Gentrifiers and Black Lives Matter yard signs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need a sign on your front lawn to support a cause? More effective would be to volunteer or DO something rather than a shallow sign of status.

I agree that only having a yard sign is not enough. But I don't think that OP is suggesting that having a yard sign is her only form of activism.

Having a yard sign or bumper sticker or button or whatever is a very easy, very cheap, very small thing. But, I don't think it's harmful.

Actually, it IS harmful. Studies have found that people use small things like Facebook posts, signs, etc as moral self licensing- because they did a "good" thing, they rationalize later doing a bad thing. See PP on this thread- they put a sign up, so that justifies them not actually DOING something, like sending their kid to the school in their district and then fighting for improvements in the school. Much easier to do what's best for your own kid, then put up a sign to absolve your guilt.

If white people want to feel guilty about the treatment of black people in this country, that's totally fine with me, but don't do something trivial and then pat yourself on the back. Putting up a BLM sign is pretty much the modern day "I have a black friend".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, don't let these people discourage you. If you believe in the message of the sign, put it up. I don't understand the position people take where you can't do one thing to support a cause unless you do EVERYthing. You can't post on the internet about how you believe in BLM unless you are also showing up at protests. You can't show up to one protest unless you have been going to protests for the last x number of years. Showing up to protests on weekends is meaningless unless you are also a full-time racial justice advocate.

That is a stupid position in all its forms. Sure, in-person activism is better than a yard sign. A yard sign is also better than nothing. Put up the sign, OP. It shows your neighbors that your heart is in the right place. Don't do nothing for fear of doing the wrong thing.

It's because the general population is tired of the "overly political" people. Live and let live.

Stop the over sharing, that goes for FB too.

Right, just do nothing and say nothing about the issues you care about. Better yet, stop caring. That's how you make the world a better place!

+1. Actually, I think the best choice is to make tons of money, move to Bethesda or North Arlington or McLean and then get on DCUM and rail about all the urban dwelling white hypocrites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need a sign on your front lawn to support a cause? More effective would be to volunteer or DO something rather than a shallow sign of status.

I agree that only having a yard sign is not enough. But I don't think that OP is suggesting that having a yard sign is her only form of activism.

Having a yard sign or bumper sticker or button or whatever is a very easy, very cheap, very small thing. But, I don't think it's harmful.

Actually, it IS harmful. Studies have found that people use small things like Facebook posts, signs, etc as moral self licensing- because they did a "good" thing, they rationalize later doing a bad thing. See PP on this thread- they put a sign up, so that justifies them not actually DOING something, like sending their kid to the school in their district and then fighting for improvements in the school. Much easier to do what's best for your own kid, then put up a sign to absolve your guilt.

If white people want to feel guilty about the treatment of black people in this country, that's totally fine with me, but don't do something trivial and then pat yourself on the back. Putting up a BLM sign is pretty much the modern day "I have a black friend".

Wait, by that logic shouldn't doing something non-trivial, like sending your child to the local school and volunteering there, subconsciously make you feel entitled to do even worse things?

Clearly the right solution is for people to do nothing and tear down anyone who tries to do otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of black yahoos and white yahoos. You all alienate more people than you "ally" with. You are all alienating people left and right, with your signs, tshirts, words, and stupid thoughts that "you" are any different than "I".

Grow up already. It's not about A vs. B etc,, no Us vs. Them. There is only "we" and until that position is solidly adopted, there will be unrest.

Yeah, those yahoos in the Boston Tea Party should have known better than to alienate the Tories by throwing all that tea overboard. There is only "we" and fighting the British was a huge mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need a sign on your front lawn to support a cause? More effective would be to volunteer or DO something rather than a shallow sign of status.

I agree that only having a yard sign is not enough. But I don't think that OP is suggesting that having a yard sign is her only form of activism.

Having a yard sign or bumper sticker or button or whatever is a very easy, very cheap, very small thing. But, I don't think it's harmful.

Actually, OP said exactly that. She admitted that her only form of activism is her "social worker" job and she can't do much more than that. So, yeah, basically OP just wants to put a sign on her lawn (and still send her kid to LAMB). Just another hypocrite.

Hey I would rather see a sign in OP's yard and know that one more person cares about black people being shot by police. I don't give a damn if she's a hypocrite. Better a sign than nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virtue signaling is so obnoxious.

+1

Criticizing "virtue signaling" is just another form of virtue signaling. What, you want a pat on the back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:THE NEW URBAN IS SO LAME. IT SUCKS. GENTRIFIERS ARE A BIG PART OF IT. NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF URBAN TRY HARDS FROM THE SUBURBS.

Oh, you're just being silly here. You really need to up your insult game because this is lame, pp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need a sign on your front lawn to support a cause? More effective would be to volunteer or DO something rather than a shallow sign of status.

I agree that only having a yard sign is not enough. But I don't think that OP is suggesting that having a yard sign is her only form of activism.

Having a yard sign or bumper sticker or button or whatever is a very easy, very cheap, very small thing. But, I don't think it's harmful.

Actually, it IS harmful. Studies have found that people use small things like Facebook posts, signs, etc as moral self licensing- because they did a "good" thing, they rationalize later doing a bad thing. See PP on this thread- they put a sign up, so that justifies them not actually DOING something, like sending their kid to the school in their district and then fighting for improvements in the school. Much easier to do what's best for your own kid, then put up a sign to absolve your guilt.

If white people want to feel guilty about the treatment of black people in this country, that's totally fine with me, but don't do something trivial and then pat yourself on the back. Putting up a BLM sign is pretty much the modern day "I have a black friend".

Yes, so do nothing at all. That will make everything sooooo much better!

[Anonymous]

I don't get all the criticism if all OP does is put up a sign. A sign is better than nothing. I am black. When I see white families with BLM signs, I don't go assuming they are out marching, or have no qualms about sending their kids to underperforming city schools. All I assume is that they recognize that this country has a problem with police violence against black people. Nothing more. But I think being able to assume that is a good thing. I never realized there were so many qualifications and prerequisites to putting up a yard sign.

[Anonymous]

We live in North Michigan Park. We're white, our neighborhood is 80% black. We bought a house we could afford, and because we're white I guess that makes us gentrifiers. When we moved here we introduced ourselves to our neighbors and always greet folks when we're on a walk or out doing yard work. We've become friends with many of the folks in our block. Most are seniors, all black. We did a lot of work on our house ourselves and lots of our neighbors have thanked us for cleaning up a rundown house. We're involved in local advocacy issues but we don't have a BLM sign. Hoping our continued actions speak for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virtue signaling is so obnoxious.

+1

Criticizing "virtue signaling" is just another form of virtue signaling. What, you want a pat on the back?

[Anonymous]

My "No Lives Matter" sign has been pretty effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get all the criticism if all OP does is put up a sign. A sign is better than nothing. I am black. When I see white families with BLM signs, I don't go assuming they are out marching, or have no qualms about sending their kids to underperforming city schools. All I assume is that they recognize that this country has a problem with police violence against black people. Nothing more. But I think being able to assume that is a good thing. I never realized there were so many qualifications and prerequisites to putting up a yard sign.

Another black person here, and agree with all of this. The signs are cool with me. At minimum, signs like the "Black Lives Matter, Women's Rights are Human Rights, Science is Real, Love is Love, etc." one reassure me of the good politics of some of my white neighbors. I don't think any further about what else they're actually doing, although I certainly hope everyone is making calls, donating, etc.

As for sending their kids to majority minority schools, plenty of them do (our neighborhood school is one that does pretty well relative to most in DC). I myself wouldn't send my kids to an underperforming school, and wouldn't expect my neighbors to all make that choice either. I like the yards signs, especially the colorful one noted above, and really think they're all lovely for what they represent.

[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

Why you so stupid to have this shit?

[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.

You, you I like!