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#BLM July 22, 2020
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Why y’all acting like Nick Cannon wasn’t riding out for Black communities?

Nick Cannon wears many hats and being an activist, in support of Black communities, is just one of his most prominent roles.

Last week, ViacomCBS fired Cannon following “hateful speech” in a recent episode of his YouTube podcast, Cannon’s Class. His conversation with Professor Griff, former Public Enemy rapper fueled controversy.

It’s only “wilding out” when a Black man speaks up

His comedy improv show, Wild ‘N Out, is ViacomCBS’s child company, so this means we won’t be seeing Nick wilding out any time soon.

Following the alleged anti-Semitic remarks, ViacomCBS issued a statement.

“ViacomCBS condemns bigotry of any kind and we categorically denounce all forms of anti-Semitism. We have spoken with Nick Cannon about an episode of his podcast ‘Cannon’s Class’ on YouTube, which promoted hateful speech and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.”

The company continued,

While we support ongoing education and dialogue in the fight against bigotry, we are deeply troubled that Nick has failed to acknowledge or apologize for perpetuating anti-Semitism, and we are terminating our relationship with him. We are committed to doing better in our response to incidents of anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry. ViacomCBS will have further announcements on our efforts to combat hate of all kinds.

Sincere apologies

On July 15, Cannon took to a Twitter thread to apologize for his comments and acknowledged his statements were hurtful to the Jewish community.

He continued,

Finally…

Surprisingly, the rapper didn’t receive the support he expected from the Black community.

By Friday, July 17, Cannon tweeted about the backlash he’s received following his apology regarding his comments about Jewish people being “true savages” because of the way they treated melanated people.

Why apologize, though?

Rapper Master P, along with many other Twitter users were not in favor of Nick’s apology. On Sunday, July 9, P told TMZ, “I hate that Nick Cannon apologized. He shouldn’t have did that.”

The rapper continued and said Cannon wouldn’t have had to apologize if he didn’t have to worry about losing his job.

Other Twitter users weren’t too happy about his decision. Some felt as if Black people have already done too much apologizing for the oppression they face daily.

FOX is still with it

Despite his removal from ViacomCBS, Fox, has decided to move forward with Cannon as the host of “The Masked Singer”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBs6jyrHHGV/

Fox News made a statement last Wednesday suggesting they were aware of Cannon’s podcast episode and addressed it with the rapper. FOX TV wrote in a small tweet thread,

He is clear and remorseful that his words were strong and lacked both understanding and context, and inadvertently promoted hate. This was important for us to observe. Nick has sincerely apologized, and quickly taken steps to educate himself and make amends.

The road to redemption

Almost a week after Nick’s remarks on Cannon’s Class, Cannon sat with Rabbi Abraham Cooper to discuss the events.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CC3xvdkBUUz/

Nick acknowledged he angered a lot of people, including the Jewish community. The Rabbi emphasized that he deemed Cannon’s apology as sincere. The two spoke about the conversation not being about hate, but rather a way to self-educate.

Complex reported Cooper will serve as a guide to Nick and will maintain contact with him while he continues to educate himself further.

Don’t cancel Nick, now

Rapper T.I. took to the Breakfast Club to discuss the conversations surrounding The Masked Singer host Tuesday morning.

T.I. stated that not everyone has to agree with Nick Cannon’s apology, but he shouldn’t deserve all the criticism.

“Whether you agree or disagree with the apology, you don’t use it to villainize or slander one of our national treasures,” Tip told The Breakfast Club.

He continued,

“I just really feel like if a mistake was made, then he has to rectify that mistake. But it ain’t our job to cancel him. First of all, let’s look at Nick Cannon’s career and reputation. Look at how many Black people he put in position and helped and got off of zero.”

Ultimately, cancel culture has immediate and also lasting effects. Cannon is widely known for his work towards uplifting the Black community, so if he is canceled, that’s another Black man being brought down.

#BLM July 3, 2020
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What the white couple in St. Louis brandishing guns says about society

White privilege was on full display this past Sunday.

A couple in St. Louis was seen waving guns around while protestors passed their house, which happened to be on a private drive.

Allegedly, the peaceful protestors broke into a gateway when allowing themselves onto the Private Drive, trying to get to Mayor Krewson’s house.

Many people who were involved in the demonstration said that the gate had been opened for them. Here’s a video that supports their claims.

However, after the protest subsided, the couple shared a picture of the destroyed gates.

How many articles are going to be written about this white couple? A lot.

Why do they deserve all of this attention? To put it simply… they don’t.

Mark, a St. Louis lawyer, stood with a long rifle gun next to Patricia, with a handgun. The McCloskeys mentioned that they saw peaceful protestors who were allegedly armed, which is apparently what made them feel justified in arming themselves.

https://twitter.com/KenidraRWoods_/status/1277407505824526337

According to their attorney, they only grabbed their guns after two or three white protestors threatened them and the neighboring properties.

“They want to make it really clear that they believe the Black Lives Matter message is important,” Albert Watkins, their attorney told the Associated Press.

I write about this not to give them a continuous spotlight in the news, but to express my concern for the world that we are living in.

In 2014, Tamir Rice, 12-years-old, was killed for playing outside with a toy gun.

In 2016, Philando Castille, 32-years-old, was killed by police after informing them that he had a legal firearm.

In 2018, Stephen Clark, 22-years-old, was shot 20 times because police thought he had a gun. It was a phone.

These are only a few examples of times that innocent Black people were killed, for doing far less than what the white Missouri couple was doing.

Rather than taking accountability for their misjudgment, the McCloskeys want to be applauded for standing their ground and defending their property.

Peaceful protestors walking the street alarmed the McCloskeys, apparently enough to pull out two guns (one an assault rifle) instead of just going on with their day. And why were the protestors marching?

Systemic racism, police brutality, and the fact that the Mayor of St. Louis, Lyda Krewson,  revealed the names and addresses of anti-police protestors. If ever there was a reckless and dangerous decision made by a public official.

The McCloskeys aren’t remorseful for their heinous behavior, and they seem even smugly gratified of the press they’ve gotten from their demonstration.

Even if they did apologize, it wouldn’t matter. We don’t want any more apologies, any more defense of reckless and dangerous behavior. We want to see changes made.

#BLM July 2, 2020
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Why it’s time Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy finally gets the hands

Cancel Barstool Sports.

For close to two decades the sports and pop culture blog has flooded our feeds with straight caca content.

Content that always had a touch of sexism. Content that was ratchet and unnecessary. And content that, in the midst of adversity, renders pointless.

Now the skeletons are coming out of the closet. Cancel Barstool Sports.

This is a company that has been called out for normalizing rape culture. They’ve even made headlines for their “Blackout Parties” that were criticized for promoting excessive and underage drinking.

And today, they’ve dropped a podcast spelling out the most racist word known to man. Titled N.I.G.G.E.R (Now It’s Gonna Get Extremely Real) the platform has taken it way too far during a time where Black lives are seen as unimportant.

Even if the podcast is a parody or a collective of Black and Brown Barstool employees discussing the viral videos of the company’s founder Dave Portnoy using the N-word, this is just in bad taste.

And from a content perspective, they’re just trying to keep Barstool Sports on the front page. Cancel Barstool Sports.

Barstool has always approached with little care. Misogyny, racism, and reckless behavior; behavior that warrants no respect or forgiveness at this current time.

Or any time, really. But at least now the average American has woken the f*** up.

Dave Portnoy walks his smug, hateful self around, spewing nasty rhetoric and dangerous remarks. Even claiming he is “un-cancellable.”

“They’ve been trying to cancel me for two decades — I’m uncancellable…”

https://twitter.com/stoolpresidente/status/1277405241655332864?s=20

It must be easy to be that emboldened when you run a site geared towards fratboys and ignorance. Who laugh every nasty thing you say or do off like the titular character in a Druski video.

May we rejoice in the fact that Portnoy and the rest of Barstool are finally catching heat for their reckless behavior.

Sure often they have funny videos and glamorous content. Rarer than most sites and fairer in originality, of course, but the average fan of Barstool can be forgiven. Or could.

The line has been drawn, and the evidence is presented. Barstool operates under bigotry, misogyny, and racism.

Cancel culture is a problem in treating illicit or questionable acts all as one. Just like anything, there is a spectrum to wrongdoing, to bad behavior, and to patterns of such.

It’s been a long decade of Barstool having its reign. And most of us were tricked by the flashing lights and obscene college content. But the media site’s recent actions prove that some people genuinely don’t care.

With great pride comes a great fall, Portnoy.

#BLM July 2, 2020
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Why celebrating Black creators is more than just a ‘trend’

It’s great to follow artists for Black Lives Matter. This movement has at least encouraged people to share art. More people are celebrating Black creators, which, let’s be honest, is long overdue.

I’ve seen people create spreads, compile resources for BLM, and even just share great books and music from artists on social media.

While this is great, it does still bring about concerns. Companies and groups are beginning to offer opportunities for Black people now, when before it wasn’t the case.

BLM has become, to some, trendy.

https://twitter.com/bluekeyblade/status/1270397039927427074

Actual Support > Performative Support

This is reminiscent of June 2 where everyone posted black squares on social media for #BlackoutTuesday.  This originally started via the music scene as a response to the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.

From the business side, it made sense; it was a day of silence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BNQZZvgV64

Spotify added 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence on some of their podcasts and playlists. Other businesses put up a black screen for that duration of time. The short part is, everyone did some version of a black screen in silence, to commemorate these murders.

On the other hand, though, posting a black screen for users was…quite unpractical. With the same hashtag, it blocked out important bits of info regarding protests.

It also blocked info that simply focused on the Black Lives Matter movement entirely. It filled up the entire hashtag with nothing but black screens.

Furthermore, the people who did post up these visuals of black screens were not tantamount to the number of people who signed a petition for Breonna Taylor.

It was in fact higher, which meant a lot of these people showing support, were not actually supported in a way that could influence change.

Think about it. Posting a black square on a private Instagram account just isn’t the same as donating to a Black-based organization. We need to think about how we can actively acknowledge and empower black creators. Support shouldn’t be on what’s trending.

Relearning is better than nothing at all

I saw a friend post a picture regarding an Instagram challenge. It was a challenge in which he was to post up Black writers he followed or read. Instead, he wrote about why you shouldn’t just read Black writers just when it’s trendy. It’s a good point to keep in mind.

I think it’s great to keep promoting Black creators, especially when there is more attention to the movement. People should celebrate Black artists all the time, not just when there’s attention about them dying.

But, at the same time, that’s not the world we live in. A lot of people I know barely even read for enjoyment, let alone the question of how accountable they are with whom they are reading and not reading and why.

People shouldn’t be excused, that’s not what I’m saying, either.

Fakers  gonna fake

GIF malibusmostwanted brad jamiekennedy - animated GIF on GIFER

It’ easy say that this can’t be the world we live in but it really should be.

People, especially adults, are more than capable of playing catch up, discovering new authors, and new titles. If you discovered that you don’t know any Black authors on your bookshelf, maybe take the time to think about why.

Look up authors, ask for recommendations. If you don’t have any Black creators anywhere in your entertainment because you don’t feel like looking a little deeper, you should find the time to educate yourself.

We can’t force people to be authentic with their caring. Also, it isn’t a Black person’s job to educate you. There is so much talent that is worth paying attention to, purely because of said talent, not just because of the U.S.’ political climate.

I don’t think we can stop people from faking about caring. However, I don’t think that should deter us from celebrating and giving Black creators the attention that they rightfully deserve, either.

#BLM July 1, 2020
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Feel weird celebrating Independence Day in 2020? Here’s why, fam

United States history is dominated by racist white supremacy; it’s always been this way. And Independence Day is no different.

One could ask what’s the big deal? Or question, haven’t Blacks celebrated the holiday before with their cookouts? All very valid questions.

However, it’s safe to say some Blacks in this country are unlearning what they were taught in school and are now beginning to learn the facts.

Truthfully, July 4 was never about Black independence. It is about white independence and it highlights centuries of Black dependence.

A protester holds up sign about slavery after the U.S. gained its independence from Great Britain in 1776.

Celebrating the Fourth of July on our own terms

So, if there’s no reason for Black people to celebrate the Fourth, what will they actually be doing? Some Twitter users are choosing not to celebrate the holiday at all.

Others will be celebrating in their own way. Or maybe, in ways that they’ve already been celebrating in.

Juneteenth is America’s true Independence Day

Whether Black people are completely abolishing all of their Fourth of July festivities or popping fireworks, the point is not to celebrate the real meaning of the day. A lot of Black people have dubbed Juneteenth as their version of July 4th.

Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas, informing the public that the Civil War was over.

As a result, slaves were freed. This took place two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

This year’s Juneteenth proved that more Black people learned about the day’s meaning. There were far more celebrations and events that were visible this year.

https://twitter.com/HecisDEAD/status/1272347676772892673

Blackout Saturday

Black people are reclaiming their power and they will not let up. Protests and rallies for George Floyd and Black Lives Matter, in general, are still happening today.

Breonna Taylor has also not been forgotten. Black Twitter keeps reminding the world about how her killers have yet to be arrested.

The Fourth of July definitely won’t be the same this year. Expect to see crowded beaches and barbeques on every block, but also expect a shift.

Black Twitter users are planning to wear all black (and yellow) for Saturday. In addition, they plan on not giving their money to large corporations.

Say goodbye to red, white, and blue. And say hello to ALL BLACK EVERYTHING.

#BLM June 29, 2020
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Here’s why the whitewashing in cartoons is on its way out

Enough whitewashing in cartoons.

Due to the Black Lives Matter movement and increased calls for social justice, actors have been taking into account the roles that they can play in the fight.

More aptly, the literal roles that they play in the media, and whether they are representing characters that they should be.

White voice actors have recently been called out for voicing characters of color. Many actors and show runners have stepped forward and voiced their regret in having played a part in this appropriation in media.

Big Mouth

On Thursday, June 25, Jenny Slate made an announcement that she will be removing herself from voicing the character Missy Foreman-Greenwald on Big Mouth.

Missy is a biracial character on Big Mouth; she is White, Black, and Jewish. When initially taking the job, Slate reasoned that because she is Jewish and White, it would be fine to play Missy.

This discounted the fact that Missy was also a Black woman. Slate has taken accountability for this major miscasting by apologizing for her role in white actors taking jobs from persons of color.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jenny Slate (@jennyslate) on

Family Guy

Mike Henry, who has played Cleveland Brown on Family Guy for the past 20 years, has stepped down from his role.

His reason being the same as Jenny Slate, “persons of color should play characters of color.” Henry writes and has produced episodes on Family Guy as well as being a voice actor.

Central Park

Following Jenny Slate, Kristen Bell announced that she will no longer be the voice actress for the character Molly Tillerman, in Central Park.

On a TCA panel in January, Executive Producer Loren Bouchard stated that Kristen Bell “needed to be Molly, she was always going to honor that character. We couldn’t make Molly white or Kristen mixed race, so we had to go forward.”

Bouchard has since apologized for this wrongful decision and excuse on Twitter, sharing Kristen Bell’s Instagram post.

The Simpsons

Hank Azaria is known for voicing multiple characters of color on The Simpsons, while he himself is white.

In January he announced that he would no longer be voicing the character Apu, an Indian who owns a convenience store. On Saturday, June 27, Azaria posted on Instagram that he would no longer be voicing any characters of color, while also acknowledging that he’s taken part in keeping these roles away from POC.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Hank Azaria (@hankazaria) on

Bojack Horseman

Bojack Horseman features an all-white main cast. Creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg specifically expressed regret in casting Alison Brie, a white woman, to voice a Vietnamese American character, Diane Nguyen.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alison Brie (@alisonbrie) on

Bob-Waksberg, the creator of Bojack Horseman, comments on his choice for casting a white woman, Brie, to voice a character of color. In his thread of explanations, he includes an interview in which he states regret for having an all-white cast.

https://twitter.com/RaphaelBW/status/1275677554691760128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1275677554691760128%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FRaphaelBW2Fstatus2F1275677554691760128widget%3DTweet

Moving forward

Though these actors should have known that their choice in taking these roles was part of white privilege, it is admirable that they are educating and removing themselves from these parts.

Hopefully characters of color will now be voiced by persons of color, taking a step in the right direction in representation in media.

#BLM June 25, 2020
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Diversify musicals: Shows with diverse casts and powerful stories

When people think of musicals, especially classical ones, they’ll probably bring up names like Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, and The Sound of Music, among others. In the musical theatre industry, it seems many of the classic shows are often focused on white or euro-centric narratives.

That or the casts are just often not the most diverse when it comes to including people of color. This doesn’t make these kinds of shows inherently bad, and it shouldn’t take away the enjoyment people get from seeing them.

But with many modern productions now featuring diverse casts, it’s important to shine the spotlight on them as well. Here are some musicals telling the stories of BIPOC.

The Wiz

If the title doesn’t make it obvious, The Wiz is a re-telling of the classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, but this isn’t a carbon copy of the traditional musical everyone knows about. The Wiz, tells that story with a modern black twist to it, and it typically features an all-Black cast.

What makes this even more remarkable is how this show originally premiered in 1974. The fact that this musical made its first appearance not even ten years after the end of the Civil Rights Movement shows just how powerful it is as a showcase of black art.

The show was also adapted into a film just about four years after it’s premiere, in 1978. Not only that, but the movie also features superstars such as Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Richard Pryor playing the roles of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Wiz respectively.

So with all these shows achievements, why aren’t people talking about it. Even more importantly, why aren’t more people watching it?

Fortunately, The Wiz made a recent return to the public eye when NBC premiered a televised production of it back in 2015. If you thought the movie adaptation had a star-studded cast, then prepare yourselves.

NBC’s revival featured stars like Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Uzo Aduba, Ne-Yo, Common, Elijah Kelley, Amber Riley, and even Stephanie Mills, who played Dorothy in the show’s original Broadway production.

Meanwhile, Dorothy was played by up-and-coming star Shanice Williams, who absolutely slayed as the slayer of the Wicked Witches of the East and West.

NBC’s revival of The Wiz was also briefly streamed on YouTube as a part of the channel The Shows Must Go On, which provides weekly free showing of various musicals for a limited time.

In the Heights

Lin-Manuel Miranda may be mostly known for being the brilliant mind behind the popular musical Hamilton, but he’s also the brains behind In the Heights as well.

This musical tells the story of the inhabitants of the Washington Heights neighborhood in New York. With characters whose relationships intertwine with one another, and each of them having their own struggles, the musical portrays a truly life-like experience.

What makes this show especially unique is how it focuses on the lives of immigrants and Latinx individuals living in Washington Heights. As a result, the production generally has a diverse cast as well. The musical also features stars such as Christopher Jackson, Olga Merediz, Karen Olivo, and the creator himself Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Like Miranda’s smash hit Hamilton, In the Heights is also getting an upcoming movie adaptation treatment. It’ll feature stars such as Anthony Ramos, who previously starred in “Hamilton;” Stephanie Beatriz; as well as Olga Merediz who will be reprising her Broadway role as Abuela Claudia; and of course, Miranda will also be making an appearance.

In the Heights provides a unique perspective into the immigrant and Latinx community, which generally is seldom seen in the musical industry. It’s this unique lens which also makes it that much more special.

The Color Purple

A musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s famous novel, The Color Purple tells the story of the character Celie as she navigates through hardship in the early 1900s South. Similar to The Wiz, the show generally consists of a mostly Black cast.

What truly sets this musical apart though is how it deals with heavy themes such as abuse and sexual assault. This arguably gives it a new sense of impact and power compared to many other musicals.

The Color Purple was originally published as a novel told through letters in 1982 before Stephen Spielberg made his famous film adaptation in 1985 that included famous actors such as Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. The musical however is fairly recent, with its original Broadway production premiering in 2005, which Winfrey also helped produce.

Since then the show has had multiple tours and a 2015 revival. The original musical back in 2005 included stars such as LaChanze, who famously starred as one of The Muses in Disney’s Hercules; as well as Renée Elise Goldsberry, who originated the role of Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton on Broadway.

The 2015 Broadway revival of The Color Purple packed no less star power either. It features actresses such as Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks, and Jennifer Hudson.

With its diverse cast and bravery to approach such serious topics all set against a musical backdrop, The Color Purple has an important story to be told, and a musical score to back it up.

The importance of diverse musicals

While modern productions have provided a gateway for underrepresented communities to have a voice in the mainstream music scene, there’s always room for improvement.

The influence of the Black Lives Matter movement has certainly drawn attention to creative content created by the black community, and it’s also pointed out the importance of supporting people of color as a whole. Giving voice to marginalized communities shouldn’t be just due to this movement however, but a continual process.

Musical theater has the power to convey life experiences both fictional and non-fictional in an immersive and powerful way that draws the audience in. For an hour or two, all people need to do is just sit back and relax as they get to peer into another world.

While modern musicals provide insight into issues and themes that many individuals face today, that doesn’t mean people should dismiss the importance of older more classical musicals. Even if they may not have started out as the most diverse productions when they originated, that doesn’t mean they need to stay stuck in the past.

One of the beautiful things about art is the ability for it to be re-imagined, and musicals are no different. Even if a musical originally had a mostly-white cast, or primarily revolved around euro-centric topics, there can still be room for change and adaptation.

Who’s to say a director can’t do an all-Black production of “Phantom of the Opera?” What about a more diverse version of “The Sound of Music?”

By diversifying the musical theater sector and giving attention to musicals about underrepresented communities, this will do more than inform audiences’ perspectives. It will arguably help enrich the beautiful world of musical theater as a whole.

#BLM June 24, 2020
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Federal Change: Nancy Pelosi removes portraits of Confederate Speakers

A symbolic deed of justice has finally occurred at the federal level. Last Thursday on the eve of Juneteenth,

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ordered the removal of four portraits of previous House Speakers that served in the Confederacy.

The portraits depicted former Speakers Robert Hunter, Howell Cobb, James Orr, and Charles Crisp.

This act of removing Confederate and otherwise racist symbols is just one of many in 2020. Already people have called for the removal of statues of controversial figures around the US, and some protesters have even taken down statues themselves.

These efforts have occurred not just domestically, but all over the world, as many people are finally taking action against the issue of systemic racism and the symbols that glorify it.

There have been massive Black Lives Matter protests in England, along with the removal of statues of former racists.

Belgium has also taken part in removing statues of horrid historic figures, along with other countries…

The fact that there was a decision made at the federal level in the US to remove these Confederate portraits holds special significance. Not only does it show the impact that people’s voices can have, but it also reveals just how widespread the effects of social campaigns such as the Black Lives Matter movement and racial advocacy efforts can be.

As some of the internet hype for these movements on social media seems to be dying down, it’s important to not take this as a sign to slow down or stop these efforts. If anything, it should be a motivator to keep moving forward.

Maintaining the current momentum of protests and calls for reform is one of the key ways to ensure these efforts stay within the public eye. Spreading the word is also vital in ensuring society doesn’t return back to an unjust status quo.

No matter how you decide to take action, whether it be educating yourself, taking part in activism, donating to charitable causes, or even spreading the word, know that even your one voice can be the catalyst to spark greater change.

#BLM June 23, 2020
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Is it a wrap for Taco Bell? A deeper look into the BLM incident

During the height of everything going on right now, businesses are trying to show their support and win over the public. Following suit in trying to show their respect for BLM, Taco Bell joined the wave.

On June 2, Taco Bell posted this up on Twitter:

Then Taco Bell fudged up

Except, like some other businesses, it seemed to be all talk and no show. On June 8, an ex-employee, Denzel Skinner, took to Facebook to drop a live video.

https://twitter.com/tyrone_brother/status/1271181182852612099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1271181182852612099&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marketwatch.com%2Fstory%2Fa-taco-bell-employee-was-fired-for-wearing-a-black-lives-matter-mask-now-some-people-are-boycotting-2020-06-18

In it, he explains that after working, a whopping eight years, he was fired…for wearing a Black Lives Matter face mask at Taco Bell in Youngstown, Ohio.

A lady, presumed to be the manager, even tells him during the video that he “cannot bring politics into the building.” Yeah.

The public reaction was definitely not on Taco Bell’s side on this one. Many people took to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction at the news and at Taco Bell in general.

https://twitter.com/zachviIla/status/1273572681863106560

Taco Bell is not the first company to get caught doing this. Actually, that would be Starbucks.

https://twitter.com/itzskyeuwu/status/1271629490670764032

After they got busted not allowing their employees to wear pins in support of BLM. Despite making multiple tweets about changing the discourse that pervades the issue.

Ya know, because it goes against their policy to have employees wearing anything inherently political or that could possibly incite violence. Apparently.

Of course, Starbucks released a statement, changing this policy afterward. In light of the backlash, employees are now able to wear whatever pins they would like, in support of BLM.

Corporations or not, there is something kinda sick about pretending to support human rights while people are getting shot up.

As Skinner said in his video, these issues should not be considered strictly political—how can three words be so political?

This issue isn’t just about the politics of resolution, it’s about people who, ideally, would like to stop dying or being fearful in front of people supposed to protect them.

And the number one performer Is…

Though Taco Bell released another statement about the issue to USA Today, stating they discussed this with Skinner afterward, it seemed to be a bit too late for that.

#RIPTACOBELL ended up trending on Twitter for a bit, as the controversy spread. I don’t think I have to explain WHY people don’t want to see this, especially from beloved places.

Thing is, places like Starbucks, Taco Bell, and Chik-Fil-A are not our friends—they’re corporations, with their number one motivator being profit, from YOUR wallet.

Performative acts like posts on social media are just not enough, and they shouldn’t be enough for you or your wallet, regardless of how much you like those frappes, or crunchy wraps (I don’t actually eat Taco Bell, ok, stop yelling at me,  now it’s a good thing).

These acts are truly performative in nature and do not do much to further the cause. And if we can’t get these corporations to care, we can at least make them pretend to, with our dollar.

#BLM June 21, 2020
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How the Bangtan Boys are changing the world through effective activism

Bangtan Boys, also known as BTS, is a well-renowned K-Pop group. BTS does more than just sing and dance. The group constantly pushes social boundaries and challenges Korea’s conservative social morals as well as the world’s.

The Bangtan Boys campaign for a better world

Not only has BTS advocated for #BlackLivesMatter, but they have also made dozens of contributions to campaigns everywhere. Their most popular one being LOVE MYSELF.

LOVE MYSELF is a two-year campaign that promotes anti-violence against children and teenagers. It launched on November 1st, 2017. BTS worked in tandem with UNICEF in Japan and Korea.

BTS’s advocacy work doesn’t stop there. They recently expressed their solidarity with the #BLM movement with a simple tweet that got their point across.

BTS back up their words with cold cash

BTS’s music label, BigHit Entertainment confirmed their donation of 1 million dollars to CNN Entertainment. After learning about BTS’s donation, fans have decided to #MatchAMillion through their own donation site for #BLM.

“Just like BTS, we were able to donate 1M dollars to help fund bailouts for those arrested for protesting police brutality,” they said in a tweet

https://twitter.com/MonospIaylist/status/1269417860633432070?s=20

Shortly after the initiation of the project, the fundraiser raised over $817,000. It met its goal of 1 million dollars a few days later.

These funds were later donated to organizations such as the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Black Aids Institute, Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project, and The Marshall Project.  Donations from the fundraiser were also made to bailouts for protesters and organizations that support Black communities.

Once the 1 million dollar donation had been met, One in an ARMY increased its donation goal to 2 million.

K-Pop group BTS’ activism funding inspires others

After BTS and fans’ generous donations, many celebrities began to follow in their footsteps. John Cena was one of them, a pro-wrestler who claimed that BTS inspired him. You may or may not see him in the tweet below.

https://twitter.com/loveyourselfvsh/status/1272668950585901057?s=21

However, these valiant acts from K-pop fans extend from more than just donations. From blocking out racist hashtags to advocating for human rights, what can’t K-pop stans do?