Read on Twitter
Thread: Morning, people. We're great believers in the fact that art - and pop culture more broadly - can be wielded as a force for change, for progress and for good. We have quite a modest platform in TDN, but we'd like to use it to be part of the #Blacklivesmatter 
conversation
conversation
In the first instance, we'll be talking about how, listening to our black brothers and sisters, can educate us, help us to do better and be part of the solution rather than the problem. There are a lot of confused white ppl about wondering how they can do better and help.
Now, we don't know the answers either. Instead of us blathering on (more white folk using their agency to whitesplain things), what we'll do instead is look to poc, foreground their voices, platform them the best we can.
So, we;ll be sharing some of the art, books, film and music (etc.) that we think carry meaning. To many, this will be obvious, big names with profiles. If you want to add other names into the mix (it might be your name), tell us.
We know this isn't much, or enough, but it's not enough either for left/liberal leaning ppl to stand on the sidelines, shaking their heads.
We'll start with Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing, which explores racial tensions against the backdrop of a sweltering neighbourhood in Brooklyn. It's fair to say that only white people ever seriously consider the question of whether Lee's Mookie did the 'Right Thing'
Little bit of context here for those who haven't seen the film (you should see the film) https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/aug/02/do-the-right-thing-review-spike-lee
Quickly looked for a black critic's perspective and couldn't find one - surely one of the issues in play with our society right now is that a wider audience isn't hearing regularly from BAME voices.
Anyway, we wanted to start here as it is a pretty good depiction of how society and the way we read it/live in it becomes so polarised so quickly. My experience as a white guy of leaving the house and being outside is pretty low stress.
What can art do in a situation like this, you may be asking yourself. I think it's more what can we learn from art made by poc. We can start by listening more intently, and by sharing the message.
Essentially (some) people are still afraid of âthe otherâ - and losing out to that other. For all lives to matter, it must be obvious and a given that #BlackLivesMatter
This can be addressed by looking outside of our experience. Read and champion other voices, for this instance. Octavia Butler is brilliant at putting the reader in her shoes, letting us see through her eyes - those of a black woman.
*for instance NOT 'this instance' Typing too quickly.
Butler was a brave, innovative and - maybe most of all - great writer. Learn more about her here if she's a new name to you: https://www.huntington.org/verso/2018/08/mining-archive-octavia-e-butler