11 Anti-Racism Educators & Activists To Follow And Support Online
The Black Lives Matter movement urged an acceleration of anti-racism work, and the action and education continues today. That’s because anti-racism education and awareness is not a trend, nor was it resolved during the protests in 2020; activists have been speaking out against systemic racism for years, and will continue to do so.
Below, you’ll find a list of Black educators, activists, and organizations who are advocating for the end of state and societal violence against Black communities. Match the work of these activists with your own introspection, action, and contribution to their teaching—from financial to sharing via word of mouth.
But buying a book and following a handful of new accounts on Instagram is only surface level—the real effort can feel confronting. And it should. It takes courage to speak up in spaces and systems that are not welcome to all—to ensure that every voice is equal, protected, and accounted for. Start here, and grow.
To even further your education, here is a list of anti-racism books to add to your reading list.
Rachel Cargle
Rachel Cargle is a public academic, arts advocate, and founder of The Loveland Foundation, a platform offering free therapy for Black women and girls. Cargle’s Patreon, The Great Unlearn, is a structured space for folks who want more resources and discourse surrounding what many broken systems have taught us for years.
Website | Instagram | Patreon | Books
Ijeoma Oluo
Ijeoma Oluo is the New York Times bestselling author of So You Want To Talk About Race and Mediocre, whose work focuses on the intersections between race and identity, feminism, history, mental health, and more. You can read more from Oluo on her Substack, Behind The Book, and connect directly with her community via chat and exclusive-to-subscribers content.
Website | Instagram | Substack | Books
Blair Imani
Historian and advocate Blair Imani’s work centers women and girls, global Black communities, and the LGBTQ community. She’s written three books, the latest of which is an extension of her educational series, Smarter In Seconds, that she launched on Instagram. There, you’ll learn about intersectionality, race, sexuality, and more.
Website | Instagram | Books
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is a 2021 MacArthur Fellow and #1 New York Times bestselling author whose works include The Black Campus Movement, Stamped From The Beginning, and How To Be An Antiracist. He is also a CBS News Racial Justice Contributor and the Founding Director of The Antiracist Research & Policy Center; if you haven’t yet learned something from Dr. Kendi, 2023 is the year.
Website | Instagram | Books
The Conscious Kid
If you’re wondering how to talk to your children or students about race and racism, The Conscious Kid offers book lists, resources, and tips for hosting the conversations. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit also goes further on its Patreon, where you can become a monthly contributor for $5 or $10. (If you have limited resources, there is a more accessible pricing tier.)
Website | Instagram | Patreon
Brittany Packnett Cunningham
Brittany Packnett Cunningham has done it all—a founder, TED speaker, podcaster, executive, writer, and correspondent—and she’s still going. Keep an eye out for her upcoming 2025 book We Are Like Those Who Dream, which deep dives into historic speeches by Black women. And as former co-host of Pod Save The People, you can hear Packnett Cunningham’s more recent podcast work at UNDISTRACTED—where she explores news with an intersectional lens.
Website | Instagram | Books
Layla F. Saad
After Layla F. Saad led the Me and White Supremacy challenge on Instagram, she turned her work into a bestselling book by the same name. Saad’s work is dedicated to becoming a good ancestor for the generations to come—join the community for workshops, book clubs, and additional resources for building a legacy of healing and liberation.
Website | Instagram | Community
Ericka Hart
Ericka Hart, who has a Master’s of Education in Human Sexuality, is an educator who challenges anti-Blackness wherever it shows up (from medicine, to academia, fashion, and more). You can learn directly from Hart through their gender and racial and social justice courses—or, listen to archived episodes of their podcast, Hoodrat to Headwrap.
Website | Instagram | Courses
Rachel Ricketts
Rachel Ricketts is a racial justice educator, lawyer, healer, speaker, and author. She offers online courses on spiritual activism, resources on grief and anti-racism, and monthly newsletters. While you’re learning, be sure to check out Ricketts’s book, Do Better, for more inspiration on spiritual activism.
Website | Instagram | Patreon | Books
No White Saviors
To understand that anti-racism work is essential worldwide, No White Saviors is a platform based in Uganda that challenges the White Savior Complex (WSC) and centers and uplifts African people. It identifies and provides critical feedback around the WSC and dismantles harmful systems through public and legal action. You can support the work on Patreon.
Instagram | Patreon
Austin Channing Brown
Austin Channing Brown, the author of I’m Still Here, is a multi-hyphenate creative (aka she can do it all!) who combines racial justice, faith, and Black womanhood in her work. Channing Brown is the CEO of Herself Media, where you can hear directly from her on Full Reset, a podcast on the journey towards adulthood. (Check out her series The Next Question, too!)
