Gentrifiers and Black Lives Matter yard signs

[Anonymous]

We are stereotypical gentrifiers in our DC neighborhood (Petworth). White, educated, young kid, etc. I love our neighborhood, including the ethnic and socioeconomic diversity, and try to be friendly, generous neighbors and haven't gotten (at least to our face) any of the gentrification backlash that you hear about. I'd like to get a Black Lives Matter sign for our front yard, but my husband thinks it is insensitive and inappropriate since we're not black. I think exactly the opposite and that line of thinking perpetuates the perception (and realit)y that white people don't care about black issues. (Yes, I know a yard sign isn't enough and we are also as politically active as possible with careers and a toddler.)

What say you, DCUM? I'd love to hear what others think. Should we get the sign?

[Anonymous]

I get where you're coming from--we live in a similar neighborhood--but I think it's actually a good thing to do. People need to see that white people also think black lives matter.

[Anonymous]

We have the sign that reads:
IN THIS HOUSE
WE BELIEVE:
BLACK LIVES MATTER
WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL
LOVE IS LOVE
KINDNESS IS EVERYTHING

[Anonymous]

There are a ton of Black Lives Matter and other similar signs in our neighborhood further up 16th (Shepherd Park). I'd say the majority of these neighbors are white. Some of the signs are from white ally organizations, like Showing Up for Racial Justice..

[Anonymous]

I think a yard sign means nothing and scream white liberal who wants to prove who great I am.

Live your life and make your actions speak.

Recognize white privilege, speak up for those who are marginalized. Your neighbors don't need to know how great you are because that should not be th end goal - having neighbors who pat you on the back for being so liberal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have the sign that reads:
IN THIS HOUSE
WE BELIEVE:
BLACK LIVES MATTER
WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL
LOVE IS LOVE
KINDNESS IS EVERYTHING

Where did you get this? I like it but can't find it. White background with colored text, right?

[Anonymous]

Black dude here.
My neighborhood in NW is steadily getting paler with each year and its all good.
A lot of the new white neighbors have rainbow flags and the Kindness Is Everything signs mentioned above and, yes, BLM signs.
For me its all good. Doesn't bother me that white people have a BLM sign and doesn't endear them toward me any more or less either.
At the end of the day it is what it is - a yard sign.
Still going to end up coming down to their actions that matter most when making my appraisal of them, not the aesthetics of their lawn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have the sign that reads:
IN THIS HOUSE
WE BELIEVE:
BLACK LIVES MATTER
WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL
LOVE IS LOVE
KINDNESS IS EVERYTHING

Where did you get this? I like it but can't find it. White background with colored text, right?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kindness-is-everything-signs-promote-love-in-response-to-hate_us_587f9149e4b0c147f0bc1cf1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are stereotypical gentrifiers in our DC neighborhood (Petworth). White, educated, young kid, etc. I love our neighborhood, including the ethnic and socioeconomic diversity, and try to be friendly, generous neighbors and haven't gotten (at least to our face) any of the gentrification backlash that you hear about. I'd like to get a Black Lives Matter sign for our front yard, but my husband thinks it is insensitive and inappropriate since we're not black. I think exactly the opposite and that line of thinking perpetuates the perception (and realit)y that white people don't care about black issues. (Yes, I know a yard sign isn't enough and we are also as politically active as possible with careers and a toddler.)

What say you, DCUM? I'd love to hear what others think. Should we get the sign?

Yard signs, in general, are pretty stupid.

Just don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Black dude here.
My neighborhood in NW is steadily getting paler with each year and its all good.
A lot of the new white neighbors have rainbow flags and the Kindness Is Everything signs mentioned above and, yes, BLM signs.
For me its all good. Doesn't bother me that white people have a BLM sign and doesn't endear them toward me any more or less either.
At the end of the day it is what it is - a yard sign.
Still going to end up coming down to their actions that matter most when making my appraisal of them, not the aesthetics of their lawn.

I agree with this guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a yard sign means nothing and scream white liberal who wants to prove who great I am.

Live your life and make your actions speak.

Recognize white privilege, speak up for those who are marginalized. Your neighbors don't need to know how great you are because that should not be th end goal - having neighbors who pat you on the back for being so liberal.

+1,000,000

[Anonymous]

Virtue signaling is so obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Virtue signaling is so obnoxious.

You beat me to it!

It is so obnoxious. Right up there with changing your FB picture.

OP, examine your reasons why you want this yard sign. Signs don't actually offer any support whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

There are several BLM signs on my street and all of the homeowners are white. There are black homeowners on my street and they do not have the signs. We decided against posting one because some of the stated BLM platform is anti-Zionist. Instead we have a "Hate Has No Home Here" sign rewritten in several languages.

My recommendation is just to be sure you are on board with the stated platform of the organization's sign you display.

[Anonymous]

Was driving through a certain white neighborhood in Silver Spring, and EVERYONE had those signs on their front lawn.

I understand the sense of urgency, but those signs are ugly and they're getting tiresome.