The Black Lives Matter movement is growing stronger than ever. All 50 states in the USA have come together, to show their solidarity with the black community.
Celebrities are also joining the Black Lives Matter protests, and luckily, they’re able to blend in with the rest of the crowd. Cole Sprouse was arrested last week, along with a group of peaceful protestors.
While some celebrities are showing their support through protesting, others are posting resources on social media, and even allowing members of the black community to take over their Instagram pages.
- Selena Gomez
Four days ago, Selena Gomez announced on Instagram that she is handing her account to influential members of the black community. According to Gomez, “after thinking about how best to use my social media, I decided that we all need to hear more from Black voices”.
Gomez’s first guest was Alicia Garza. Garza co-created #blacklivesmatter, and she is the director of the Black Futures Lab — an organization that (according to their mission statement), “transforms Black communities into active, interdependent, responsive public partners that change the way power operates”. Garza spoke more about who she is, and what she stands for, during an Instagram video on Gomez’s timeline.
Gomez has since featured Jelani Cobb and Kimberlé Crenshaw on her social media.
Cobb is a journalist at the New Yorker, and a professor at Columbia University. He is an author of many different books, and an advocate for change. Cobb teaches mainly about the history of race, and he even made an appearance in the award-winning Netflix documentary, 13th — directed by Ava Duvernay.
Crenshaw is the co-founder of the African American Policy Forum, and is also the creator of the now viral, “#SayHerName” hashtag.
Most recently, the hashtag has been used to bring attention to Breonna Taylor — a 26 year old EMT/nursing major, who was fatally shot by Louisville Metro police officers. Policemen raided Taylor’s apartment with a “no-knock” warrant in the middle of the night, and when Taylor’s boyfriend fired a shot in self-defense, police fired multiple shots, killing Taylor in the midst of it all.
Since Taylor’s case hadn’t received national attention at the time of her death, Crenshaw started a hashtag to bring justice to Breonna Taylor, amongst other black women who were wrongfully killed by the police.
2. Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes is allowing influential youth members of the black community to take over his Instagram stories. So far, he’s featured: Zyahna Bryant, Winter Breeanne, and Luis Jonathan Hernandez.
However, since Instagram stories are only available for 24 hours, Mendes made the youth changemakers permanently visible, by adding them to The Shawn Mendes Foundation Instagram page. If you go to the main page, there will be a highlight, called “Changemakers”. The highlight includes all of the previously mentioned youth leaders, as well as relevant work, resources, and mission statements.
3. Lady GaGa
Lady GaGa posted ten organizations that are fighting to end racial injustices. GaGa stayed that she had donated to all of these organizations, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
She also made a vow about three days ago, to hand her Instagram account to the aforementioned organizations. She emphasized that she wants to amplify the voices that deserve to be heard.
It’s great that these celebrities are using their massive platforms to bring about a positive change, and allow black voices to be heard, worldwide.
