Silence Is Deafening: #TheShowMustBePaused Is A Boycott
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Written by Cassell Ferere
Not A "Blackout"
This weekend a social media activist movement arose, amid a national, and international protest for the anti-racism for Black Lives Matter which was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer here in the United States. Black Lives Matter is a global effort to build power to justice, healing, and freedom to Black people around the globe. Their mission is to eradicate white nationalism and the white supremacist mindset and intervene in violence against Black people and communities everywhere.
https://blacklivesmatter.com
The Plan
Tuesday, June 2nd, #TheShowMustBePaused initiative was implemented as an intentional disruption to normal business operations in observance of the racism and inequality that has existed in America from it’s earliest of days, transcending to today; “from the boardroom to the boulevard.” Although TheShowMustBePaused is a considerable boycott to industry, this movement has been polarizing some and has created some confusion with the associated hashtag, #BlackOutTuesday.
@theshowmustbepaused
Founders of #TheShowMustBePaused, Jamila Thomas of Atlantic records and Brianna Agyemang of Platoon, announced this effort in solidarity with Black citizens who have suffered inequalities, and those who have been murdered by police, most recently, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and the many others.
As Black women in the multi-million dollar music industry, they have taken the day to seize in conducting any business as usual of any kind, from checking emails to releasing or recording any music, as a part of their mission “to hold the industry at large, including major corporations and their partners who benefit from the efforts, struggles and successes of Black people accountable.”
Terms of Usage
They used this time to heal and reflect through a conversation about the actions that need to be taken to support the Black community, millions of people began to post black tiles on their Instagram page to commemorate #TheShowMustBePaused.
As the black tile represented a moment of silence for those who posted it, others saw the effort as a distraction to the issue of #BlackLivesMatter. In a time where the silence of white people has been a sign of complicity to racism, this was seen as an inadequate move in efforts to continue to speak up about the inequalities and injustices Black people constantly face.
Though the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter is a resource that informs people of what the movement is up to currently, and the matters going on, plenty of people used the hashtag along with the black tile causing the #BlackLivesMatter wall to fill with black squares, removing any valuable information. Many people have stressed using #BlackOutTuesday to replace it and therefore restore the wall to its original purpose.
@theshowmustbepaused
Mixed Messaging
This wasn’t the plan of #TheShowMustBePaused and its founders, unfortunately. This kind of boycott made it easy for white people and non-people of color who have never spoken up about the matters of Black people, to post as if they have been conscious of them and simultaneously silenced those Black people who may normally speak openly about issues through the Instagram accounts.
A boycott to the industry it is. This is an ongoing effort as the founders claimed in their letter to the public on theshowmustbepaused.com. But, as they made clear via their Instagram account,
“The purpose was never to mute ourselves, the purpose is to disrupt” the industry.
For the industry and large corporations to take notice, and ultimately, make real change.
Music artist Lil Nas X, Bon Iver, artist Bree Newsome Bass, and organizer and daughter of Ilhan Omar, Isra Hirsi, have all expressed concerns for the black tile wave and saw it as the wrong time to be silent during the most vigorous protest, likely since the civil rights movement.
Isra Hirsi with mother, Ilhan Omar
"I just really think this is the time to push as hard as ever," he wrote. "I don't think the movement has ever been this powerful. we don't need to slow it down by posting nothing. we need to spread info and be as loud as ever." - Lil Nas X
“I love you all, but this music industry shutdown thing feels tone-deaf to me,” - Bon Iver (Deleted)
"I don’t understand calling for silence in the middle of mass protesting & uprising. Especially when silence is part of the problem. This happens frequently during uprisings against police brutality. I also don’t trust the music industry lol #BlackOutTuesday" - Bree Newsome Bass
“black screens don’t do anything for Black lives.” - Isra Hirsi
Where did the message get misconstrued? Where did the idea for a “Black Out” come from?
Zora Neale
The original #BlackOutDay was created by writer and Brooklyn women who “made a cool hashtag five years ago,” Zora Neale. Circa 2015, Ms. Neale wanted to find a way to celebrate and present Black beauty, through art, selfies, and other things that any black person would like to share, to flood the internet, just cause.
Since then the hashtag has been morphed into what we witness today, and the black tiles have swarmed Tuesday’s feed since just after midnight. As protesters still head out and march down city streets all over America, many have pointed the ineffectiveness of the black tile and have offered other solutions instead. As June 2nd is the first day of primaries for the presidency, @theshowmustbepaused shifted their attention to voting as to remain active in efforts to make real change.
Alternatives
People have been expressing ways to virtually protest and share truths of the matter at hand. As efforts and protest continue around the country, it is important to remain focused on the real issue of seeking justice and equality and using our voices to speak on them and our platforms to keep the visuals of hate on the eyes of the oppressors as well as those who don't believe such.
@theshowmustbepaused
Silence is deafening and our voices and our bodies are the only things that will allow the change we seek whether Black or an ally. #TheShowMustBePaused has concluded ACT I, now we look forward to ACT II, and we should be keen on how we go about it in the near future.
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