To not get the point of “Blackout Tuesday”?

[SachaStark]

Morning.

Just been on my Instagram, and it appears that a load of the (white) interior and beauty “influencers” I follow are posting an all-black square on their feed, and tagging it as BLM and Blackout Tuesday.

So, essentially, they’re going silent on their social media accounts all day, other than this image, to support the BLM movement.

I really don’t get it. Surely, this is not the time for silence? Surely, as white people with significant platforms, they should be USING their voices to amplify black voices to show solidarity?

AIBU to think that this is a poor show of support by social media influencers?

You're all so bloody cynical. Do you ever think that people may actually feel strongly about this? I think it's powerful too. And better to say something than nothing.

Many of my friends have posted the black square. They are not influencers. I have too. I have 50 followers. I feel very strongly about this and want to mark it.

I have never seen such a miserable bunch of people as mumsnetters.

Why don't you start believing the best of people? Or if you don't approve just stay silent instead of questioning people's motives - which you just can't know from a black square.

Surely if the goal is to allow other voices to be seen it would be better to just not post at all rather than posting a "look at me" black square?

Maybe some of your should consider following some black artists, celebrities and influences. Sounds to me like your feeds are too white

I've posted it on my Instagram and that will be the only thing I post today as not to clog up feeds etc, I did it to show support as my partner is a black man who has been discriminated against here in Ireland both by the Gardai and by people on the street, I don't want my children to grow up to deal with hate, violence and discrimination due to their skin colour or heritage

I have never seen such a miserable bunch of people as mumsnetters

Agreed.

Also on the matter of following the right people, if anyone wants to post accounts that we should be following who are giving the best messages can they be posted on here? May educate a few people which is never a bad thing

Or if you don't approve just stay silent instead of questioning people's motives - which you just can't know from a black square

Why should I not be able to comment on a thread on MN about this?
I agree you can’t know people’s motives from the black square which is kind of the problem.

I appreciate it. I've ordered books, begun conversations at work and donated. I want to commit to being better over a long period of time. Hopefully some of your instamummies are the same.

If you're not happy when we weren't having these conversations but aren't happy now then what will make you happy? I've seen people criticised for sharing black businesses and black content because "diversifying your feed" isn't action, or that it smacks of "I've got black friends so I'm not racist!" So there's going to be criticism whatever people do. As long as you're respectful, not profiting and aren't relying on black people to use their energy to educate you when there's so many resources out there then I can't get worked up

Silence right now is not what we need. People could be sharing resources, donation links etc, but instead, feeds are being clogged up with black squares.

If you look at the black lives matter Instagram hashtag right now, it’s just loads of empty squares with an emoji or a hashtag for a caption. At least say something.

Silence will not bring change. People are jumping on the bandwagon. Just like that black lives matter Instagram story chain that was going around the other day. It’s performative. And you can tell from what people are posting, who actually cares about the issue and who is doing it because it’s the latest thing to do.

The idea is to silence the day to day content, the selfies, the pictures of your pets, the adverts companies post. Instead, use your platform to educate and speak out.

It is a way to show solidarity. Nothing more and nothing less. It won’t change anything but it hopefully starts to convey the breadth of support.

taking time off from posting mindless selfies to educate themselves (thats supposed to be the idea anyway)

They are acknowledging the pointlessness of their existence by trying to draw attention to themselves. Clever, not.
Just as an aside, is anyone actually 'influenced' by these self-appointed 'influencers'?

@loobyloo1234

I have never seen such a miserable bunch of people as mumsnetters

Agreed.

Also on the matter of following the right people, if anyone wants to post accounts that we should be following who are giving the best messages can they be posted on here? May educate a few people which is never a bad thing

Search for das.penman on Instagram. Her 3rd post ‘George Floyd: How can I help from the UK’ is a good starting point. I urge you all to look at that post.

Silence right now is not what we need. People could be sharing resources, donation links etc, but instead, feeds are being clogged up with black squares.

They have been the past few days, today isn't for those who havent experienced it, they are always heard the loudest. Many are using the correct hashtag as to not detract from the important feeds.

Damned if they do and damned if they don’t ........

I’ve said in other posts this kind of attitude will further deepen the divide by alienating people and then causing them to be defensive. I’m black if that makes any difference to how my comment is taken

We want people to be aware and acknowledge yet when they do they get criticism And if they don’t they get criticism

@leftovercoffeecake people are using the #blackouttuesday hashtag and being asked to not to use the #blacklivesmatter one so that can be used for resources, donations, info etc

I know people are supposed to be using #blackouttuesday but many people aren’t. If you look through the black lives matter Instagram hashtag right now, it’s square after square.

The important information is being drowned out. Putting a black square, a simple hashtag and a hand emoji isn’t enough. It’s the same as ‘thoughts and prayers’. Fair enough if you’ve been sharing other resources as well, but many people have said jack shit until now and are using this as a cop out to say something without having to really say something.

Thanks @ChaiTea1

Munroe Bergdorf is also a good person to follow, highlighting the plight of BLM movement aswell as other issues in society at the moment

I'll also add Rachel Cargle too. An academic and writer. Her posts this week have been very powerful also

Yup, pointless virtue signalling.

Yesterday my instagram feed was full of links to reading, resources, fundraisers, etc.
Today it's a sea of black squares. So much for amplifying voices. All it's doing is drowning them out.

Search for das.penman on Instagram. Her 3rd post ‘George Floyd: How can I help from the UK’ is a good starting point. I urge you all to look at that post.

I've seen that post elsewhere. It reccomends following grifters like Munroe Bergdorf. That won't do anything for anyone.

We have our own problems in the UK with disproportionate numbers of black men dying in custody. Just google Dalian Atkinson, Jimmy Mubenga, Oluseni Lewis and David "Rocky" Bennett to name a few.

There is work that needs to be happening here, where we can more directly challenge and affect change. Reading about the charity Inquest and their work is a good place to start.

It's mostly virtue signalling because others are doing it.

*Chiyo666

If all you can see is black squares then that suggests your feed is very white. Try following some back poets, authors, celebrities.*

From this, I take it that only white people are posting the black squares then?

In my experience, yes. All the black friends and artists I follow either are not posting, or posting actual BLM content.

If all you see are black squares that says a lot about the type of person you choose to follow.

The president has used tear gas on peaceful protesters so that he could film a publicity ad.

Isn't it better that people just say something, even if they are clumsy and get it slightly wrong the first time?

Those who say black squares are drowning out the conversation aren’t listening loud enough. A sea of black squares stops all other conversation. It doesn’t stop the BLM conversation. Walk away from social media and spend some time researching.

"Isn't it better that people just say something"

Sorry, I meant just do something - even if if it is just a black square.

The whole thing is a bit of a crock - like the NHS clapping thing.

If people really cared, they'd have stopped things getting this far decades ago.

As a society we've squandered our privilege in the same way lottery winners piss away their fortune and end up with a house that's falling down. Because rather than invest in it, they bought fast cars, foreign holidays and designer everything.

Now, it seems, some chickens are wanting to come back to roost.