When #BLM Stops Trending: 5 Tips for White Antiracists in a Pandemic
An activist friend once said, “If it’s not clear to everyone that you love Black people, then you don’t actually love Black people.”
In other words, if you are white, claim to care about Black people, and are paying attention to the myriad ways in which our society abuses Black bodies, harms Black children, suppresses Black votes, and so much more, it should be impossible for support and advocacy for Black people not to ooze from your every pore. With the state of race relations what they are, if you truly loved Black people, even strangers who encountered you would know it.
We all sensed what felt like a major societal shift, as Black Lives Matter protests erupted across the globe in the wake of the brutal killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. In the weeks and months since the series of immediate protests, we’ve witnessed a number of significant social, political, and public health developments that have rightfully commanded our attention.
From major geopolitical uprisings, to the historic U.S. presidential election, to the ongoing pandemic and associated governmental failures, social and news media might lead the casual observer to believe the recent Black Lives Matter protests were only a flash in the pan. Hearing less and less news coverage of the ongoing movement, an outside observer might assume Black Lives Matter’s demands have been met.
Don’t fall for it. The Black Lives Matter Movement is an ongoing struggle that requires persistent and sustained support, attention, and advancement. Even though #BlackLivesMatter may no longer be trending, police continue to kill and abuse Black bodies with impunity, our government continues to allow COVID-19 to kill Black folks at disproportionate rates, and Black votes continue to be suppressed—now, perhaps more blatantly than ever.
With all the distractions, it’s easy (though it shouldn’t be) to forget to dedicate time and energy to the movement in defense of Black Life. Even more, as many of us remain locked down in our homes amidst the ongoing pandemic, it’s easy to forfeit physical activism and give in to complacency.
Complacency kills movements. It stifles and chokes off momentum, allowing the movement’s most important and pressing demands to be swallowed up by the status quo. To put it bluntly, we can’t let that happen; you can’t let that happen. Black Lives Matter’s continued growth and future success are predicated on active and aggressive expansions in participation, planning, and funding.
If you love and care about Black people and our existence in this country, it’s fair to assume you’ve already researched innovative ways to stay involved in the movement from the safety of your home. But the pandemic has altered the social landscape and, for many, we are living in uncharted territory.
With that in mind, here are five simple practices that, if maintained, should serve as the basis for (not extent of) your remote activism amidst the ongoing pandemic.:
Connect with activists. Follow their instruction. While some volunteer whatever free time they might have in support of Black Lives, for many, this work is their whole life. Antiracism activists are plugged into Black Lives Matter coalitions across the country and are constantly providing resources, instruction, and importantly, hope. Find these folks on social media. Follow the people they’re following. Show up in the ways they’re showing up.
Join active organizations. Of course Black Lives Matter the organization maintains chapters across the country. If a chapter exists near you, join it. Additionally, organizations like Showing Up for Racial Justice maintain dozens of very active local chapters in nearly every state. These and many other organizations have transitioned to remote activism, conducting their orientations, general body meetings, and updates over zoom. Google, google, google.
Give money. Black Lives Matter and every organization supporting it needs funding. Money is the most predictable obstacle many movements face. Don’t let lack of financial support be the reason Black Lives Matter is not as effective as it could be. Give more than you’re initially inclined to give.
Be the person who always brings up Black Lives Matter and anti-Black racism. As I’ve written in the past, if you are white, you are probably noticing more and more frequently that many, in fact most, aspects of our society are informed by race in some way. As such, in order to combat such a powerfully entrenched systemic force, race and antiracism must remain top of mind. What’s more, consistently bringing up race among your social circle translates to a number of benefits: you become more comfortable speaking on the issues, your friends become more educated on them too, and you build your reputation as a resource, advocate, and ally.
Read. Listen to podcasts. Watch documentaries. You’re not finished learning about race and you never will be. The structures and mindsets that accommodate the systemic white supremacy upon which our society was founded are quite strong and even more creative. As such, as a antiracist ally, you will never max out your antiracism education. Podcasts, books, and documentaries are great ways to continue to expand your knowledge base. Activists and organizations (see, #1 and #2) routinely provide reading and listening lists. Absorb, learn, and apply their guidance.
Look, I get it. These are challenging times. Money is short. Bandwidth is exhausted. Children are cooped up. But antiracism isn’t meant to be easy. If the deadly, generational repercussions of America’s original sin were easily remedied, they would’ve been so by now. Defeating the issues that persist requires action contrary to white comfort and stability. This isn’t meant to be easy. That doesn’t mean it’s not vital.
I don’t imagine dismantling a system that supports your own race would be a pleasant feeling. Indeed, as I’ve written previously, white antiracist allies should use their discomfort and difficulty as a gauge: it’s likely that the more uncomfortable your antiracism efforts, the more effective. Sacrificing your time, energy, money, and, at times, your social standing are necessary to dismantle a system that supports and advances you. In other words, if your antiracist allyship doesn’t feel uncomfortable, if it doesn’t push you to your mental, financial, and social limits, then you could be doing more.
The Black Lives Matter Movement has and will continue to change the world. I don’t know about you, but I hope to look back on this time, confident that I did everything I could, contributed every dollar I could, supported every organization I could, in the name of Black Lives.
Let’s do this!
