During the summer of 2020, the Black Lives Matter movement reached a fever pitch with the murder of George Floyd, and he became the face of protests against racial injustice and police brutality. The uproar on all social media platforms was unprecedented, and many resources to donate to the cause of racial justice were shared. However, many people had a different and much less effective form of demonstrating their support. Many posted black squares on Instagram to demonstrate their solidarity for the Black Lives Matter movement, however all that this act accomplished was flooding the #BLM hashtag with black squares instead of important resources and information. Performative activism is defined as: “Performative activism is a pejorative term referring to activism done to increase one’s social capital rather than because of one’s devotion to a cause.”
In other words, those who participate in performative activism on social media do so only to impress their followers in an attempt to seem more “woke.” While it is almost November, the fight for racial justice in America is FAR from over and requires constant attention and uplifting of previously silenced voices. Listed below are a few ways to continually practice allyship if you are white and want to support BIPOC communities, who experience unrelenting institutionalized oppression and racism in America.
- Acknowledge your privilege as a white person.
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This is perhaps the very first step in becoming an ally. Acknowledge that you have not and never will face discrimination based upon the color of your skin, and commit yourself to learning about how to support people of color who are systemically disadvantaged because of their racial identity.
- Raise up BIPOC voices!
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Share, repost, and support BIPOC voices on social media! Do not dominate and center yourself within the conversation. Instead, contribute by providing yourself as a resource to educate other white folks about their own privilege. Sharing resources is one of the quickest and easiest ways to uplift BIPOC voices on social media, and it can encourage others to educate themselves about important issues!
- Donate and sign petitions!
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Donate what you can to different causes. This can help smaller, grassroots BIPOC organizations fighting for their voices to be heard to gain exposure both in the media and with other organizations. Even if you have a couple of extra dollars to spare, your contribution will always be much appreciated. Once you donate, you sometimes will even receive email reminders to keep signing petitions and other resources to donate to! Click here to view an extensive list of causes to donate to and petitions to sign.
- Have tough conversations.
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I had my fair share of heated conversations with family members and acquaintances who were confused about the purpose and history behind the Black Lives Matter movement. While it is easy to become frustrated quickly if the person you are speaking to completely dismisses the need to fight for and support BIPOC voices, remember to approach the conversation with compassion. No one wants to listen to someone who takes on an aggressive and antagonistic tone, so try to remain civil and explain your points clearly and effectively. I promise that if they do not care to understand, it is not your fault. You can just put the conversation to rest and try again the next day! :)
- VOTE!
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This one should be self-explanatory. President Trump has recently denounced Critical Race Theory, which is an intellectual movement that seeks to acknowledge and dismantle the racist and discriminatory institutional structures within our society that attempt to diminish the lives and identities of BIPOC people in America. He then recently stated during the last Presidential debate between him and Vice President Joe Biden that he was “the least racist in the room,” to a Black female moderator, no less. One thing Trump has is the audacity— there is absolutely no denying that his actions, words, and policies are inherently steeped in racism. VOTE HIM OUT. Vice President Joe Biden has publicly supported the Black Lives Matter movement and has also acknowledged that systemic racism exists in America. He will bring change and hopefully a less divisive and dangerous America for BIPOC folks to inhabit.
If you haven’t voted yet, please go do so in person if possible (and if it is safe for you). If you have a completed ballot to drop off, do NOT mail it, it will not be counted in time before next week! Please make sure that your vote counts, no one has the privilege to sit out of this election. Let’s show up and vote this motherf*cker out.
The fight for racial justice is not something that will disappear because you posted a black square on Instagram back in July. White folks must continually acknowledge the privilege they hold, uplift BIPOC voices, protest, donate, and fight for change. The problem of racism in America is not one that should be solved by those experiencing it. White people created the racist, patriarchal structures that discriminate against BIPOC folks, so we must dismantle and rebuild them in order to make America a habitable and equitable place for all.