During this time of intersecting crises and the pandemic, it can be hard not to fall into feelings of powerlessness. The racial reckoning of 2020 ushered in by the tidal wave of outrage and despair following the  murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, underscores the need for impacted families and communities to take charge of our narratives. Coverage of the coronavirus has been mired in anti-Asian propaganda. Black and brown immigrants and indigenous water protectors have been portrayed as criminals to justify their oppression. But none of this is new, is it?

The media has played a pivotal role in the dehumanization of Black and brown people for generations. Structural racism and white supremacy permeate mainstream media. What strategies can we hope to employ to preserve the integrity of our stories?  Who will tell the stories of people struggling with joblessness, threatened with evictions, in majority Black and Brown neighborhoods? Who will speak for the students without access to technology or quality education, longstanding conditions made crystal-clear during the pressures of the Covid lockdowns?

We can remember our voices and lift them together in solidarity.

We are calling for narrative justice in our communities NOW. 

You do not just have to watch and wait. There is something you can do. You can be prepared to control your own narrative, so if the unthinkable happens to you, or someone you love, you are ready.

In this free, 90-minute online training for Black and brown people over the age of 18, The Narrative Justice Project will help you learn how to:

1. Gain and retain media attention for your issue.
2. Identify the key messages and facts to include in your communications.
3. Stick to your talking points and get your message across during an interview.

You deserve to have your voice heard. 

Schedule a training today. During the pandemic, Narrative Justice training is offered remotely via Zoom. We are currently offering training upon request to interested parties, twice per month. Training will be offered to a minimum of eight participants per session. If you would like to schedule a training for a group of eight or more people, please email [email protected]

To be added to the mailing list to receive updates about the Narrative Justice Project sign up here. 

The Narrative Justice Project (NJP) is a tactical response to structural racism in popular media representation and landscape. Our stories should be told by us. NJP collaborates with local people to reclaim the narrative, block by block. Through this community-based, storytelling initiative POC will be empowered to represent themselves in the fullness of their humanity and experience. This project is offered by The Wakeman Agency, a public relations and social change agency, and is supported by The Consortium on Trust in Media and Technology at the University of Florida’s College of Communications and Journalism.