Be honest, were you a bit confused by the ethics and effectiveness of #blackouttuesday yesterday? ⚫️ Was it a strong show of solidarity? Was it performative? ⚫️ Here are some thoughts its potential strengths and dangers.
1️⃣ When people no longer find comfort in being silent or neutral, change grows way more likely
We’re seeing this right now. Big corporate brands that do a cost/benefit analysis for everything are finding it more harmful to stay silent than to speak… to oversimplify, that’s good because silence perpetuates violence. I’ve seen the wave of support for Black Lives push so many people I know forward. From supporting harmful systems to questioning them. From silence to solidarity. This is the power of having a participatory gesture. This is the potential of BlackoutTuesday.
2️⃣ A movement’s symbols are important, but they can never be mistaken for real action.
This is the tricky thing about a symbol. In some ways it calls us into action, but in other ways it can stop us. Like, if you feel like you’ve already played your part because you posted a black square and an MLK quote, then that post is actually hindering other critical actions like calling your local officials, donating to meaningful orgs, educating yourself, or voting. This is the danger of BlackoutTuesday.
3️⃣ The most important question is which voices are leading the change
Jeanna Kadlec: my instagram feed this morning is just a wall of white people posting black screens. like... that isn't muting yourself, babe, that's actually kind of the opposite! it's taking up an absolutely WILD amount of space and does nothing!
This day was meant to amplify black voices. If you’ve posted a square without giving a signal boost to black voices, your assignment is incomplete.
4️⃣ If all this seems like a lot, don’t let that stop you
Getting corrected doesn’t feel good. It’s why we have a psychological impulse to be defensive. But resisting that urge is necessary for growth. Letting ourselves grow and evolve is a part of the process. Own your mistakes and don’t let shame fuel your silence.