The 2020 Black Lives Matter movement and the many events that followed have brought up heaps of conversations, new statistics, and societal reform, especially on the internet. No social movement is perfect. There are things that may work sometimes but do not work during other times. But are we starting to fall down the rabbit hole of trends and staying relevant?
Here are some of my thoughts since the peak of performative activism… I mean, genuine support.
1. Trigger warnings NEED to be incorporated into our everyday internet language.
As of right now, I am sure no one is a stranger to the Black Lives Matter movement and how social media has played an essential part in the documentation, accountability-bringing, and public scrutiny for the cause.
To the people that have been doing research into the lives and lived experience of black individuals around the world and people sharing their own experiences: thank you.
This information was greatly lacking and to see this on my timeline and 'For You' page, I am eternally grateful. To see people sharing and reposting this content to spread awareness is heart-warming and I can only hope this change becomes incorporated permanently. However, I do have an issue with one thing….
WHERE. ARE. THE. TRIGGER. WARNINGS?!
Trigger warnings are an amazing (and essential) way to let people know that the following content may be distressing for some viewers. Re-posting videos that show very violent acts or talk about uncomfortable and triggering topics can do more harm than good! No, I do not want to see the brutal treatment of a black man by police officers, but if you had put a trigger warning before that post on your story, I would’ve been able to avoid it.
During these times, it is not enough to just mindlessly repost an infographic because it has the word ‘black’ and it looks pretty. Or a video of a black woman being publicly humiliated. Have you read through the information? Is the content contained potentially harmful? These are the kind of questions that needs to be asked before re-sharing content online, especially to protect vulnerable users.
PLEASE. USE. TRIGGER WARNINGS.
2. The need to explain to someone about your suffering that ultimately falls on deaf ears.
There is a quote in the book Taking Up Space by Chelsea Kwakye and Ore Ogunbiyi which reads:
'You’ve earned your place there, so make your presence known. Don’t feel the need to make yourself palatable, or bite-size.'
This is something I wish I knew earlier. It can be applied to every situation, not just academia. Feeling uncomfortable in an environment is not fun. But having to justify your uncomfortable feelings to someone for them to not take you seriously or brush it off as ‘being ungrateful’ is bitterly exhausting.
It is draining to be in a mentally hostile environment, whether that be work or school. Do not ever feel the need to overexplain your reasons for being uncomfortable because you have different needs from the people around you. You need to be catered to as much as everyone else. You are not a burden and institutions need to stop painting marginalised people as such. We add as much to the team as anyone else. And as much as a diversity of voices is needed in all industries, the diversity of experiences and lifestyles is also needed.
3. Activism needs an intersectional approach.
If you have not been aware of the hashtags #blacktranslivesmatter then this is for you. When people say Black Lives Matter, do they also mean black women? Do they also mean trans women? Do black lives only matter when it is a black man or woman that you find desirable? It shouldn’t. Like any other race, black people come in a spectrum of variations. Everyone needs to be respected equally and the exclusion of individuals not only makes the movement void, but also breaks up communities.
Black women (and women in general) need to stop being stereotyped as hysterical when they express pain or anguish about their lived experiences. There are a lot of recent examples that lead to this depressing conclusion to be made: take Megan Thee Stallion. When she got shot, the internet dismissed her.
Or Breonna Taylor not getting the justice she deserves and her supporting hashtag dropping in use a few weeks after the news (not to mention people making ‘meme-music’ about her and dancing to it on TikTok).
I said it in the first episode of the Free Reign Podcast:
'Activism is a lifestyle.'
4. Agreeing to disagree about human rights is stupid.
That’s it. That’s the tweet.
To give a little more context to this point: if someone thinks that invalidating the existence of an entire race, gender, sexuality, or any other socio-economic group is ‘just their opinion’ then they’re so far into their ignorance, not even the second coming of Christ can save them.
I feel like we should have gone beyond the point of having people disagree or undermine the needs of others to basic human rights, fair treatment, and respect. This is not acceptable. Why are people being shut down for sharing their truths? Why is Black Lives Matter seen as too political?
These are just some of the thoughts I have had over the last couple of months that I find unnerving about the current time we are living in (besides the pandemic). I advise that these issues are constantly investigated and repeatedly highlighted for revolutionary societal change to happen.
By Cheyanne Bryan
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