performative activism + advertising wokeness
A piece by. Nazaaha Penick
In the midst of the murders of black men and women, the temporary and shallow responses by white counterparts have been ones that condense black lives into hashtags and instagram stories. This attempt at “activism” is selfishly evil , rooted in personal gain, rather than political and social change in what seems like a never ending fight, a never ending cry, a never ending protest for the expected gaze of equality that is and should be a standard within authority figures. Instead however, little black girls and boys are sent home for their distractions, hair styles, “loudness”, in an attempt to erase their blackness. Flint Michigan is still without clean water, and black mothers and fathers are murdered at the hands of the very people “they” claim are meant to “protect” and “serve” us.
Regardless of intentions, it is the same passive behavior of those in power that allow the cycle of death to continue, while the youth grows more and more numb to the horrific events that continue to haunt us. Additionally, posting the traumatic black bodies being killed on an instagram story, forcing black peers to watch, is also unnecessary and another case of showcasing “wokeness” while no real action takes place. It should not take the blood of black bodies to “educate” your peers.
Performative activism is, in definition, according to the Columbia Daily Spectator, “ what holds the implication that it is an act, void or substance-less. In our social life, it holds the connotation that it relates to a tweet, a post, or any form of social media presence. It’s important to remember that by definition, social media is performative.”
Posting, reposting, retweeting, and advertising “wokeness” on social media, may educate few, but has no real impact on the concerned issue. Positions of privilege, power, and whiteness, must be utilized to create real impact in actions, not reactions to the event. It is disingenuous to advertise oneself as an advocate for marginalized voices, when one is not actively working to unlearn racism itself. According to advocate Amandla Stenberg, such a claim is accurate when looking at racism on a spectrum rather than something to be or to not be a part of. This is a lifelong work.
This work towards change is not one of profile pictures and Martin Luther King Jr. quotes. It is one where you are asking yourself these questions by Amandla Stenberg and many more:
What is the work you do to meditate your privilege?
What active work are we doing to counter anti-blackness on a day to day basis? Interpersonally?
What personal reparations are you choosing to pay?
This is not a radical act. It is simply paying a certain responsibility to dismantle the racist structure of the systems set in place that work against black people daily.
To quote Amandla again, “Now is the time to step into that role, to think critically every day about the lens that you were given to look through.
We need to do better.
To the Black Youth,
I am sorry you have to grow up in a world that constantly works against us. Know there is power in our backgrounds and our race, and there is validity to the numbness and anger, and sadness, and everything that you are feeling in between. Find your platform, your safe place, speak your truth and know your existence in itself (unfortunately and fortunately) is the greatest revolution to ever exist. You are enough.
Take care of yourself.
TAKE ACTION:
MASTERLIST of resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
Petition: Justice for George Floyd
https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd
TEXT “FLOYD” to 55156 and sign!
Donate: George Floyd Memorial Fund By His Brother
https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd
Donate: Minnesota Freedom Fund
https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate
Donate: I Run With Maud – Justice for Ahmaud Arbery Fundraiser
https://www.gofundme.com/f/i-run-with-maud
Donate: The Black Lives Matter Movement
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019
Contact Minneapolis District Attorney Mike Freeman, to demand justice for Geroge Floyd
CALL: 612-348-550 EMAIL: citizeninfo@hennepin.us
CALL Jacob Frey – 612-673-2100
Tell his office, “I want justice for the murder of Geroge Floyd. I demand the prosecution of the 4 officers involved. This a racist hate crime and an abuse of power.”