Whenever I thought about activism, it would normally look like protests out on the street as a means to gather attention for their cause. These thoughts are accompanied by the images captured by photographers of people in peaceful gatherings or violent outbreaks. However, I have now started to shift my view more towards what’s happening online, especially with the COVID-19 outbreak and the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020.
I, admittedly, spend much of my time online. This is where I see most of the advocacy and calls for action nowadays. Everywhere, there are people who are now speaking up, calling out other creators, influencers, or online presences who show ignorant or racist behavior towards the Black or POC community. These callouts are spearheaded by Black people, themselves, who want to hold others accountable for these actions that have been done out of ignorance or malicious intent. People are creating petitions, conversations, and movements for forgotten people and events, which would have been difficult if it occurred only offline. Posting these online bolsters the audience because it can reach anybody, regardless of location.
And these online advocacy movements have been working. Some of the recent issues that have been bolstered by social media were the disappearance of Vanessa Guillen at Fort Hood, people being taken off the streets by unidentified individuals in Portland, and the video of George Floyd. Events like these have been occurring for a long time. However, this day and age allows for this type of evidence and plea to reach people en masse, as well as illuminate additional resources on how to help. The platforms to share stories and get in touch with those in power were not readily available at one’s fingertips several years ago. It is through the recent technological advancements that we are able to do so now. People are taking advantage of this tech boom to help those who are being affected by injustices in our society.
The majority of these posts are made by everyday people. Nevertheless, big voices always help aid the causes. For instance, for the recent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, Emmanuel Acho, former linebacker in the NFL, has started a series on YouTube called “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.” This is a space that has been deemed okay for people who are non-Black to ask the questions they are afraid to ask, especially on their way to unlearn racism. There is also actress and playwright Danai Gurira creating a video about talking about race with her white friends on IGTV, with intent to create this into a recurring series. She also spoke on Trevor Noah’s show about her reasoning for creating these conversations about race and spreading this knowledge to others. However, it is the unity of so many voices, regardless of how small, that matter because they all reach different audiences. If one is not on the internet as often, or on a particular platform, these messages may not reach them. There may be people who follow hundreds on one social media platform but may not know that Acho has created such a series, nor that Gurira has spoken up about such issues. That is why there is power in everybody spreading the call to address problems that are occurring and that need attention from those in power. With every person speaking out, there is hope that it becomes a ripple effect, where the message gets widespread to reach even the smallest of audiences.
Would it surprise you that many of the outspoken people are young people? I’m almost 20, and I have seen some accounts on Instagram dedicated to advocacy–LGBTQAI issues, intersectionality, etc.–that are run by people around my age or younger. I am aware that it may simply be my personal bubble that chooses to follow those who are closer in age to myself. These young people recognize the problems in the world that they live in, and are aiming to fix it with the only power they have: the power of the internet. They are trying to get these problems heard to those with the power to make these changes. Regardless of people’s ages, it’s important to support the voices of those who need help. It may no longer be protesting on the streets as often, but one can always raise awareness through solidarity on one’s social media.
No matter one’s social media presence, let us not forget that conversations with those around us should occur. We need to change the world, but also we can help each other recognize our biases and unlearn any discriminatory or prejudicial ideas we may have about people who are different from ourselves. We must not just share a petition and say that we helped. Much of what needs to change is within ourselves, as much as people want to deny it. Unconscious biases affect how we see and treat each other. It is biases like these that have hurt so many Black people and other people of color. Also, do not rely simply on the people who embody those differences, such as Black people, to guide you on your way to unlearning racism, sexism, etc. Much of it depends on introspection and being aware of what and why you think a certain way. Hopefully, someday, we all will better understand each other and embrace our differences.
Here are a couple of websites with resources on how to help with unlearning racism and support the BLM movement.
https://www.projecthome.org/anti-racism-resources
https://www.goodgoodgood.co/anti-racism-resources
https://diversity.unc.edu/yourvoicematters/anti-racism-resources/
Bio: Lizbet Jacobo is a current student at Macalester College and is interning at the East Side Freedom Library this summer. She aims to help others by bridging gaps in communication.