About Liberate
in Mind
Liberate In Mind is committed to deepening understanding, shifting cultural narratives, and building cross-movement coalitions in service of justice and liberation for Black Indigenous People of Color and fellow animals as one common undertaking.
We promote awareness and knowledge of the underlying systems of oppression that cause harm to humans, nonhumans, and the shared ecosystems that support life in order to inform how scholars, educators, activists, and caregivers talk about and take action to dismantle oppressive systems and reimagine multispecies communities where all are free and can thrive.
Black and other scholars, educators, and activists of color have long talked about animality as tied to racial liberation struggles. The concepts and frameworks generated by Black and other educators and advocates of color offer new ways of talking about, visioning and advocating for the liberation of both racialized people and fellow animals.
Yet, many humane educators and animal advocates are unaware of or are reluctant to consider that systems of racial and animal oppression are both rooted in constructs of racial hierarchy, and are, therefore, intertwined and should be thought about together.
The liberatory vision of the animal liberation movement, along with other social justice movements, would greatly benefit from understanding the interwoven nature of racial and animal oppression and how confronting animality is central to moving us toward collective liberation overall.
MISSION
Shift cultural narratives and inspire community-building and cross-movement coalitions to dismantle the racialized systems of oppression that subjugate people and fellow animals
VISION
A just, humane, and liberated world where multispecies communities are free and thriving
FOCUS OF CHANGE
To promote awareness and understanding of the underlying white supremacist logics that uphold the multidimensional systems of oppression causing harm to humans, nonhumans, and the shared ecosystems that support life, in order to inform how scholars, educators, activists, and caregivers talk about and take action to dismantle oppressive systems and reimagine multispecies communities where all are free and can thrive.
THEORY OF CHANGE
The theory of change encompasses a number of key strategic pillars:
-
through personal reflection & accountability that encourages examination of one’s role in systems of racial hierarchy, dismantling them, and reimagining and living into new ways of thinking & living
-
using storytelling & connection to multispecies communities in order to promote counter-oppressive language, narratives and practices within education, advocacy, and grassroots action efforts
-
in community & solidarity with those impacted by oppressive systems of racial hierarchy, i.e. BIPOC and fellow nonhuman animals, to better center their lived experiences in taking action for a more liberated world for all
-
by incorporating rest, spaciousness & joy into the project’s daily work and countering dominant cultural values often based in white supremacy in favor of values rooted in liberation, justice, and healing
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Even though Black and other scholars, educators, and activists of color have long talked about animality as tied to racial liberation struggles, these narratives are not always integrated into larger social justice education circles and social justice advocacy movements. However, these concepts and frameworks generated by BIPOC advocates, often rooted in the liberation struggles of Black and other racialized communities, offer new ways of talking about, visioning and advocating for the liberation of both racialized people and fellow animals.
In fact, most mainstream animal organizations tend to be overwhelmingly white-dominated, and have often been unwelcoming spaces for Black and other people of color. Some white-led groups have a history of misappropriating the violence against Black bodies to promote compassion for nonhuman animals. Some within these groups are openly hostile to addressing issues of racial equity within their own organizations.
Additionally, many humane educators and animal protection advocates are unaware of or are reluctant to consider that systems of racial and animal oppression are both rooted in constructs of racial hierarchy, and are, therefore, intertwined and should be thought about together. Many educators and advocates have also resisted recognizing the interrelated social justice issues that impact both racialized people and fellow nonhuman animals, such as the injustices within the U.S. food system and the country’s land use practices.
As a result, oftentimes the goals and strategies of social justice movements are too narrowly-focused and/or are counterproductive to liberation. Liberate In Mind seeks to broaden the goals and strategies of social justice movements to confront the impacts of racial hierarchy on nonhuman animals and racialized people in order to expand movement reach and elevate their impact.
CORE ASSUMPTION
The liberatory vision and programmatic goals of many education and social justice organizations/movements would benefit from understanding the interconnected nature of racial and animal oppression and how confronting animality is central to moving us toward collective liberation overall.
VALUES
Joy
through creative expression
Physical/mental wellness
via rest and other practices for self- and community care
Healing
by loving ourselves and loving one another, as expressed by what we eat, what we think, what we say, and what we do
Community
bringing people together around a shared vision and allowing space for repair and growth
Self-determination
power sharing and transparency in decision-making through non-hierarchical structures and counter-oppressive practices that value all as part of a caring community
Empowerment
by and for Black & other communities of color
Education as a liberatory endeavor
for humans, fellow nonhuman animals, and our shared planet using a co-teaching/co-learning model
Animal advocacy as part of an anti-racist strategy
that centers the ideas, perspectives and lived experiences of BIPOC communities
Liberatory vision
that uplifts policy and praxis seeking to dismantle oppressive systems that harm racialized humans, nonhuman animals, and the planet and to reimagine new possibilities for living together that are grounded in justice, reparation, healing, joy, and freedom
Reparative justice
practice and advocacy that seek to repair in some way the harm inflicted on those targeted by oppression and that reflect an understanding of both the historical context and the current reality of those impacted
VALUES
Healing
by loving ourselves and loving one another, as expressed by what we eat, what we think, what we say, and what we do
Physical/mental wellness
via rest and other practices for self- and community care
Joy
through creative expression
Self-determination
power sharing and transparency in decision-making through non-hierarchical structures and counter-oppressive practices that value all as part of a caring community
Community
bringing people together around a shared vision and allowing space for repair and growth
Empowerment
by and for Black & other communities of color
Education as a liberatory endeavor
for humans, fellow nonhuman animals, and our shared planet using a co-teaching/co-learning model
Liberatory vision
that uplifts policy and praxis seeking to dismantle oppressive systems that harm racialized humans, nonhuman animals, and the planet and to reimagine new possibilities for living together that are grounded in justice, reparation, healing, joy, and freedom
Animal advocacy as part of an anti-racist strategy
that centers the ideas, perspectives and lived experiences of BIPOC communities
Reparative justice
practice and advocacy that seek to repair in some way the harm inflicted on those targeted by oppression and that reflect an understanding of both the historical context and the current reality of those impacted