Whoa. The black square thing on Instagram went from zero to sixty real quick so…
Hey! White people, we gotta talk for a minute. I know what you think you're doing but it’s not what you’re actually doing.
Hey! White people, we gotta talk for a minute. I know what you think you're doing but it’s not what you’re actually doing.
FIRST and most importantly DO NOT use the Black Lives Matter hashtags for the squares. Here’s why:
I know that you think you’re showing solidarity but you’re actually just letting your own platform be wasted.
(Particularly true for people with huge followings.)
(Particularly true for people with huge followings.)
People are relying on social media posts for info about where to donate and protest, how to help, and sharing videos of police violence.
You’ve just silenced that. For most of you, I don’t think is your intent.
You’ve just silenced that. For most of you, I don’t think is your intent.
Folks, if you want to amplify Black voices JUST SHARE THEIR POSTS. This is not complicated?
There are 100s of lists of what you can do but here are the most obvious and immediate things you can do:
There are 100s of lists of what you can do but here are the most obvious and immediate things you can do:
1. Go to the protests if you are able to and can do so safely (an issue that is complicated by the pandemic).
2. Talk to your racist family members. If anyone can get through to them it's you.
2. Talk to your racist family members. If anyone can get through to them it's you.
3. READ A FUCKING BOOK. Like, seriously. A whole book. And then read another, and another. You don't just all of a sudden understand white supremacy because you spent an afternoon reading a book. You will have to read MANY books. It is a lifelong process and commitment.
There are THOUSANDS of books that you can read. There are dozens of lists that have recommendations. Here's one.
You can also use a website called GOOGLE to find more.
nytimes.com/2019/05/29/boo…
You can also use a website called GOOGLE to find more.
nytimes.com/2019/05/29/boo…
What you're not going to do is text random Black people that you know and ask them to explain racism to you with a bunch of damn emojis. wtf is wrong with you.
4. GIVE AWAY YOUR MONEY and not just to the ACLU. Here's a list of mutual aid groups you can donate to:
5. Hold the organizations/ professions/ networks/ etc. that you're apart of accountable.
6. As is true in any crisis -- if you're a writer, write. If you're an artist, make art. If you're a singer, sing. Take whatever space you occupy and make it anti-racist.
6. As is true in any crisis -- if you're a writer, write. If you're an artist, make art. If you're a singer, sing. Take whatever space you occupy and make it anti-racist.
I see nothing but black squares on Instagram which just shows you how fast white people can mobilize if they really want to.
Imagine if instead of a black square it was a photo of violent police attacking peaceful protesters.
Imagine if instead of a black square it was a photo of violent police attacking peaceful protesters.
And imagine if instead of just posting a photo on Instagram white people were in the streets, shifting their wealth, flooding city budget meetings, joining anti-racist unions, and all the other things we should be doing en masse.
There seem to be multiple reasons being given for why people are posting the black square 🙄
This: independent.co.uk/life-style/gad…
vs. this, for example:
This: independent.co.uk/life-style/gad…
vs. this, for example:
I have real work to do today so I'm not going to keep posting about this but just *think*. Social media is an incredibly important *tool* for organizing, coordinating, etc. but that's not the same as changing your profile picture. (There are entire books on this. Do a google.)
