Being on Tiktok yesterday when the "ban" came into effect was a wild ride though. It felt like a death. A funeral, in a way. And I loved watching how people interacted with eachother and the app when there were but hours left on it. It was so interesting but also illuminating as to how various communities connected and stayed that way.
There were so many reactions. From gratefulness to fear, from anger to avoidance. But I think the thing that got me was masktok. All of these people who were behind a mask for years, faced with the end of it all, they final showed their faces and gave us all, including themselves, that much more of a personal connection before we all inevitably fell away from eachother. It was magnificent and sweet. Also...Go women. We stay winning and sexy and fun.
(There were also the people who showed hole but thats a different type of unmasking entirely.)
But I do have a special love for my fellow indigenous creators, who unanimously decided to show eachother love and community in the end. Who supported eachother when they gave in to fear and heartbreak. It just goes to show that the government may try to break our people, but we will never, ever be broken by the likes of Donald fucking Trump and the corporate shills masquerading as trusted politicians.
Another special shoutout to the black community who were still giving out tips to organizing and staying safe, even when they had no reason to put in that extra effort for anyone else. Yall are forged in hardship and horror, yet you still have the most creative, smartest and kindest folk around. I have respect for all of you for what you've done, especially for lifing up indigenous people while you lift yourselves up to.
The rest of you (folk who admitted to being scam artists and folk that believe daddy trump is gonna be the solution to all our problems.) Fuck you.
