Google+’s strong message of support for #BlackLivesMatter is significant given that many other big companies have not addressed the topic.
Along with the message below, Google tweeted:
“#AltonSterling and #PhilandoCastile’s lives mattered. Black lives matter. We need racial justice now.”
This statement is in contrast to Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook post that also addressed the death of Philando Castile – which was supportive, but did not mention his race, racism or the Black Lives Matter movement.
“My heart goes out to the Castile family and all the other families who have experienced this kind of tragedy. My thoughts are also with all members of the Facebook community who are deeply troubled by these events. The images we’ve seen this week are graphic and heartbreaking, and they shine a light on the fear that millions of members of our community live with every day. While I hope we never have to see another video like Diamond’s, it reminds us why coming together to build a more open and connected world is so important — and how far we still have to go.“
It is good to have leaders like Zuckerberg addressing Castile’s death, but White people, and companies dominated by White people, need to be more explicit in talking about, and addressing, structural racism.
Leaders with social privileges have an elevated status and they should use their power and influence constructively. For the rest of us who are ordinary folk, we need to speak up against racism all the same and look after our Black colleagues who are suffering.
Self-Care
On my Facebook page, I had a member of our community talk about her fear as a Black woman due to police shootings and connected events. For other Black Other Sociologists, I want to reshare the resources I suggested for self-care and know that your safety, health and future matters.
Self care is a feminist act especially for women of colour and even more so for Black women right now. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help; even from far away Australia at least know that I care about your wellbeing. Here are a couple of articles recommended by Black women colleagues for Black women.
- Self Care For People of Color After Psychological Trauma
- 23 Ways to Treat Yourself Without Buying or Eating Anything
- Tips for Self-Care: When Police Brutality Has You Questioning Humanity and Social Media Is Enough
- Finally, social worker Nicole Steward is doing some beautiful work to help Black women heal using yoga. She’s got easy to follow tutorials on Instagram and she’s also micro-blogging about the impact police brutality has on her as a Black mother. For a self care in response to latest events start here.
Image: https://goo.gl/wWH04q
The Other Sociologist 