#BlackLivesMatter, Performative Activism, and How You Can Help
Disclaimer: This is an Opinion piece and represents only the views of the author, not the Pixel Journal as a publication.
The Black Lives Matter movement was founded six years ago on July 13, 2013, but with the recent unjust murders of George Floyd (suffocated by white Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for nearly eight minutes while arresting him over allegedly paying with a counterfeit $20 bill), Ahmaud Arbery (chased and shot by white residents of a South Georgia neighborhood while on a jog), and Breonna Taylor (shot eight times by police officers in her own home, who incorrectly suspected that she was storing an already-arrested drug dealer’s drugs or money and had obtained a no-knock warrant to enter her home), many of us are seeing a resurgence of the hashtags #blacklivesmatter or #blm on our social media feeds.
Confronting the legacies of centuries of racism is challenging for all people, but as COVID-19 has pushed many issues of inequality to light — for example, the demands for higher minimum wages to support our essential workers — and allowed industries and corporations to reconsider how they will operate in the future, I urge society to have this important conversation now. Rather than hoping that things will go back to normal, we should strive to emerge from this pandemic as a better society: one that is more compassionate and more fair.
What is the goal?
Black Lives Matter’s mission is to “eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.” Eradicating white supremacy is not about vengeance or bringing down a few bad cops; it is about dismantling a system of white dominance — and with it, the very concept of race as a legitimate biological differentiator between people. It has been widely established that race has no genetic or scientific basis: “Living humans share too recent a common ancestor for there to be many deep-seated biologicameral differences among us. From an evolutionary standpoint, we are all Africans” (American Scientist).
While race isn’t scientifically real, this doesn’t mean that we can claim to be “colorblind.” The construct of ‘race’ has made it such that people of different ‘races’ experience society in enormously different ways. This is summarized in the sentiment that “white privilege means your life is not more difficult because of your race.”
One helpful reading to understand whiteness is familiar to every Democracy, Freedom, and the Rule of Law student: “The Racial Contract” by Charles Mills. Mills argues that prior to any of the social contracts that we learn about in political philosophy classes, there exists a racial contract, which creates the concept of “white” and “non-whiteness” in order to grant power and personhood to white people. Because this contract assigns people to these categories based on particular qualities (whether that is appearance or ancestry), every white person is a beneficiary of this contract even if they are not signatories to it. This means that even if a white person is not racist, and even if they actively fight against racism, they still receive privilege and power over nonwhites from the racial contract that is in place. Importantly, one goal of the racial contract is to maintain white ignorance: white people are taught to be blind to their own privileges, which is necessary to maintain the racial hierarchy. We see evidence of the racial contract in examples all around society.
Ultimately, the goal is for all lives to matter equally — for people of color (POC), in particular black, indigenous people of color (BIPOC), to be treated the same way as white people, and for race to no longer be a factor in how one experiences the world.
What if I don’t support looting / rioting?
You and I may have many opinions about the way that protests are happening. I don’t agree that looting is ideal for smaller business owners, who cannot afford to replace merchandise or repair damages, especially during COVID-19. I would like to believe that history provides examples of effective nonviolent protests. I worry that escalation of riots could provide further ammunition — literally and figuratively — against black people by white supremacists in the long-run. While I agree with the many arguments that looting is less abhorrent than murder, I believe that if there were a nonviolent way to solve these issues, that way would be preferable.
At the same time, I recognize that as a non-black person, it is not my place to decide the ‘right way’ for black people to protest against their oppression. As a student of history, I know that many of the most significant advances in civil rights had to be fought for with violence, and that black communities have long tried to make their voices heard through nonviolent measures. Before criticizing looters and rioters, remember that many of them have participated in nonviolent protests and have learned that violence has frequently been instigated by police and white supremacists. Consider why protestors now feel the need to resort to violence.
How can I help if I don’t feel safe protesting?
While protesting is admirable and is one of the most direct ways to show your support for the Black Lives Matter movement, there are many other ways you can make a meaningful difference.
Educate yourself.
One way that anyone can be helpful is to learn about the experiences of those who are harmed by the system in place. Learn about covert and overt racism, and how microaggressions (“you’re so articulate!”) affect the psyches of your non-white friends. Rather than rushing to present your opinions on racism, take the time to ask how to be most helpful to those you are trying to defend, and listen to and believe what POC have to say.
For example, it has been common practice to repost videos that depict acts of police brutality. But why? Consider the following, posted by @theconsciouskid: “We are always grateful videos exist to document what happened and hold perpetrators accountable, but the constant circulation on social media causes trauma. Please continue to speak up, speak loudly, post publicly, and demand accountability, but please also be thoughtful about the person, family, and community of whose violent death you are consuming and putting out there for mass consumption.”
Beyond listening to what black people and other POCs have to say, remember that it is no one’s duty to keep you informed. There are numerous free online articles, classes, films, and more — check the “Additional Resources” linked below — that you can look into.
As a note to those who are helping to educate others: don’t be too quick to shut down the people you disagree with! Only by understanding the other viewpoint can you effectively address their concerns and change their mind.
Self-reflect.
Mills argues that white supremacy is embedded into society. When a POC wishes that they had more Eurocentric features and believes that they would be more attractive with paler skin, that is a symptom of the racial contract, just as much as overt forms of racism. Part of learning about how discrimination is ingrained into society is paying attention to how your own race has influenced your personal experiences, self-perception, and your opinions regarding movements like Black Lives Matter.
Donate to organizations that support black communities.
You are sure to have seen many links to organizations you can donate to, but where is your money going? Organizations like the Minnesota Freedom Fund pay criminal bail and immigration bond for those who cannot afford it, meaning that people can keep their jobs and their housing while waiting for the outcome of their charges. The Equal Justice Initiative works to end mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and racial inequality. Donating to specific memorial funds, such as #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd, means that your funds will relieve the Floyd family of various expenses. There are many areas where black communities are disproportionately disadvantaged, beyond physical acts of violence such as police brutality, each of which is worth learning about — consider racial profiling, unequal educational opportunities and quality, access to high quality housing and healthcare, discounting of mental health issues, policies that make it more difficult for POC to vote, environmental injustice and unequal preparation for the effects of climate change, and more.
Sign petitions.
While many scoff at the inefficacy of Change.org, signing petitions is one of the quickest and easiest ways you can voice support for particular policies and to help a movement gain traction. Every additional signature is one less excuse for people in power to do nothing. Start by signing the official petition for Justice for George Floyd.
Addressing the rise of performative activism
We see activism happening on social media every day, but increasingly, activists are placing emphasis on taking action outside of social media. It’s no longer enough to reblog a post saying that you stand with black communities or to participate in the new ‘trend’ of tagging 10 friends who won’t break the chain of saying that black lives matter. These actions help to make the poster appear ‘woke’ while bringing no tangible benefit to the Black Lives Matter movement, and are cases of what’s now condemned as “performative activism.”
These reposts are well-intentioned, and it’s alright to post threads of educational resources or organizations to donate to. However, posting without intention to take further action yourself — and as you can see above, there are many actions you can take from the comfort of your own home! — means that you are upholding, or at least doing nothing substantive to change, the status quo.
I take the point of posts such as this one, which discuss why it is important to voice your opinion on issues of social justice even if it feels performative, even if you feel relatively uninformed or unqualified, and even if you feel like your individual opinion does not make a difference. I also agree with Desmond Tutu’s oft-quoted, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” In fact, that quote is the post I have seen reblogged most frequently. My concern is that social media both condemns performative activism and implies that anyone who does not post has chosen not to take a side, or is in the wrong.
I strongly disagree with the suggestion that choosing not to post an Instagram story is the equivalent of being neutral or silent. I have peers who have not been posting on social media, but instead have taken the time to sign petitions, support their POC friends, call out their friends and family for making racist jokes or perpetuating racist stereotypes, and educate themselves about anti-blackness. These private actions aren’t neutral, and are far more valuable than the performative activism that too many people participate in. The choice to be quiet on social media may have nothing to do with failing to overcome the discomforts of confronting racial issues or feeling guilty about appearing performative — it may simply be a decision to dedicate time and attention to other forms of activism.
Social media has provided a new platform in which activism can happen, but it is just one sphere in which individuals can exercise their influence and partake in conversations about racial injustice. Before you point fingers and say “I see you” to your peers who have not been posting, I urge you to remember that the sentiments that “social media is not reality” and “who you are offline matters more than your online persona” are relevant not just to filtered Instagram feeds, but to online activism as well.
Closing Thoughts
My friends know that I have never been the person to jump into a political conversation, and I have long felt unqualified to speak or write about racial issues beyond my personal experiences with prejudice directed towards Chinese people. I have agonized over whether to publish this article, wondering if anything I have said is unintentionally triggering or harmful, and knowing that someone out there will certainly object to what I’ve said. However, more and more, I am realizing there is no correct or perfect way to be an ally to my black friends and fellow POC. If I make a mistake along the way, that simply means that — as with all things in life — I have more to learn.
None of us are responsible for the racial contract we were born into, but it is each of our responsibilities to do what we can to rewrite that contract. Whether you take action privately or publicly, your efforts bring us closer to the equitable society we need, and your voice joins the resounding chorus demanding that society recognizes that “black lives matter.”
Additional Resources
#blacklivesmatter “Ally Wiki”: Google Document including information about relevant events, petitions, organizations accepting donations, information about protesting, educational resources, officials to contact, and more.
Antiracist Allyship Starter Pack: Google Sheet linking articles and listing books to learn about whiteness and racism, petitions, organizations accepting donations, podcasts, films, and listing notable figures.
May/June MN Bail Fund and Support List: Google Document listing individuals and organizations in need of donations.
Race and Cultural Diversity in American Life and History: Free Coursera class by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Learners will deepen their understanding and appreciation of ways in which race, ethnicity and cultural diversity have shaped American institutions, ideology, law, and social relationships from the colonial era to the present.”
“The Complexity of Identity: Who Am I?”: Essay by Beverly Tatum, which covers the concept of dominant and subordinate groups and is a useful read for understanding intersectionality.
“Why People of Color Need Spaces Without White People”: Article by Kelsey Blackwell, discussing the concept of space spaces for POCs and why they are crucial to the resistance of oppression.
“So You Want to Talk About Race”: Book by Ijeoma Oluo, discussing the racial landscape in America, addressing head-on such issues as privilege, police brutality, intersectionality, micro-aggressions, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the "N" word.
“White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism”: Book by Robin DiAngelo, discussing the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, which function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue.
Ethel’s Club and The Creative Collective NYC: Social, wellness, and creativity clubs designed to empower people of color.