most visionary, radical, progressive activists in the whole damn country and yes i will die on this hill. georgia flipping blue is a testament to those activists and hopefully gives you a taste of just how important this work is, and how these southern organizations need our support now more than ever.
people who live in progressive/liberal areas need to stop scapegoating the south and start working with us for our collective liberation. what happened in georgia is great, but it’s unfair to rely on the most marginalized to save us (white people) from ourselves. on that note, hey fellow white people! we didn’t invent white supremacy, but we inherited it. it’s up to us to demolish it, and fall in line with BIPOC-led organizations who are doing the work. you can (and should) help even if you don’t live in the south.
here’s a list of southern organizations doing great work and how to donate to support them.
- Fair Fight. “We promote fair elections in Georgia and around the country, encourage voter participation in elections, and educate voters about elections and their voting rights.” Donate here.
- Southerners on New Ground (SONG). “SONG is a home for LGBTQ liberation across all lines of race, class, abilities, age, culture, gender, and sexuality in the South. We build, sustain, and connect a southern regional base of LBGTQ people in order to transform the region through strategic projects and campaigns developed in response to the current conditions in our communities.” Donate here.
- Gideon’s Army. “Our mission is to act collectively, boldly and strategically as a unified force for all children. We eliminate the root causes of the prison pipeline, save our children from death and incarceration and guide them on a secure path to success.” Donate here.
- Free Hearts. “A Tennessee state-wide organization led by formerly incarcerated women that provides support, education, and advocacy in organizing families impacted by incarceration, with the ultimate goals of reuniting families and keeping families together.” (Has also been doing a lot of work recently helping formerly incarcerated folks vote for the first time!)
- Project South. “A Southern-based leadership development organization that creates spaces for movement building.” Donate here.
- Southern Movement Assembly. “An organizing strategy for community and movement governance…We believe that we are stronger together, and we participate in grassroots democracy to exercise political power at the community, city, state, and regional levels.” Donate here.
- Black Voters Matter. “To increase power in marginalized, predominantly Black communities. Effective voting allows a community to determine its own destiny.” Donate here.
- The Equity Alliance. “A Nashville-based grassroots non-profit advocacy group that seeks to equip citizens with tools and strategies to engage in the civic process and empower them to take action on issues affecting their daily lives.” Donate here.
if you know of great southern orgs, especially if they’re local to you, please add them! if you live in the south and don’t know of any orgs, i guarantee there is a stacey abrams doing great work near you. get engaged with local efforts for equality!
