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Page 4: Opinion: Performative activism makes no difference

Alyssa Lai, Copy Editor
February 10, 2021

What is performative activism?

There is no clear meaning, however, I would say it is when a person participates in activism but with minimal effort or forethought.

When Black Lives Matter was at its peak during the summer, so many people posted the black square.

Most of the people posting did not know what Black Lives Matter really means. They only posted the black square to boost their reputation or to make themselves feel better. In reality, they could care less about black lives.

Afterwards, these performative activists stayed silent about the cause. When it stopped “trending,” they stopped posting.

What they preached online, didn’t bleed over into reality.

These performative activists didn’t go to protests or donate to the cause.

This is what I mean by performative activism. It is all too common and it waters down an important cause to a single black square.
Fake activism is everywhere.

Celebrities like Tik Tok star Charli D’amelio preach staying inside and reducing travelling during the pandemic. However, the next day she flies to the Bahamas.

Social media influencer Nikita Dragun tweets #BlackLivesMatter, yet she still does black face.

So how do you properly advocate for causes?

On social media post resources, petitions or even information about the cause.

Stay informed and be aware of your role within this cause.

Spread awareness by talking to your friends or family about it.

If you can, go to protests and donate to organizations that target the problem.

It is important to properly advocate for a cause so that you don’t disrespect the individuals affected – and actually make a difference.