First and foremost let me start off by saying #BLACKLIVESMATTER!
In the current state of the world, black people are not only having to worry about COVID 19 taking us out but also police killing us over $20 bills (George Flloyd), white supremacist hunting us down and killing us while running in our neighborhoods (Ahmaud Arbery) and police mistaking our homes for that of a criminal and firing off rounds from their weapons killing us (Breonna Taylor). This time it feels different though. We have begun calling out brands, companies, our non-black friends and family and co-workers to take a stand with us. Not FOR US because we have been standing for quite some time now but to stand WITH US. This brings me to why I am here today...
Here we are about 9 days after white influencers/content creators/bloggers decided that they would #apmplifymelantedvoices to try and give black influencers the floor in the content creator world for a whole week. A whole 7 days. One week. This act of privilege, I mean support was an attempt at supporting black lives and black voices in the community of content creation. Some decided to go silent for the 7 days and others decided to not promote themselves but to use the week to promote and introduce black creators to their audience. This sounds decent to say the most right?
Myself though, being a black blogger, I had some concerns. Allow me to explain:
These are just a few of the concerns that I had about #amplifymelanatedvoices. I do think that every little bit helps in the fight that we are currently (and have been) in but this just seemed like a way for white influencers to announce that their voices are heard more than black voices and show their privilege. Now I could be in my feelings, (which I totally deserve to be and please don't try to tell me any different) but I just didn't understand the movement.
Let's talk about it though. Leave me a comment here or on IG or Facebook. I want to know your feelings about everything going on and how you are dealing with it.
Myself though, being a black blogger, I had some concerns. Allow me to explain:
- Being a black micro-influencer (under 5k following), I found it interesting that most white influencers shared the voices of large black influencers. Those with well over 10k following. Don't get me wrong I did see some sharing of smaller influencers, myself included but the majority were influencers with larger platforms. My outlook on it was if you are amplifying black voices, amplify those that the IG algorithm.plays on a daily basis. Amplify those voices that you have never heard. All black platforms need to be seen and heard. Micro-influencers are some of the hardest working folks out here in these streets. I need to also practice what I preach here (another blog soon to come).
- For me personally, I follow accounts that speak to me. Ones I can relate too and as a blogger, I tend to appeal to an audience that relates to me. The young black women who work in corporate America but tries to stay fly, make her coin, hustle and travel. That's my audience, the make coin to fly and stay fly girls. The few followers I did receive are white young women so....are they going to stay around and engage in my content or not because it won't interest them. How do I appeal to them? Did they follow me to mend they conscious or because they truly find interest in my voice? Just some food for thought.
- Now that the 7 days are over, what happens now? Will white influencers go back to their regularly scheduled program or will this engagement in the black voice stay relevant? I'm asking for myself because as black people we have fought the struggle all our lives and for some of the white influencers this is their first time testing the social injustice waters and sharing black stories and struggles with their audience. How will they adapt in the future? I ask these questions out of love for the fact that people want to be involved and see change but also out of concern that black voices will be used to gain popularity.
These are just a few of the concerns that I had about #amplifymelanatedvoices. I do think that every little bit helps in the fight that we are currently (and have been) in but this just seemed like a way for white influencers to announce that their voices are heard more than black voices and show their privilege. Now I could be in my feelings, (which I totally deserve to be and please don't try to tell me any different) but I just didn't understand the movement.
Let's talk about it though. Leave me a comment here or on IG or Facebook. I want to know your feelings about everything going on and how you are dealing with it.
Great blog fly girl. I totally agree that the movement did show privilege. You're right on the money.
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