How Can I Support the Black Lives Matter Movement on Instagram?
In light of the Black Lives Matter movement and protests happening around the US and the world,
I made an announcement that I would refrain from posting on Instagram in an effort to take that time to listen, reflect, and learn. I wanted to create space for Black voices to not only be heard but to be amplified.
Since then, I have been educating myself on how I can continue to support the Black Lives Matter movement and decided that I would share my findings starting with how to support Black voices on Instagram.
How to Support Black Voices on Instagram
I am seeing an abundance of Instagram stories being shared right now. Some helpful and some not. But stories only last 24 hours, so what are you doing after? It’s no doubt that content and ads will inevitably begin to resume, and the commitment to amplifying Black voices will slowly diminish. So here is a list of ways you can continue to support the BLM movement on Instagram.
Be mindful of your hashtags. As we recently saw on #blackouttuesday, many people used the Black Lives Matter hashtag, overwhelming the hashtag with good intentions, and drowning out vital information.
Share Black Businesses. The next time you want to give a shout out to a local business, make a point to share businesses owned by BIPOC. Here are just a few local to Vancouver;
Sade Thomasos Nutrition Nutrition Consultant
Salt N Sear Catering Event Catering
Stolbie Sisters Media and Event Production
Devi Arts Collective Handmade Jewelry
Ice Kol Kut Barber Shop
Locus Restaurant Traditional Pub Fare
Include Black voices, visuals, and partnerships. A few months ago I realized that almost all of my Instagram posts were of white women and I felt really embarrassed by that. No one has ever said anything to me and obviously, it wasn’t intentional, but I did start making a point of finding stock photos of more diverse groups of women.
Diversify your feed. Have you ever wondered how many BIPOC you follow on Instagram? Find BIPOC accounts that move you and share them with your followers.
Use your platform to create positive change by learning how to be actively anti-racist and promote meaningful solutions.
Reflect on your intention vs. impact - This is a biggie!!! I’ve noticed that a lot of people have a lot of things to say right now and while I know everyone (for the most part) has the best intentions, the impact of your actions doesn’t always align. Ask yourself before posting something if what you are about to share is factual and helpful in finding meaningful solutions.