Look, I’m honestly a little disappointed about everyone’s reactions with regards to #Blackout. Even on our blog, from our associated blogs, I see people completely and utterly missing the point. And it really hurts my heart to see all this... this misinformation.
Blackout was started by a Black person for Black people. Black people of all shades and colors and shapes and gender identity. Yes, it was exclusionary. Yes, it was racially charged. It wasn’t just about a rejection of Euro-centric beauty standards, but a celebration of Black people, a vehement, community rejection of anti-Blackness, an event of self-healing and self love that our Black was Beautiful, and that we would support one another in this.
This was something that was ours. The black community, not just on tumblr, but all over the internet, praising each other, and if we were lucky, our non-black friends helping to uplift us as well. Yes, there were assholes who said no one white should post a selfie, but the creators and organizers never did, only wanted the hashtags for the event.
I got inspired to propose Blackout day after thinking “Damn, I’m not seeing enough Black people on my dash”. Of course I see a constant amount of Black celebrities but what about the regular people? Where is their shine? When I proposed it, I thought people would think it was a good idea, but not actually go through with implementing it. Luckily people wanted to get behind the idea, and @recklessthottie created the #Blackout tag.
I thought about the tag #Black Friday, and making it a tradition on the first Friday of every month, because celebrating the beauty of Blackness is of the UTMOST importance. I’m really sick and tired of seeing the “European standard of beauty” prevail. It’s past time for the beauty of Black people to be showcased. I love all people of color, but this here is for us.
Black History Month is always excellent, but one month isn’t enough to celebrate our heritage and our beauty. No matter what your skin tone is, you’re beautiful. All my life I have heard my grandma tell me stories of how her own people did her because she was lighter than most. She told me some awful stories that will make anybody tear up and its these stories that make me wish that there wasn’t such a divide in skin tones. We need a unified agreeance that ALL black people are beautiful and worthy of praise and admiration, and Blackout day is a step towards that.
Frankly, I find Selfie week to be a little tactless. I hope y’all enjoy it. Honestly I do. I hope you get whatever you need from it, that you feel empowered and beautiful. I hope you understand that the fact that these this week arose as a reaction against #Blackout is why people are upset. I hope your day goes well.
Specificity is not a sin. Enjoy your week kids.