UNDERSTANDING/APPRECIATING HINDUISM
In Focus
"See more clearly when you are informed"
The Black Lives Matter movement swept across the United States in the summer of 2020 and it has remained a central part of America’s conversation on race. However, with so much contention and vitriol swirling around the topic it can be hard to get a handle on just what exactly Black Lives Matter means. Below you will find key terms, statistics, and other useful tools to understand and talk about Black Lives Matter. If you would like to know more, consider coming to an IYC event. Our next one can be found below in the section labeled Our Events. We host them virtually, on a wide range of topics, discussing policy, civics, and current events.
Key Terms You Should Know
Mandir:
A Hindu place of worship; a temple.
Pluralism:
An acknowledgement that many religions may be true and co-exist rather than there being one ‘true’ religion.
Bindi:
Is a decorative symbol on a person’s forehead of the third, inner eye focusing inward towards God. These are also known by the names Kumkum, Sindoor, Teep, Tikli, and Bottu.
Reincarnation:
Occurs after death when the eternal soul moves on to a new body.
The Vedas:
The oldest scriptures in Hinduism, passed down orally until written in Vedic Sanskrit between 1500 & 500 BC. The texts are considered by some to be timeless & divine.
Moments In History
1870 - 15th Amendment gives African American men the right to vote. Local & state laws still worked against these rights.
1954 - Brown vs. Board of Ed mandates schools desegregate. 10 years later, the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in businesses.
2020 - BLM protests occur worldwide sparked by George Floyd's death, though the movement began in 2013 after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
1921 - Tulsa Race Massacre occurs; also known as the Black Wall Street Massacre.
1968 - Martin Luther King Jr. marches with the Black sanitation workers on strike in Memphis, Tennessee.
Statistics
As reported by The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, 93%
of racial justice protests have been peaceful in the US.
According to the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, 300
new police reform bills that states collectively approved after George Floyd's death.
According to the Crowd Sourcing Consortium, there were 140
protests a day between 5/26 and 6/7, 2020.
74% of US adults acknowledge "systemic policing issues," as reported by Oakton College.
150,000
enslaved people in Texas were the last to find out they were freed by the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation when it was enforced on June 19, 1865, aka Juneteenth represented by fists w/ broken chains.
Values
Dharma
Ahimsa
Forbearance
Virtue
Selfless Service
Notable Names
Rosa Parks
John Legend
Patrisse Cullors
Colin Kaepernick
Malcolm X
Symbols
Our Events
Past
Future
Further Resources
Black Lives Matter Infographic
Share what you have learned about Black Lives Matter. Our Infographic has been designed to be shared easily by printing, emailing, or posting on social media. Click on the image to view or download the PDF File. (Not for commercial use.)
Celebrate & Create Event Video
Our crafting event for kids was lots of fun! Use your own materials to participate in our craft project. Watch the video to learn how to make your own bookmark! You can also make an event out of it by hosting your own Celebrate & Create: Black Lives Matter crafting party. Feel free to share this video with others! (Not for commercial use.)
Take Action
Wish someone a Happy Diwali and ask questions to learn more about this holiday celebration.
Attend a kirtan.
Commit to one Hinduism appreciation action this week!
Find a personally meaningful Hindu mantra and recite it during the day.
Share our Hinduism Infographic with friends, family, and anyone and everyone you think would appreciate becoming more informed!