why the may 31 twitter blackout is bs (the last thing i will say about this)

1. twitter ALREADY does blackout days, they’re meant to celebrate the beauty and achievements of black people. it’s an UPLIFTING tag for us, one that isn’t dedicated to something as horrible as police brutality & police killings.

when you schedule a blackout because of these murders & protests you effectively make it about the tragedies faced by our community when it should be about celebrating us. the solution is NOT to do it. that’s it.

2. whoever suggested it also suggested we post selfies like a regular blackout day. read the room, if you create an event on twitter dedicated to people who’ve DIED, why tf would we incorporate a selfie day?

3. i have yet to see a good reason for this. seriously. there is absolutely no reason for this. we need nb people to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in conversations about race. black people, by ourselves, will not dismantle systemic racism.

uplifting black voices is a good thing, but sitting out of these conversations and just retweeting is not the same thing. it’s another copy/paste thing people use to coddle their egos and kid themselves into thinking they’re doing something.

get on social media. fucking say something.

(note: i’m aware the person who started it is black. do it if you want, but the reality is that is genuinely makes me and other black ppl uncomfortable as hell)

people are rting this so i’m gonna make one thing very clear:
this is MY take on it; i do not represent black ppl as a whole. i know people are saying different things. i wanted to post MY opinion on it because i am black and i do not feel represented or empowered by that trend.

okay people are feeling conflicted about this, rightfully so. i’m gonna add this poll to a thread and ask that y’all rt this so it reaches the right people:

BLACK PPL!!! how do we feel about may 31 blackout?

https://twitter.com/losiingtouch/status/1266180639742517248?s=21 https://twitter.com/losiingtouch/status/1266180639742517248

https://twitter.com/thumbaiina/status/1266177164875005953?s=21 another person who’s just making the same point as me but i figured i’d include this https://twitter.com/thumbaiina/status/1266177164875005953

the person who started it uses they/them pronouns i’m begging you all not to misgender ppl

if i didn’t make it clear enough, choosing not to participate in this doesn’t give y’all an excuse to ignore social issues

mkay i’m gonna add a few more things:
1. i disagree with this idea that the person who created the trend claimed to be speaking for all black ppl. both of our opinions as black ppl are valid.
2. if y’all wanna tweet “blackout is cancelled” then you can do that but +

i am not claiming to be in a position to “cancel” anything i’m simply voicing why it bothers me.
3. i attached a poll so y’all wouldn’t need to quote the tweet w/ “how do my black oomfs feel?” look at it!!