An Update: #BlackLivesMatter and Shifting Focus

Photo credit: Alisha DeCou

Below is a short open letter to our readers, fellow music journalists, musicians, and content creators, in regards to shifting focus of our content.

​I know that T&E is a music blog, but I first wanted to share this moment that one of our concert photographers, Alisha (aka Serenity in Chaos Photographs), captured the other night at the Phoenix protest (photo above). I wanted to thank her for using her talent to capture the extremely important history that's happening right now.

I also think that as a music blog, it's important to recognize and voice that all of the music we discuss is greatly indebted to Black music and culture, and blogs like ourselves can't just be posting content per usual like everything is normal right now. I urge all music lovers and writers to consider that none of your work would be possible without Black musicians and artists, and that you can't just support music culture without also supporting Black lives and justice.

We're going to take a few weeks off from posting content so that your timelines and social feeds can be given way to voices that matter right now. Music can give us strength and inspiration, and we look forward to sharing some music recommendations soon, but for now let's take this time to educate ourselves and read more articles that are pertinent to becoming a better ally. Below are some recommendations for resources you can read up on or donate to. We are not holding our summer T&E fundraiser and instead ask you to match our donation to Reclaim The Block, or leave some other recommendations in the comments as well.

Thank you all,
Parisa Eshrati
Founder and manager of Trial and Error Collective

RESOURCES
Black Visions Collective
Reclaim the Block
Minnesota Freedom Fund
Black Owned Businesses in Tucson (if you search on Twitter, many people are leaving spreadsheets for Black owned businesses in their respective communities)

Photo credit: Alisha DeCou