Spend more time becoming a better person than you do creating a better Instagram feed.

While I’ve been active sharing things on my stories over the last week, I haven’t said much here on my feed. What’s another person possibly going to say that adds to the conversation? One Instagram post won’t save someone’s life. Stories disappear in 24 hours. Re-sharing things is easy. Words are just that, words. And I’ve always been a firm believer that words without action mean nothing. You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do. So I haven’t wanted to add more words to the conversation until I had the actions to back them up. 

I didn’t want to just share a reaction, I wanted to share a response. 

Then I saw this quote the other day “Sometimes people think they have to do big things in order to make change. But if each one would light a candle we’d have a tremendous light. - Thea Bowman”. It was a reminder that each post, each story, each share is adding to that light and only making it brighter.

I don’t know all the answers, I don’t know all the right things to say or do, but here are my words, raw, real, imperfect...

While I fully admit that my eyes haven’t always been open to the depths of the racial injustices and inequality that happen here in our country, and around the world, I also don’t need to read a book to tell me that what has been happening is sickening, disgusting and downright inhumane. I know it in my heart and soul. This isn’t just a hashtag, or a trend to jump on. This is human beings. This is Black lives, Black lives that matter very much.

I also think it’s important to be the same person you are publicly, online, as you are privately, offline. It’s easy to throw a picture up and say you “did” something. But also, a lot of the work can’t be shared in a single post or a story or even online for that matter. The conversations you’re having with family and friends, the things you might be taking the time to learn, the ways in which you’re volunteering and lending a hand. 

There’s also a fine line between sharing for good and sharing for clout. There’s putting on a performance and there’s sharing something because you actually care. I’ve always believed in using my platform for good, and that hasn’t changed. Impact over influence every damn day. So how exactly can I make an impact? How can I inspire someone to take action and make changes? Doing better isn’t just about sharing Black creatives and businesses now. It isn’t just about buying from Black-owned brands now. What are you going to do next week, next month, next year? As a friend reminded me, this isn’t about charity, this is about support. This isn’t a trend, this is about change. This is about spending more time becoming a better person than you do creating a better Instagram feed.

Last week, I took the time to research and donate to some initiatives and/or businesses that are specifically for Black people or owned by Black people. I also discovered some new accounts that I’m excited to be following. And lastly, I discovered some incredible Black-owned businesses that I ordered things from, or will be ordering things from.

And now maybe you’re wondering why I didn’t share them like every single other white influencer you follow…

Here’s the thing (which I know some of you are probably going to disagree with me or say I’m wrong but IDGAF). I’ve seen a lot of white people jump to share Black businesses, restaurants, content creators, which is amazing to see Black people get the credit and spotlight they deserve, but I also can’t help but feel like it’s a bit performance-y. Like you’re sharing just because everyone else is?? And just because of the color of someone’s skin? Not because the individual is talented, creative, intelligent and adding value to the world through their work? I mean, I know a lot of insanely talented Black people. These people are talented because they’re talented, not because of the color of their skin. I would never want to diminish a person or their talent by telling you to follow a person only because of their skin color. I follow a lot of creative Black people and I want to share them with you, but not because it’s based on skin color or looks. I shop from Black-owned businesses, because they create amazing products, not because of the color of their skin. Sharing accounts (but not following them), sharing businesses (but not buying from them), sharing organizations (but not donating) and offering free services/mentorships/advertising (this one feels especially off-putting to me, like you’re assuming a Black person isn’t good enough or smart enough or talented enough to know how to do something without the help of you, a white person??!) just feels degrading and belittling and tbh, like a self-serving show, like “Look at me! Look at what a good anti-racist person I’m being, sharing someone who isn’t white on my stories!”. Diversify your life, diversify your feed, but please remember, Black people have a whole lot more to add to your life, and your feed, then just the color of their skin. 

Now, as we head into a new week and move forward, do I plan to share organizations I have supported? Of course. I’d rather that swipe up button be used to drive change. Do I plan to share the products I purchased? Absolutely! I mean, do you even know me??! Of course I want to share things I’ve bought and loved! Do I want to do a better job of diversifying my feed, my work, my brand partners, my books, my movies, my art, my life, even more? Always. Do I have room for learning, growth and improvement? Absolutely. I’m human and I’m far from perfect. Do I plan to continue to be a better person, offline as well as online? You bet. But not just today, or next week, or next month, or next year. Forever. #blacklivesmatter