With all that has happened in recent weeks, regarding the killings of unarmed African Americans, protests against police brutality, and racial injustice, “cancel culture” has been in full effect. For those unaware, this is society’s way of holding celebrities and people in power accountable for the things that they say and do, or the lack thereof. For the most part, “cancel culture” is tied to black culture.
Usually, when you hear about celebrities being cancelled oftentimes it is by the black community due to the lack of morality, more specifically, inappropriate, offensive, and/or racist statements, actions or encounters. When you cancel someone you are making the conscious decision to no longer support them.
Recently, society has cancelled Virgil Abloh, Shekinah Jo, Doja Cat, Summer Walker, Desi Banks, Lil Wayne, Drew Brees, and the list goes on. All of these celebrities were cancelled because the black community felt let down by their responses to all that is currently going on. At this time, people want to feel like the support that they give to celebrities is being reciprocated.
Police brutality and racial injustice are topics that people are expecting celebrities to acknowledge because it affects the livelihood of their supporters and in some cases the celebrities themselves. There are people that are unable to understand problems that do not affect them directly, which could be the case for many celebrities.
Some people feel that educating celebrities would be more beneficial than deciding to cancel them. In a sense, “cancel culture” shames diversity of opinion, which can be more of a detriment to society than we may realize. Cancelling someone can be a form of appropriating everyone to think the same way.
Cancel culture also targets businesses, law enforcement, and government officials. Wendy’s, Chick-Fil-A, and Pizza Hut are just a few businesses that have been cancelled for their support of Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. Some people feel that supporting anything or anybody that endorses Trump means that you agree with his corrupt tactics.
“We need to start NAMING corrupt local government officials and CANCEL THEM”, tweeted @Tinashe on June 3, 2020. This is important because people are immediately affected by the decisions being made by local government officials. The people place these officials in office to serve with the community’s best interests at heart and if they fail to do that, they should be held accountable.
While the cancel culture may rub people the wrong way, it has been useful in humbling people that are held to a higher standard. This has allowed the public to reclaim their power and enforce it where they see fit. Our country is changing right before our eyes. Cancel culture is proof that if you are not on the right side of change, you will be left behind.
Photo Credits:
Cancelled photo- Flickr.com
Trump donors photo- @TaylorTaja (Twitter)
Report: Brionna Thompson
At the rise of Covid-19 many of us first questioned the timeline of fashion week and would we see the regular calendar continue - the question weighed over many of us for months! It was refreshing to see design houses and designers across the globe take advantage of the uncertainty and plow into production mode - thus my interest in Jerri Reid New York - The Black Designer based in Brooklyn New York wow’d instagram with his latest collection paying homage to the Black Is King film which debuted earlier this year in July. I was taken aback at quick of a turn round the young designer produced and released his well crafted designs reflecting some of the films most memorable moments.