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Fam, us non-Black folks need to think very carefully about what images we share. These terrible images of Black people experiencing violence are the lynching postcards of our time.
That's why racist white people donate to crowd funds for the white people who commit these murders, because it allows them to retroactively participate in a lynching.
I've heard from many Black folks over the yrs, including folks who've studied the impact of such images, that sharing these photos causes Black folks a lot of trauma w out really increasing "awareness" or action. You may be thinking "that's not true tho," so pls let me explain.
Yes, there are instances when images of Black death or the brutalization of Black people have led to social action, but if you are thinking of an example of that phenomenon in recent yrs, you will prob also remember that there was significant community action around such cases.
It's organizers/community members, usually Black folks, who initiate action against anti-Black police brutality. These images being shared around don't make movements happen. People who are determined to stop this kind of violence make movements happen.
I am not trying to get hard with y'all. I am speaking from a place of having had this explained to me patiently at some point and this is me trying to do the same with love and respect for y'all and your intentions.
If you think the content must be shared, due to the importance of the text or some such, I would share it in a way that does not make the preview photo visible on here, or anywhere elsewhere, and add a content warning to the post.
If you want to raise awareness, telling the story is a more effective way to reach ppl. Folks process the world in narratives. A singular image of violence does not capture the totality of what that violence means or what it would take to stop it. A larger narrative can do that.
There was a time when footage of police violence had a bigger impact on folks, decades ago tbh, but we are in a different era of desensitization now. Images of anti-Black violence are everywhere. *You* may be particularly moved by them, but you also prob already cared a lot.
If you're thinking "but really tho, a video moved me to take action," I am not telling you that you're wrong, but I am saying it's possible there was more to it than that, even if you're not aware of the organizing that elevated the issue. You also might just be anomalous on this
If this comes across as scolding, I assure you it is not. I only know this bc Black friends and chosen fam have explained it to me over the yrs & I would just like for them to have to explain it to folks less often & also to be spared the pain of seeing those images all the time.
If you're still thinking, "no, the violence must be exposed," I urge you to think about why ppl don't insist that we need to see the bodies of white children killed in school shootings. In those cases, we understand that the story conveys the tragedy. Why is this different?
You may be thinking, "Ok, fine. Then how do we persuade people to take action?" I talked with Mariame Kaba about digital organizing and persuasion on social media a couple of weeks ago. She breaks down some great lessons here. https://twitter.com/MsKellyMHayes/status/1260948562034274305?s=20
And if you're just overwhelmed w grief & anger & want to have a positive impact on here today, I suggest sharing and/or donating to this mutual aid effort I co-organized. There are a lot of Black folks & other marginalized ppl on this list who need help. https://transformativespaces.org/2020/03/15/chicago-covid-19-hardship-and-help-page/
If you'd like to support ppl who are grieving rt now, including folks who have lost ppl to violence during the COVID-19 crisis, this project connects grieving folks w volunteer therapists, death doulas & help putting together online memorial services. https://transformativespaces.org/2020/04/13/the-mutual-aid-mourning-and-healing-project/
