To ask how you are supporting BLM?

[JFSB]

I have asked this question on a few threads now but I've yet to get an answer so here I am.

AIBU to question those who claim to support the BLM movement but instead spend more time discussing protesting at this time than actually supporting the movement?

A virtual protest to took place on Sunday evening as part of the Black Lives Matter movement, on the fifth anniversary of the burial of Sheku Bayoh.
The move came after Mr Bayoh’s sister, Kadi Johnston, who is a staff nurse, urged people to protest digitally due to the pandemic.

However getting the news of this virtual protest out there was difficult because instead it seems many people would rather argue about what went wrong at the protests in public that did take place.

I keep reading you support the cause and peaceful protests but what are you actually doing to support the cause and peaceful protest?

//www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/sister-death-custody-victim-sheku-22139467

For those who missed it

[Reythemamajedi]

At work, I worked with a colleague to encourage our senior leaders to write an organisational response to BLM, setting out our stance. This is big, we never do this normally.
I've joined an equality and diversity group at work to drive forward the EDI plan and hold senior leaders to account of the plan is not implemented.
I have spoken at length with my children about BLM and we have watched some programmes together and discussed them in an effort to raise the issue with them and broaden their and my understanding.
And on a personal level, I have encouraged my colleague to put herself forward as a voice within the organisation to articulate her thoughts on BLM. In my role as her mentor, I feel it's important to facilitate ways for her to be heard.
I hope that's enough. Whilst I don't think I'm racist, I feel I can always learn and understand more.

[Lifeisgenerallyfun]

@GreytExpectations that’s not what I’m saying at all very obviously. If you actually thought the situation through you would actually appreciate that it is quite the opposite. The amount of people suddenly professing a lifelong quest for racial equality is sadly predictable and untrue, because 4 months ago they were focusing soley on just being kind to each other- it was their life’s mantra, 6 months ago The only thing we needed to focus our lives on was Mental health, 6 months before that it was supporting gay rights, next month it will be #somethingelse to dedicate every ounce of their energy to.

It’s false, to create real change hysteria needs to stop, people need to focus on what needs to change and how that will change.

Instead we get shit like JK Rowling is racist, random apologies by pop acts for wearing their hair in an almost universally accepted style in antiquity.

At the end of the day racism, sexism, homophobia, classism (if that’s the right term), disabled people experiencing hatred and discrimination against anyone not fitting criteria on physical looks or mental norms all fall into the same box, treating people baby because they are different. Instead all I see is a fight to the bottom, who has been treated the worst in history who is hated most now.

Instead of this maybe look at the way humans can elevate each other up, to do this it means having the inclination to move forward, I don’t see this happening at the moment, it impossible whilst people are bound up in such anger

[Gobshyte]

Signing as many petitions as I can find
Reporting racist posts on SM
Playing one specific YouTube video on repeat throughout the day because the money from all the adverts goes to charities that support black people
Donating money on go fund me
Using my white privilege to educate and explain the BLM movement to family and friends
Buying from black owned businesses when possible
Teaching DS about different types of people and trying to find diverse books/YouTube channels etc for him to see
Reading up on black history, cultures, practices and current protests to make sure I am educated and not completely ignorant
Thanking the younger generations and hoping for a more accepting and kind world. These black kids are their ancestors wildest dreams and I am here for it.

[Ladyks]

I think one thing that is confusing (at least on my SM) is the difference between Black Lives Matter the organisation and the black lives matter movement. From my understanding the movement is about equality, while one of the organisation’s main goals is to defund the police (on their website). So when some people say they do not support BLM they typically (I hope) mean they do not support defunding the police, and not that they do not believe that black lives matter.

[JFSB]

I do think that is happening to some degree @Ladyks but those trying to express their thoughts on if there is a difference of organisation vs movement are being drowned out. It seems to be a case of who can shout the loudest.

[JFSB]

@Gobshyte, I haven't heard of a specific YouTube video, can you link please?

[DeeCeeCherry]

many people would rather argue about what went wrong at the protests in public that did take place

Yes this is true OP. It's apparent all over MN. They don't care about violence against black people perpetuated by those who are actually tasked & paid to uphold the law. They're so concerned with sidestepping that we've had character assassination of George Floyd, as if previous crimes justifies modern day lynching. The old black men kill each other anyway trope, to justify murder at the hands of police. Denial that deaths in UK police custody happen - I actually saw someone write 'oh it's only a handful' 🙄. Suddenly caring that black people will catch Covid (aka don't go out to protest!) all whilst many of us are on hospital & care homes frontline daily, which they selectively aren't bothered about.

They'll talk about protests till the cows come home. It's diversion tactics. I think it's a good time to remind yourself that no matter what they say, in the scheme of things, the way the world is changing, people coming together all over the world to denounce racism, companies putting out supportive statements (I'm a bit 'hmmm' about some but point is, Ive not seen that happen before & didn't expect to in my lifetime) is what truly matters. Not racist echo chambers. Can't recall who said it up thread but 'Not being a racist twat' works too.

There's a lot happening online too, individuals who've been openly racist (especially when they've the nerve to do that whilst profiting from black audiences) and organisations they work for, have been taken to task. When racists' income streams are cut, they suddenly understand. Many different things happening.

I know about Sheku but didn't know about the virtual protest, sorry. Is it ongoing..?

[Gobshyte]

Type BML into YouTube and it is the first video that shows up. The video discusses many points as well as showing where the money is going. It was created as a way to help poorer people (mainly students/young people living at home without their own income) as a way for them to 'donate' to the causes that matter to them.

I have included a screenshot of the videos first comment as it's important if you want to rewatch it like I do and make sure you are still 'donating'.

[JFSB]

@DeeCeeCherry I am glad it is not just me who seems to see what you have described. I have so far attended three online virtual protests, the one I have mentioned in my OP, one organised by ldnblm and one organised by Conter.
I am sharing these events when I become aware of them as like the protests happening in the streets there is not one group organising them.

@Gobshyte, thank you. I had heard of plans to monetise certain videos in support but wasn't aware of any that had actually put the plan into place. Without the comment it would have never occurred to that views may be counted as spam.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

Yet again I misread the room!

You want petitions and videos. Not real life, long term work.

My apologies! I don't do much social media.

[user8558]

GreytExpectations

user8558

What on earth do you want me to do?

Seriously.

The lack of any manifesto is a massive problem.

Such a typical, ignorant "it's not my problem" reply. If you actually wanted to help, you'd educate yourself.


--- Educate myself in other ways other than asking

Why don't you just answer the question?

"It's not my problem" - well frankly it actually isn't. But I'm happy to help anyway that I can.

I genuinely don't know what I can do. And clearly I'm not allowed to ask.

[JFSB]

I am discussing what can be done at the moment that does not involve shouting at each other about protesting during a pandemic.

I don't know about others but I am unable to do some of my own real life, long term work in the midst of our current situation.

[GreytExpectations]

well frankly it actually isn't.

OK you lost me at this. I'm sorry that your white privaledge has caused years of oppression and systemic racism for BAME community. But hey, why should you bother helping, it's nothing to do with you, except for the fact that you have only been benefiting from their oppression.
Here's a hint: it's not black people's job to educate you. You can use Google if you wanted, plenty of resources are being shared at the moment.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

Oh! Well my part time, long term real life work didn't stop. It got busier and took up the time my usual work, self employed, would have used.

But if that doesn't count maybe other posters have a point... what do you want people to do? Specifically...

[user8558]

That's helpful.

How is anyone to know if it's nobody's job to inform the "ignorant".

[JFSB]

Your sarcasm is not lost on me, at no point have I said your work does not count.

It is not my place to tell people what to do nor have I claimed it is.

However, I feel there are too many people telling others what not to do.

[GreytExpectations]

How is anyone to know if it's nobody's job to inform the "ignorant".

Somehow, loads of other people are managing to use their resources such as the wel known Google, amongst other forms of search engines to educate themselves. Not sure why you cant do the same. The ignorant need to get off their arse and make an effort, not just sit there and expect others to spoon feed them information.

I think this image is relevant to the discussion.

[BubbleBathandBook]

I work with young black girls on a scheme to provide opportunities in a certain field. And I donated to the Minnesota Fund. I also call out who're friends or family who are racist or unaware.

But I also acknowledge that I'm bound to be internally racist, just like I have certain internalised misogyny and I try to be mindful of the thoughts that cross my mind and where they came from.

[MorrisZapp]

When I say 'I support x' what I usually mean is I'm in favour of it.

I support women's right to choose abortion.
I support easing lockdown measures to get the economy moving and kids back to school.
I don't support calls for a second Scottish indyref

Etc etc. I don't mean 'I'm actively spending time and resources for and against these causes'.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

And here you are doing the opposite

Seriously, do you think the work I do, that is not directly aimed at BAME population and does not have a specific BAME ethic, but does claim a lot of BAME focussed funding, counts?

Or does BLM / BAME have to be at the very heart of an action to be considered in your positive action count?

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

It's just struck me that you may be mingling my posts with another poster?

I wasn't being sarcastic, until that last post. I was puzzled that you only directly responded to posts about online petitions, videos etc.

[user8558]

Right.

Thing is.

I don't think there is anything I can do other than not being racist myself and bringing my kids up not to be racist.

I'm at a loss as to what else there is.

I even started a thread here about it the other night.

Nobody answered.

And then again I asked here and I got a snarky response.

I don't think there's an answer.

If there was, someone would have offered something.

[GreytExpectations]

@user8558 I found loads of responses with a 2 minute Google search. Why can't you do that?

[MorrisZapp]

I've googled and found that the practical thing you can do is donating money.

Other than that that, it's reading and listening. Reading and listening are almost always a good idea, but I don't personally see how they move things forward where individuals can't effect change.

I live in an almost entirely white city. I have no colleagues who aren't white, and I'm not involved in HR so don't know who applies for work.

The actual things you can do effectively amount to talking to people, and listening to people. All good. But probably not going to stop American police brutality and racism.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

Google will give you

Get educated
Donate money
Sign a petition
Go on protests
Facebook your support
Buy Black
Consider your own prejudice/privilege
Don't be racist
Don't let others be racist
Keep listening

I do none of those things, except the don't be racist ones. Maybe user feels as I do, none of the google suggestions really feels right, or is possible.