On my platform, it is very rare that I speak about political issues. That does not mean that I don’t care or I don’t have an opinion. I just love having a positive platform that brings myself and other people solace. Plus, social media doesn’t showcase the whole story anyways.
Though recently, I have been seeing people (including non-black advocates) post things in support of Black Lives Matter and sharing resources as to what they can do to help. These people have good intentions, but there are several problems that need to be addressed. This article is specifically speaking to non-black advocates, but I value black people reading this too. And just to clarify, I am black.
Let me start off by giving a shout out to the protesters. No matter your background, you’re actually doing something tangible and risking your life in more ways than one to fight for what’s right. That’s appreciated! Though I will speak more on that later.
On the flipside, I understand wanting to know how to help but not knowing what to do. The short answer is: be a long-term advocate. However, the long answer will come from this vent. In all honesty, not all support is genuine support. I’m seeing that some BLM activists want any support even if it’s artificial. Some companies have spoken out in support of BLM. But the thing is that some companies only speak out to boost their ego, and NOT because they’re interested in truly helping. It’s part of business, but it’s the truth. If you speak yet you don’t do anything, the words mean nothing. Think about it: how many companies have advocated for black people before this? It’s not that hearts can’t change, but you have to be aware of the virtue signaling. Some people only speak out when it boosts their ego. And especially in this time, it’s a chance for white people and other non-black POC to be self-serving. Short-term fixes are nice, but long-term support and learning is much better. We can all help each other by education and real support.
Though speaking of self-serving, don’t think that making a few posts and sharing resources make you a true advocate. I see so many people sharing resources as to what other people can do to help fight racism. I have several problems with this. First of all, have you taken charge of the resources yourself? Have you read the books, listened to the podcasts, and made valuable donations? Sending resources without using them is like being a teacher and giving your students resources without even knowing the material. Second, have you truly done research on this matter? Don’t just go based on what you hear on social media. Being a white person who speaks up on privilege and calls out ‘All Lives Matter’ sayers is not enough. Hating yourself for being white doesn’t cut it either. Read different perspectives on the black experience. Not just on racism, but on exploring their identities and general life stories. Read PhD papers by black researchers and professors. In fact, I read a really good dissertation that focused on African-American girls and their identities. It’s linked below in case you want to check it out. There are other good dissertations and research papers out there, but I will link them in this article or in a future post. Listening to black researchers and professors is among the best things you can do to educate yourself on topics like this. You can speak with white people on privilege, but please listen to the voices of black people. Don’t be the person that talks but never listens.
On a related note, I see so many people speaking out and what not, but where will you be when this is all over? Will you be supporting black businesses, supporting black artists and influencers, and listening to stories on different perspectives by black people? Say what you want, but I know that for the majority of people speaking on social media and what not, it’s a resounding “No.” And this is part of my problem with activist culture. I’m an aspiring cultural influencer, and I’m sick and tired of seeing stereotypes about black people. But even after all of this passes, stereotypes on black people will still be around. The playing field will still be dominated by white people. You don’t have to take my word for it. Look at the people on the music charts. Look at who gets the most followers on TikTok, Youtube, or anywhere else. Who are they? White people. And unless black creators are supported throughout, white creators will continue to dominate. Because black creators don’t get the same hype as white creators get. I’m seeing people post about supporting black-owned restaurants, but again, will you continue doing this in the long run?
Even with the protesters, some only go out just to go along without knowing the real reasons. There is a deeper meaning to these protests than you think. Now I know that some may come at me for not going to a protest. Well, first of all, there is no right way to resist. Protests are very tangible, and for several reasons, I can see why some want to cause violence. It isn’t okay, but when you’ve been ignored despite peacefully protesting, what else do you have to do? I personally wouldn’t start violence, but if others feel that’s what gets their voices heard, I’m not against it. Though back on track, there’s no one way to resist. There’s a quote posted by @blkgrlpeace that excellently states this.
Protesting is one way of resistance, but there’s also creating, helping others, and just surviving through the day. As a black creator myself, I study interesting subjects, create articles, and just survive the day. It’s okay to not post on social media. Not talking about this situation on social media doesn’t mean that you’re neutral. It’s when you don’t have an opinion on the situation that makes you neutral. Social media is not everything, and even the effectiveness on things like petitions is debatable. And not all organizations are truthful about what happens with donations. This whole situation has been stressful for me and for reasons like those stated above.
There was a blackout as well, when people were posting black screens, but that’s doing more harm than good. It’s been clogging vital information from being read and preventing black voices from being heard. I posted a black screen myself but deleted it when I realized that it wasn’t truly helping. And really, not that many black voices have been heard throughout this whole thing.
To me, it seems like people are using black outrage for their own personal gain. Make no mistake, many have good intentions and post things that make them seem like they care so much. However, most people never go beyond what the media (and social media for that matter) tells them, much less actually do the actions that they’re referring others to. My message to non-black advocates is… stop using this outrage from the black community to boost your ego. Don’t even act like police brutality and oppression is the only thing to stand with the black community on. The reality is that there are realities about the black experience that you won’t find by reading social media alone. You have to dig deep and really care about listening to other perspectives from black people. Another thing is that it seems as if many people only care about the black community when cases of blatant racism go viral. But where are they when it comes to celebrating the accomplishments and positivity of black people? Absolutely nowhere.
I am fortunate to have never faced blatant racism. However, that does not make my story or voice invalid. You may be one of those that is for BLM because you want to “fight racism,” “fight oppression,” and “live in a world where my children don’t have to face racism.” And to that I say, “No no no.” Every decent human being wants to fight to live in a world without racism and oppression. Those reasons don’t take any critical thinking to say. It’s not all about you. Black lives matter, but not just when fighting police brutality and systemic racism. Be for Black Lives Matter, because you want to crush the damaging stereotypes against black people. Be for Black Lives Matter, because you want to listen to varieties of stories and perspectives from black people, even if they’re not about racism. Be for Black Lives Matter, because you want to hear about and celebrate black accomplishments and positivity. Not just today, tomorrow, or next week, but FOREVER.
I know some will be hurt by this article, but if you are, then you really aren’t interested in hearing different perspectives from black people. That means you are part of the problem and only pro-BLM for self-serving reasons. Again, being for black lives is more than just fighting against police brutality and blatant racism. Part of being for black lives is not only donating to credible organizations, but also listening to stories from black people. The black experience is not a monolith, and all stories are valid, from black identity to general struggles outside of racism.
I love people from all cultures, but this needed to be said. And that’s my two cents on the whole thing.
P.S. It’s okay to take a break from the news. Protect your mental health by doing hobbies you enjoy. Post lighthearted things and do whatever brings you happiness. Remember that resistance can be as simple as being happy and just surviving.
Link to Dissertation: The academic identity development on African American girls: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5713&context=etd
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