I’m not a writer but an avid reader and I’ve enjoyed reading all of these amazing works and watching you all grow as authors. But given what is going on right now I just need to get this off my chest:
I’m a huge Harry Styles fan, but have only really followed his solo career as I’m 30 and didn’t really grow up with 1D. I respect him as a musician and a person because from everything I’ve read in articles and heard in interviews, this guy is a genuine loving human who wants people to be kind and love each other. How can you not be a fan and look up to him? But, to those of you who follow me and who are fans of his and have seen photos of him protesting, it’s not necessary to share. This whole movement is about muting ourselves and giving black voices the right and platform to be heard. When you post about Harry and tag him that he’s at a protest, you’re putting him above the cause. It’s great that he protested and he’s supporting the movement but it’s not the only reason you should support the movement. Please take some time to reflect and really understand this, it’s important. I’m not knocking him for this or having his picture taken and, for the love of God, he wasn’t going to be arrested and deported. He has white privilege. They would’ve arrested his friends first.
Just please take some time to really support this cause and movement, let Harry Styles do his thing and voice and post things in his way. We don’t need to be sharing him at protests and what he’s contributed. If he wanted himself known, he can post himself. Put black lives and black voices first. That’s what is important. And if you see it posted online or know people who are reposting the photo, please kindly let them know it’s about supporting black lives, not supporting Harry supporting black lives. We need to take our own inventory and support #blacklivesmatter because it’s the right thing to do, not because our favorite celebrity does it.
Lots of love
Meg
