Have you recently noticed an uptick in posts on your social media about the injustices and issues occurring around the world? Have friends of yours recently shared numerous infographics on their Instagram stories? Have you felt like these posts were insincere or shared out of obligation? 

If you have observed any of these phenomena, you might have witnessed what has been dubbed performative activism. Embark with me on today’s episode of the Unqualified Wisdoms Podcast where we explore what is meant by performative activism, and the pitfalls it presents for activism as a whole. But not all is negative when it comes to activism on social media, as I also explain why social media might be a tool to further causes and movements.

Sources:

theshowmustbepaused.com

vox.com/the-highlight/2019/5/20/18542843/intersectionality-conservatism-law-race-gender-discrimination

youtube.com/watch?v=ZmVPgmCh24k&t=17s&ab_channel=TaraMooknee

theoutline.com/post/982/opening-ceremony-protest-shirts-are-not-an-actual-protest

nytimes.com/2020/06/02/arts/music/what-blackout-tuesday.html

idsnews.com/article/2020/09/performative-activism-harms-social-movements

voxatl.org/the-dangers-of-performative-activism/

rewire.org/seesaw-effect-performative-activism/

medium.com/illumination/the-difference-between-performative-activism-and-genuine-allyship-c1071133d0e0

forge.medium.com/performative-allyship-is-deadly-c900645d9f1f

columbiaspectator.com/opinion/2019/03/27/discourse-and-debate-is-performative-activism-inherently-bad/

youtube.com/watch?v=ewjaC6X9MaY&ab_channel=T1J

youtube.com/watch?v=q1Op3aPGrrU&ab_channel=amandamaryanna

Resources:

reclaimtheblock.org/home

naacpldf.org

aclu.org

communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory

nlg-npap.org

standuptoracism.org.uk/join-donate/

greenandblackcross.org

blacklivesmatters.carrd.co