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?

@Comefromaway

Person of colour is the phrase of choice that is used by probably the majority of black and other minority people I know in the theatre community. Maybe because there is a lot of cultural influence from the US. I don't know. But it is definately used here in the uk

See, I never know what's "right". I've heard people say they "I'm not a fucking rainbow, I'm black" when called POC???

@cam77 yes, it's mind blowing that a cop could do that so casually without any fear of reprisals. Historically in the US & the UK I don't think there is a great track record of holding police to account. Obviously in America you have to guns issue on top.

Trump has to go but will he?

I think it's counter productive. My social media for the past few days has been full of fantastic resources to help people educate themselves on racial inequalities and the experiences of Black people. Today - nothing. Black squares, and no information being shared. Especially black squares being shared by people who weren't otherwise engaging in discussions about the protests in America, Black Lives Matter etc until they felt it was uncontroversial for them to do so.

It comes across (to me, a white person, so I accept that it is not my opinion that matters here) that it's seen as another easy win for people to look like they care, much like NHS clapping.

It's not a phrase that sits easily with me amused and I probably would say black or asian etc. But its not offensive to the people I mix with in artistic circles.

I have posted a black square today. I am not a bandwagon jumper, I never do social media 'causes'. I am white.

However, this is the first time (shamefully) that I've been moved to really properly look into what is going on for black people. Quite ignorantly, as I truly don't hear or see people being racist in my day to day life (possibly because I live in a very white area, I'm not denying it happens) I don't generally give it much thought. I didn't realise it was so widespread, so blatant, so ingrained for some.

There isn't much I can do as an individual, except for educate myself and raise my children not only to not be racist, but to challenge it. If everyone did that, the next generation of people would hold a different view.

But if putting up a small black square makes even one person feel that someone cares, is bothered, has taken the time to educate themselves a little better, then I will.

Also - I always felt uncomfortable with saying 'black' because when I was a child in the eighties it was rude to call someone black. A bit of that feeling still lingers in me, but I will use whatever term the person chooses to describe themselves because it's not about me.

It’s to show solidarity. Also so people can see it and research the whole movement/history and to keep the dialogue going.

I wish there was a guide for white people. I would never want to offend anyone, but am terrified I will say the wrong thing in all innocence. I understand and empathise with your statement, however that sort of understanding of terminology preferred (and to a bigger extent, of culture) comes from the books you read, the films you watch, the people you talk to. I don’t think people shouldn’t befriend black people to fill a diversity quota but reading books with black protagonists (for example) is an excellent way to start.

@Teawiththat how about instead of searching up a black tile on google they search up something informative and learn something? Save the page for later if they're working and don't have time to digest it? Rather than a throwaway post of a black tile and there they've done their bit.

My feed is full of it, but everyone’s using their stories to share information on how to help

This stuff goes on every single day and yet it's only something horrific happens that people actually stop and think oh yeah, this is still a thing, best get on social media and shout about it for a couple of weeks. Makes me sick.

The reaction is always going to be proportionate to the action. Surely that’s appropriate?

I'm cynical about it tbh.

I'm white but not English & grew up in a very diverse part of London. In terms of race my school friends were very mixed but what we all had in common was immigrant parents, all my neighbours were immigrants too.

I still live in the same vicinity however the area has become incredibly gentrified over the last 2 decades & now my road is very homogeneous & 95% white & middle class.
The neighbours who are showing solidarity are the same neighbours who post pictures of a black man with a hoody on Nextdoor warning about a suspicious male 🙄.

I'm not putting anything up. It's a trend and most of the people participating on my Instagram haven't got a clue what it means and are doing it for likes.

Save the page for later if they're working and don't have time to digest it? Rather than a throwaway post of a black tile and there they've done their bit.

How appalling that you think those who have posted a black tile have only done that. The two are not mutually exclusive.

i was talking to my dad (70s) about this earlier and he felt it was a really bad choice of words, he said he can remember banners saying " Blacks Out!" and it was everyday not just Tuesdays... :(

It’s been a great way for me to discuss the matter with my who’re friends and collleagues. They have done their own research but I’ve happily signposted them to other books, accounts and valuable resources.
Funnily enough, most of the people on my timeline whinging about the pointlessness of the black tiles... are white!
Imagine feeling like YOU should be the one telling people not to post because it’s Ineffective. The mind boggles

It's actually having a massive detrimental impact on Facebook, which is excellent because they are prize fools in this situation.

Their revenue has been hit monumentally due to lack of affiliates, ads and influencers posting.

It's complete virtue signalling bollocks, like "Je suis Charlie" and changing your profile picture to the flag of the country that got bombed. None of these people ever gave a shit about BLM or gave it a millisecond of thought before this happened. I talk about politics/current affairs with my friends and not one has ever mentioned how strongly they feel about racism, or BLM, but now they're all posting black squares and how awful this all is. It's ridiculous, now they think they've "done their bit" and been good little citizens - black square on a Tuesday, clap on a Thursday, boo for Boris next Tuesday.

Of course none of them care enough to actually DO anything about it, and they'll promptly forget next week, but for now they're just scoring woke-points on Instagram.

From what I can see, the point is to show support by posting lots of blank squares. The informative parts then go in their stories. It is really important that we all learn and show support. I've done one and I've also linked important articles / people in my stories.

I talk about politics/current affairs with my friends and not one has ever mentioned how strongly they feel about racism, or BLM, but now they're all posting black squares and how awful this all is. It's ridiculous, now they think they've "done their bit" and been good little citizens

If you think that all your friends have done is post a square without doing some research about why they’ve done it, then perhaps you should educate your friends. If your friends actively argue or dismiss you when you discuss BLM with them then perhaps you should evaluate whether you want to remain being friends with these people?

Also I feel a bit sorry for celebrities and influencers in all of this because they can't do right for wrong.
Yesterday Joe Wicks posted something unrelated on his Instagram and loads of comments were saying 'how dare you not speak about this matter and use your platform to inform others'
Maybe he didn't know what to say yet?

@amusedtodeath1 POC (Person Of Colour) is a blanket term for anyone who isn't white. (Personally I'm not at all keen on it for a variety of reasons, but many not-white people find it useful.)

Discrimination against POCs means discrimination against anyone who isn't white.

I wouldn't use POC in this context as this is an almost exclusively black issue. To refer to POCs in this context implies that all non-white people form one homogenous mass. Police violence tends to disproportionately affect people who are black. Asian people, for example, are POCs, but while discrimination is a very real problem for them, the police don't tend to shoot them on sight.

Don’t post the black square. Just don’t post for a day. But they can’t do that. They have to be “seen”

Exactly. It’s pure signaling.

It’s been a great way for me to discuss the matter with my who’re friends and collleagues

Maybe I'm looking at it from the wrong viewpoint. Didn't people discuss these issues before?

I stupidly assumed that the whole idea was not to post anything. That way there was no content being posted that was not related and that would in turn hammer the message home.

Instead of posting a black square if people want to post they should spread information on ways to support those protesting.

And I don't know why people feel at all sorry for "influencers" and celebs. In the case of Joe wicks I am sure he can can his mouth shut and stop pushing whatever crap he is selling for a few days if he doesn't want to comment.

It’s to show solidarity. The few bands and charities I follow posted them and well done to them. I made a small donation to BLM. I feel that’s all I can do, apart from talking to my kids about it.

From all the things to be pissy about, you’ve chosen this.