Selena Gomez Hands Over Her Social Media to Promote Black Lives Matter
While white celebs denounce police brutality by “taking responsibility,” Selena Gomez is setting an example by giving up for massive social media platform and educating her followers the right way
Credit: Instagram/@selenagomez
While white celebs denounce police brutality by “taking responsibility,” Selena Gomez is setting an example by giving up for massive social media platform and educating her followers the right way.
For several weeks now, Gomez has been lending her Instagram page to a slew of incredible black voices to share and educate her 180 Instagram followers about the black experience. From Alicia Garza, co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter to most recently civil rights activist Ruby Bridges, each day Gomez is doing right by letting others speak.
On June 4, she explained how she was coping with everything that was going on in the country and what she could do to help. “I have been struggling to know the right things to say to get the word out about this important moment in history,” Gomez posted. “After thinking about how best to use my social media, I decided that we all need to hear more from Black voices. Over the next few days, I will be highlighting influential leaders and giving them a chance to take over my Instagram so that they can speak directly to all of us. We all have an obligation to do better and we can start by listening with an open heart and mind.”
Yesterday’s post by Bridges, who was the first black child to desegregate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans, posted a video of that historic moment that changed the country.
This footage hasn’t been seen before now,” she writes. “It will show the courage that our Black & Brown Families had during the Civil Rights Movement of 1960! I also wanted to highlight a story that’s connected to my story. I felt like it was important to show our Brown brothers and sisters that they were also involved in the Civil Rights Movement, especially that day when I entered the school. You will see footage that highlights the courageous Gabriel family and moments around Daisy Gabriel, a mother who was trying to bring her daughter to school the day that I integrated the school. It is such a heart-wrenching video to see the sacrifices she had to make trying to bring her daughter to school that day as well. It was important to me to show her story to the world. It’s your legacy too!”
She concluded by expressing her gratitude to Gomez, by calling her “our Sister in the Struggle.” Now is not the time for celebs to be most selfies, but about bringing awareness to the real issues we are facing.
