Deleted
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Oct 2, 2024 20:35:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2020 17:59:29 GMT
I know today is black out Tuesday. I have a few questions as I get conflicting information:
1. Why are you now not supposed to use BLM and blacklivesmatter as a hashtag? I thought BLM organization is the one who started the black square? Now people are saying BLM is not helping the cause for systemic change within the black community.
So is BLM no longer a positive changing group? I am a bit confused because I have friends who are now anti BLM. ?
2. Does anyone feel this is just another symbolic gesture of social media? Like the "post what color bra you have on to support breast cancer awareness." (And NO I am not liking to two). Posting your bra color did not in fact help bring awareness to breast cancer.
I know you are supposed to black out and listen and educate yourself. But if everyone blacks out and no one is posting information, how are we to learn?
I hate to say this but I feel like many are doing it because its what you are supposed to do. A 'Hey I am with you even though I am not doing anything in my home, my community to make positive changes.'
I am honestly trying to understand how a black square is going to help.
Any insight is greatly appreciated. I am here to learn so share!!!
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jun 2, 2020 18:02:01 GMT
I just saw that people are doing this on IG. I hadn't heard that it was "blackout Tuesday" until then, but I have noticed some people using the BLM hashtag or having Black Lives Matter as part of the square. I can't even figure out how to post a black square so I have no answers for you, but am waiting for the answer.  |
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Post by padresfan619 on Jun 2, 2020 18:03:58 GMT
The hashtag for black lives matter is used to organize and to share resources so for it to suddenly be full of black squares it looks a lot like censorship. You can still support black lives matter on black out Tuesday by using the hashtag #blackouttuesday instead of using #blacklivesmatter.
Yes, some people will just post it and pat themselves on the back. But many many more people are sharing resources, links to places to donate money and sharing black owned businesses in their communities that need our support.
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Post by padresfan619 on Jun 2, 2020 18:05:29 GMT
I just saw that people are doing this on IG. I hadn't heard that it was "blackout Tuesday" until then, but I have noticed some people using the BLM hashtag or having Black Lives Matter as part of the square. I can't even figure out how to post a black square so I have no answers for you, but am waiting for the answer. If you know how to post a photo on Instagram you can post a black square, you just need a picture of a black square in your camera roll. You can cover your camera with your finger and take a picture or take a screenshot of a black square and post that with the hashtag #blackouttuesday |
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Post by Skellinton on Jun 2, 2020 18:07:45 GMT
We are supposed to educate ourselves by reading the posts of Black people sharing information. Or you are supposed to share content from black people or celebrating black people (art, books, resources, etc)
The reason you shouldn’t use blacklivesmatter is because that hashtag is used to educate And share information and if you search blacklivesmatter all you will get is black squares.
Of course some people are posting because it is the thing to do, but some people are posting because they really do want to be better and change.
To post a black square just squish your phone lens on something so close it goes black.
I hope what I posted is correct, that is what I have gathered by reading today.
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Deleted
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Oct 2, 2024 20:35:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2020 18:09:12 GMT
So far only 2 people who I follow (1 is a friend, 1 is a special needs dog owner) have posted resources and ways to help, books to read, podcasts to listen to.
Everyone else just has the square.
I appreciated my friends post because I can then go and read up more. She is also not staying quiet today as she is black and wants to use her IG as a way to educate and I appreciate that
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2020 18:10:08 GMT
We are supposed to educate ourselves by reading the posts of Black people sharing information. Or you are supposed to share content from black people or celebrating black people (art, books, resources, etc) The reason you shouldn’t use blacklivesmatter is because that hashtag is used to educate And share information and if you search blacklivesmatter all you will get is black squares. Of course some people are posting because it is the thing to do, but some people are posting because they really do want to be better and change. To post a black square just squish your phone lens on something so close it goes black. I hope what I posted is correct, that is what I have gathered by reading today. That makes sense of why to use the other hashtag. |
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Post by busy on Jun 2, 2020 18:14:51 GMT
I'm exhausted both by the black squares and the announcements of muting oneself from 6/1-7.
Just do it. Amplify black voices, sideline your own. You don't need to be sure to tell everyone you're so woke so you get credit. 🙄
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Post by sam9 on Jun 2, 2020 18:24:45 GMT
I'm exhausted both by the black squares and the announcements of muting oneself from 6/1-7. Just do it. Amplify black voices, sideline your own. You don't need to be sure to tell everyone you're so woke so you get credit. 🙄 I agree. If you don’t have anything pertinent to share, then just mute yourself and don’t bother to post a black square. I thought the whole reasoning behind blackouttuesday was to leave more room on social media for people who do have something valid and informing to share. |
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Post by catmom on Jun 2, 2020 18:27:02 GMT
Here’s what I understand. Using the black square with the #blm creates an issue as it is literally blocking out info protesters and organizers need to communicate today. So they are asking that if you use the black square to not hashtag BLM.
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 2, 2020 18:40:22 GMT
Here's a vid that kind of explains why using the hashtag is challenging right now.
This is all messy. Asking questions is good.
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 2, 2020 18:44:29 GMT
Also, if it feels performative for you to do it, you should not do it. If you never show any support ever and then post a black square, you're disingenuous. Do your reading instead.
Because you don't want to wind up like this:
I mean, come on.
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Post by leftturnonly on Jun 2, 2020 18:57:51 GMT
Any insight is greatly appreciated. I am here to learn so share!!! If you feel moved to black out your avatar or post a black square, then post it. If you think, "Hey, my friends are posting this. I guess I should too," then you're just a parrot. Will it make a difference? Beats me. How long are you going to leave it up? Today? Tomorrow, you'll probably be told that black lives don't matter to you and you're going to have to do better. You're never going to please other people. Express your own feelings and then you don't need to be concerned whether or not something matters because it already has. It's mattered to you. |
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,032
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Jun 2, 2020 19:01:14 GMT
I'm exhausted both by the black squares and the announcements of muting oneself from 6/1-7. Just do it. Amplify black voices, sideline your own. You don't need to be sure to tell everyone you're so woke so you get credit. 🙄 So much this. My feed is a sea of black - which in theory is nice but it does feel a bit “look at me, I’m woke.” Even if some/much of it is performance activism I hope it still gets notice and the message to some that need it. I haven’t gone “black” - I’m just not posting. Just trying to be respectful and learn. |
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Post by leftturnonly on Jun 2, 2020 19:02:34 GMT
Here's a vid that kind of explains why using the hashtag is challenging right now. This is all messy. Asking questions is good. Ok, that's pretty hilarious. Nailed it! Pretty much like this...  |
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 2, 2020 19:07:54 GMT
Here's a vid that kind of explains why using the hashtag is challenging right now. This is all messy. Asking questions is good. Ok, that's pretty hilarious. Nailed it! Pretty much like this... I don't find anything hilarious about silencing Black voices. |
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Post by leftturnonly on Jun 2, 2020 19:12:25 GMT
I don't find anything hilarious about silencing Black voices. Nobody silenced black voices. People blacked themselves out and then flooded the Black Lives Matters page all by themselves. An example of Nailing It - hence the cakes that clearly demonstrated the reference. Get a grip. |
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Deleted
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Oct 2, 2024 20:35:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2020 19:14:58 GMT
What I'm hearing is that no matter what you do someone is going to say it is wrong in some way
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 2, 2020 19:15:42 GMT
I don't find anything hilarious about silencing Black voices. Nobody silenced black voices. People blacked themselves out and then flooded the Black Lives Matters page all by themselves. An example of Nailing It - hence the cakes that clearly demonstrated the reference. Get a grip. I understand the reference, and it's not funny. I have a grip. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2020 19:16:24 GMT
What I'm hearing is that no matter what you do someone is going to say it is wrong in some way
I don't need to see black squares or #hashtags to know if someone is a decent person or not.
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 2, 2020 19:17:58 GMT
What I'm hearing is that no matter what you do someone is going to say it is wrong in some way I'm sorry you're taking that away from this. It is complicated. Don't let it be a barrier to your support. If someone says it's wrong, especially if that person is a person of color, try not to get defensive and instead try to see it from their perspective and reflect on why you received that feedback. |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jun 2, 2020 19:18:11 GMT
What I'm hearing is that no matter what you do someone is going to say it is wrong in some way Honestly, I am feeling like that a lot lately, particularly here. And the tone that people are using to convey that is very off-putting and not helpful in any way. |
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 2, 2020 19:28:55 GMT
What I'm hearing is that no matter what you do someone is going to say it is wrong in some way Honestly, I am feeling like that a lot lately, particularly here. I understand. I have felt like that. I keep this book at hand, TBH, because it helps me reflect. White Fragility, chapter 8, "Why it's so hard for White People to Take Feedback" This part resonates with me ALL the time. Literally have it highlighted. The quote is: Racism is the norm rather than an aberration. Feedback is key to our ability to recognize and repair our inevitable and often unaware collusion. In recognition of this, I try to follow these guidelines: 1. How, where, and when you give me feedback is irrelevant - it is the feedback I want and need. Understanding that it is hard to give, I will take it in any way I can get it. From my position of social, cultural, and institutional white power and privilege, I am perfectly safe and I can handle it. If I cannot handle it, it's on me [emphasis author's] to build my racial stamina.2. Thank you.ETA: I'm sharing this more about showing up outside of this place than here, so it's not necessarily a commentary on this particular thread or any thread here. More about what has been helpful to me as I think about ways to be more anti-racist in my life. |
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Post by freecharlie on Jun 2, 2020 19:33:51 GMT
I went back and forth on changing/not changing it and I landed on changing it. I don't care if someone thinks I am trying to be "woke" or if I am, in someone's eyes, "woke." I don't do facebook for other people. When I change from the blackout back to a regular picture, I will add back the rainbow colorado frame for gay pride month. It is my way of saying I support this or I support you, especially in a sea of conservatives.
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 2, 2020 19:36:43 GMT
I went back and forth on changing/not changing it and I landed on changing it. I don't care if someone thinks I am trying to be "woke" or if I am, in someone's eyes, "woke." I don't do facebook for other people. When I change from the blackout back to a regular picture, I will add back the rainbow colorado frame for gay pride month. It is my way of saying I support this or I support you, especially in a sea of conservatives. I felt the same way. My FB friends know where I stand, I didn't want it to feel performative. I was uncomfortable. I didn't want to mess it up, but I also didn't want to stay silent. Ultimately I posted the black square with a link to anti-racism resources and a message to stay engaged. |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jun 2, 2020 19:39:30 GMT
Honestly, I am feeling like that a lot lately, particularly here. I understand. I have felt like that. I keep this book at hand, TBH, because it helps me reflect. White Fragility, chapter 8, "Why it's so hard for White People to Take Feedback" This part resonates with me ALL the time. Literally have it highlighted. The quote is: Racism is the norm rather than an aberration. Feedback is key to our ability to recognize and repair our inevitable and often unaware collusion. In recognition of this, I try to follow these guidelines: 1. How, where, and when you give me feedback is irrelevant - it is the feedback I want and need. Understanding that it is hard to give, I will take it in any way I can get it. From my position of social, cultural, and institutional white power and privilege, I am perfectly safe and I can handle it. If I cannot handle it, it's on me [emphasis author's] to build my racial stamina.2. Thank you.ETA: I'm sharing this more about showing up outside of this place than here, so it's not necessarily a commentary on this particular thread or any thread here. More about what has been helpful to me as I think about ways to be more anti-racist in my life. Any explanation that I give about how I am feeling will he met with negativity so there really isn’t a point. I’ve already been told several times that my feedback is not important. And no, that is not me being a victim. It is a fact of how people have been acting. People try to share their POV and they are torn apart and told they are wrong. People ask questions or say they want to learn and are treated like they are idiots for not knowing in the first place. People are constantly posting things (whether their own opinion or an article or the title of a post) that are said in an aggressive tone, whether that is coming from a black person or a white person that thinks he or she is so much more enlightened than everyone else. It is true that looking at our own biases and history is uncomfortable. That is hard enough as it is, why would anyone do it if they are met with aggression and resistance along the way?a little kindness goes a long way. |
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 2, 2020 19:41:53 GMT
I understand. I have felt like that. I keep this book at hand, TBH, because it helps me reflect. White Fragility, chapter 8, "Why it's so hard for White People to Take Feedback" This part resonates with me ALL the time. Literally have it highlighted. The quote is: Racism is the norm rather than an aberration. Feedback is key to our ability to recognize and repair our inevitable and often unaware collusion. In recognition of this, I try to follow these guidelines: 1. How, where, and when you give me feedback is irrelevant - it is the feedback I want and need. Understanding that it is hard to give, I will take it in any way I can get it. From my position of social, cultural, and institutional white power and privilege, I am perfectly safe and I can handle it. If I cannot handle it, it's on me [emphasis author's] to build my racial stamina.2. Thank you.ETA: I'm sharing this more about showing up outside of this place than here, so it's not necessarily a commentary on this particular thread or any thread here. More about what has been helpful to me as I think about ways to be more anti-racist in my life. Any explanation that I give about how I am feeling will he met with negativity so there really isn’t a point. I’ve already been told several times that my feedback is not important. And no, that is not me being a victim. It is a fact of how people have been acting. People try to share their POV and they are torn apart and told they are wrong. People ask questions or say they want to learn and are treated like they are idiots for not knowing in the first place. People are constantly posting things (whether their own opinion or an article or the title of a post) that are said in an aggressive tone, whether that is coming from a black person or a white person that thinks he or she is so much more enlightened than everyone else. It is true that looking at our own biases and history is uncomfortable. That is hard enough as it is, why would anyone do it if they are met with aggression and resistance along the way? Can I ask if you're talking about here or in person in your life? I'm sorry that you feel like your point of view isn't important, and I'm sorry if I, personally, have made you feel that way. |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jun 2, 2020 19:46:06 GMT
Any explanation that I give about how I am feeling will he met with negativity so there really isn’t a point. I’ve already been told several times that my feedback is not important. And no, that is not me being a victim. It is a fact of how people have been acting. People try to share their POV and they are torn apart and told they are wrong. People ask questions or say they want to learn and are treated like they are idiots for not knowing in the first place. People are constantly posting things (whether their own opinion or an article or the title of a post) that are said in an aggressive tone, whether that is coming from a black person or a white person that thinks he or she is so much more enlightened than everyone else. It is true that looking at our own biases and history is uncomfortable. That is hard enough as it is, why would anyone do it if they are met with aggression and resistance along the way? Can I ask if you're talking about here or in person in your life? I'm sorry that you feel like your point of view isn't important, and I'm sorry if I, personally, have made you feel that way. Both, but my personal interactions have been mostly here. But I have seen similar things happening elsewhere on social media. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2020 19:47:30 GMT
Any explanation that I give about how I am feeling will he met with negativity so there really isn’t a point. I’ve already been told several times that my feedback is not important. And no, that is not me being a victim. It is a fact of how people have been acting. People try to share their POV and they are torn apart and told they are wrong. People ask questions or say they want to learn and are treated like they are idiots for not knowing in the first place. People are constantly posting things (whether their own opinion or an article or the title of a post) that are said in an aggressive tone, whether that is coming from a black person or a white person that thinks he or she is so much more enlightened than everyone else. It is true that looking at our own biases and history is uncomfortable. That is hard enough as it is, why would anyone do it if they are met with aggression and resistance along the way? Can I ask if you're talking about here or in person in your life? I'm sorry that you feel like your point of view isn't important, and I'm sorry if I, personally, have made you feel that way. I would say both. Look, if I ask *what can I do* it is met with someone saying that it isn't their job to tell white people what to do. I'm asking because I want to know. I want to know what you (global) consider relevant, important and right. I am asking because I value your opinion. Hearing that it isn't your job to educate me or tell me what to do makes me not want to do anything. Not because I don't care enough to do it but because you don't care enough to help me help you when I am asking to help. |
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ashley
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,400 
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Post by ashley on Jun 2, 2020 19:47:41 GMT
I am curious how black individuals feel about this — is it supportive and uplifting if I don’t post flower photos for a few days, or does it seem trivial light of the daily struggles POC face?
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