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By: Sneha Bhale
In the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, protests have erupted in the call for justice and much needed police reform across the United States. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people haven’t been able to participate in protests and have turned to a new form of activism- online activism.
Many people, the majority of them millennials, have turned to social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to demonstrate their support for social justice movements such as the Black Lives Matter Movement, to call out police brutality within the nation.
But unfortunately, online activism can be interpreted as something else- Performative Activism. But what exactly is Performative Activism?
Vox defines, “Performative Activism” is activism that is done to increase one’s social capital rather than one’s devotion to a cause.
Performative Activism is a disease plaguing not only celebrities and influencers, but many social media users across the country. According to the Pew Research center, 53 percent of U.S. adults in 2018 engaged in political or social-minded activity on social media that year. It is very convenient to use a hashtag or repost a picture to appear “woke” or “educated”, but users must understand that doing so is not enough to support a cause and is not a sign of honest support but is detrimental and only seems to fuel one’s personal agenda.
Just a month ago, when George Floyd’s brutal murder hit the news, instead of taking action to make a change, an Instagram tag chain arose, where people were encouraged to tag 10 of their followers. While some celebrities, like Ariana Grande, Halsey, and Kendrick Sampson have attended the Black Lives Matter protests across the country and utilized their platforms to address racial inequality in America, many others have not. Numerous world-renowned celebrities such as Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevigne, and others participated in a tag 10 friends Instagram chain as a way to avoid backlash for remaining silent during a pivotal moment in America. This method of Performative Activism only shows celebrities bandwagoning to boost their social presence.
On June 2nd, yet another performance activism trend hit Instagram. The trend started out as musicians posting a black square with the hashtag #theshowmustbepaused. But as the plan spread, reposts of crucial information regarding the protests and Black Lives Matter was transformed into #BlackOutTuesday. On this day, 28 million people posted a black screen for #BlackoutTuesday to show their support for the BLM movement. Social media has become the home for all kinds of useful information about the protests, so the flood of black screens hurt those looking for the critical protest information. Local activist groups might post everything from which civil rights lawyers to contact if you get arrested pro bono, what to do if you’re exposed to tear gas, or calls for dermatologists to sponsor those on the front lines whose skin is breaking out from wearing gas masks. The action of tagging #BlackLivesMatter in their Instagram caption drowned out important information, petitions, and messages regarding the safety of protestors.
The very next day, Instagram returned to a “state of normalcy”. Many stayed silent and didn’t amplify Black voices or the movement but felt pleased with their unfruitful contribution of a black screen.
Activist Nupol Kiazolu, president of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, called #BlackoutTuesday "frustrating" and "counterproductive." She encouraged people to see the blackout posts as just a small part of what they can do from the comfort of their smartphones, such as donating money and items to organizations.
Of the 28 million who posted a black square on #blackouttueday, only 13 million people signed the official petition page for George Floyd.
But can Performative Activism ever be considered helpful?
If someone’s pure intention is to spread awareness, then yes, it can be helpful. But going with the flow when it comes to activism all because you are afraid of being called out for being a racist or ignorant person, signifies that you are actually posting solely to “fit in.” This movement cannot be a trend.
What are some ways of not taking part in performative activism?
If you truly want to help, sign petitions. Donate. Write to your elected officials. Watch movies and TV shows to educate yourselves. Read books. But please think before posting. Do not simplify a whole movement down to a trend.
By partaking in proactive and sincere activism, we can be the change.
Discussion Questions:
How has social media impacted the Black Lives Matter Movement?
Is the Black Lives Matter Movement going to result in tangible change in the system?
What type of activism is needed to make substantial change in the American system?
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