[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Joborule

I have to agree with Pepsi with this. Through social media the past several days, and seeing the posts about Calgary protests planned this week, I can't help but feel like many of these people promoting their support for the protests through Instagram stories, tweets, and whatnot, are doing so for the sake of doing it, and that makes it superficial. It's slacktivism once again.

Do they truly care about the issue enough, that they are going to actively participate in initiatives that will make systemic changes to address these long pressing problems that have yet to be resolved? Will they continue to be passionate about this months from now once the news cycle has moved on to something new? Or is this just them jumping on the bandwagon of a current trend, because they want to be seen amongst their peers in their social circle that they are progressive and care about today's issues, but not doing anything to change them?

It's nice to say you care about today issues that affecting a large community. I mean they likely do actually support the cause, otherwise they wouldn't be relaying the message. But unless you actually have skin in the game, it's hard to be emotionally invested enough to actually be a contributor in getting to the endgame of actual progress. It takes works to be involved in a cause like this on a day-to-day basis, and still want to keep going. The motivation would be easier if it directly affects you, and can change your life.

I like that many want to post their support for the black community to provide unity and strength. I would hope that some are learning of what the black community has had to go through for so long to understand why this is happening now. But it's unfortunate that it has taken this long to invoke this kinda of a reaction from those of other ethnicities.

I mean only a several months ago, Canada re-elected a prime minster who on multiple instances participated in blackface in the past. And the primary response back wasn't outrage, or demands of repercussions considering he holds the most important position in the nation. In the cities that have a high number of ethnic diversity such as Vancouver and Toronto (where majority of black people live), his party still gained a majority of the seats. Majority people essentially shrugged their shoulders and said it was in the past, isn't a big deal now.

Even though people knew racism was something that was still prevalent, it was discounted just how much of an anchor it still is for those that are oppressed by it. It was there, but not something we really wanted to address since the real ugliness of it was being hidden under the public eye for the most part. You have your few instances of a innocent black man getting killed by a cop, and people acknowledge it, but shortly moved on from the story. It took this video of a cop pulling such a heinous act of murder in such a casual manner, along with other recent events of cop on black killing that this issue appears to be getting the attention it's been deserving of for forever.

I don't know what the endgame is for these protests. Right now it's mainly frustration boiled over, and making the cries of tears and anger louder. I just hope that once this phase has passed, that the momentum for system change for racial discrimination and mistreatment carries on.

A change is gonna come. (I hope)

You're free to assume the worst of them, but you really don't know. It may be that they are fighting and advocating for equity in their own small ways in their spheres of influence every day. Also, what are young people who don't have any power yet supposed to do to change the system anyways? The hope is that they do learn about systemic racism and when they do grow into positions of power and influence they use what they have learned to make change. That meaningful change isn't something you always hear about. It takes place in policy meetings, daily interactions, mundane hiring decisions etc.. The people you criticize may already be influences for good in such contexts, where it does matter. If not yet, they may be on the way to that and should be encouraged to keep going.