Being Black on Booktube, Protests, & Fake Allies [CC]
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- My Instagram: / bowtiesandbooks
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People Recently Killed by Police:
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Books To Read to Educate Yourself:
The New Jim Crow - Michelle Alexander
Just Mercy - Bryan Stevenson
Open Season - Ben Crump
How We Fight For Our Lives - Saeed Jones
Books To Read to Support Black Fiction with themes of racism
The Broken Earth Trilogy - NK Jemisin
Riot Baby - Tochi Onyebuchi
SLAY - Britney Morris
Long Way Down - Jason Reynolds
Black Owned Or Black Friendly Businesses to Support
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Freres Branchiaux - Black Owned candle CO : freresbranchia...
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Jeff Manning: / jeffmanning_
She Illustrates: / sheillustrates
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"Your uncomfortability is not going to kill you. But your silence might kill us." I'm shaken.
Thank you that part shook me
Watching your IG story last week made me break down into tears. I'm so honored to be your friend, and I'm grateful every single day that you're alive. Watched this video right before I head off to the train station to go to a protest & am even more invigorated to keep fighting for you and ALL black lives. ILY.
“The cost of your silence is my life”
Your life, all black lives, matter so much. Nobody should be silent today, tomorrow, or ever.
“you’re not gonna check your uncle or favorite relative...what are you willing to do for your allyship?” YES JESSE. REEEE TWEEEET.
“As a Black person in America, I’m never safe” - this is the line. I think what you said about this struck me so much. That’s a fear so many people live with just for being Black.
That line from your dad has me in tears any time I think about it. What a powerful way to put that.
Yes! Same here! What a message!
“What are you willing to do for your allyship” - All of us need to ask ourselves that. Thank you for your voice, you are such an amazing human and we are so so lucky that you are part of this community. Thank you.
"this is not how Black parents feel sometimes, this is how Black parents feel all the time." it kills me to see and hear my mother break down from the weight of the fear and pain of having to see her Black kids go out into this racist world.
“The cost of your silence is my life”. This hit me very hard. Black Lives Matter SO very much and I will continue to fight for it now and forever. I’ve shown your IG stories to so many of my friends because I wanted them to see what it was really like. You’ve shown us that and you’ve helped them understand. Thank you. I’m sending you lots of love 💕
I love that black books are getting the attention they deserve but i don’t want to see these same books on book unhauls in a year with people saying “i just know i won’t read it”.... I love that we’re getting more more followers and subscribers but i don’t want to see us losing loads of followers in a month or two. BLACK VOICES MATTER ALL YEAR ROUND NOT JUST ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND WHEN LIVES ARE LOST..
Totally agree. It would be awful to see that. Yes fair enough if people genuinely don't get on with the books. But not if they've just bought them because of the rush and then put them aside
I really don't want that to happen 😔 but I can see it happening pretty soon
Something that’s been bothering me...I subscribe to a black romance booktuber. She posts all the time. I NEVER see her on my home page. She’s on my subscriptions page, of course, but my home page never showcases her. I don’t know how CZcams algorithms work, but my home page rarely reflects the black youtubers that I do support.
WhatAlice Saw What's her channel name?
I didn't know the things Book Outlet was doing until a couple days ago and I will not be ordering from them anymore... love this video... & love you...
I actually got an ad for them on this video 🤦♀️
same
I’m glad you touched on the fact that we have to provide proof for everything we say and people still doubt us. There’s so many things about this that is devastating. When you talked about your dad calling you especially. I’m glad you’re back home. I know everyday being black is exhausting but just know we stand behind you.
✊🏽🤎with you always. Also I literally just filmed a video where I mentioned you lmao
Truth
Providing proof of every piece of evidence is still prevalent as we for people of color that's if they don't silence of first or.....us.
Facts! 💯 Not being believed is a regular part of being Black, and it’s exhausting to be “on defense” all of the time. I love books and I have NEVER heard of BookTube until a person in the comment section mentioned it along with the name of a channel (I don’t remember her name-I just subscribed about half an hour ago). This channel came up in my feed after I subscribed to her. I just subscribed.
eloquent as always. the racial gaslighting is absolutely intolerable. I got into an argument yesterday with someone who denied that racism exists 😑
I have a lot of these same feelings right now. it's hard to know who to trust, and like you said, I'm so scared we won't keep this momentum. just know I see you, I hear you, I feel you, and I support you. thank you for continuing to speak out and be a voice of leadership in this community. all the love 💜
Listen to Dr. John Henry Clarke's "Black People You Have No Friends On the Planet" and then you will know who to trust.
"I demand that my allies be there for my life and not just for my death."
Very well said.
“Stand for my life, not my death.” Perfectly put into words. We need this energy from here on out. The one thing I’m grateful for because of this is that black creators are finally popping up in my recs, including you. Glad to be a new sub!
Also I hope you’re taking care of yourself in all this. Stay safe and stay sane in these insane times❤️
"how much will it cost for your allyship" that question is so hard hitting and a necessary. Sometimes even within my family I find I am constantly having to educate my white family members. Many people tell me "why are you even upset you're not even a real black person" just because I have a white father doesn't erase my black mother or my identity as a black woman. It wasn't until I was physically attacked by a group of men who thought it was fun to throw rocks and slurs that my dad even thought that racism was real. It is frustrating because soo many of my friends who are darker are told how strong they are and resilient and while it is true the black people in my life are very strong and my mother is the strongest person I know, their strength should not be used as an excuse to continue making them carry the weight of non black and white peoples' silence. A lot of the strong people in my life were forced to grow up too soon and forced to carry the weight of abuse, trauma, and continuous mistreatment from a system they did not create and some people in my life have been beaten down to the point they doubt their right to happiness and to rise. It infuriates me to see some of the biracial people in my life who act as if this is not a human rights issue, or who claim their blackness as an accessory to be taken on and off. As a light skinned woman I have always known I was able to benefit from white privilege in some capacity just in seeing how disrespectful people treated my mother vs me and just in being able to even find my makeup shade etc. and I believe it is my job as a human and especially as my mother's daughter to speak out and call out the racist bs in my life and continue to research where I allocate my own money (not supporting particular brands and supporting the black owned business in more areas of my life) and continue to do my own research.
EDIT: if anyone is looking for black owned bookstores I really love Semicolon www.semicolonchi.com/, and also mahogany books www.mahoganybooks.com/ and a book I recently found that talks about being black and trans (and a bit of the history) is called "Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity" by C Riley Snorton
"Your uncomfortablility won't kill you, but your silence might kill me".... it's heartbreaking but true and it's something I and other non-black people need to remember and consider every day. 💜
it’s the worst knowing only black people will know how other black people feel to be scared for their lives almost every. single. day. of. their. lives.
You're one of the best people I've ever been lucky enough to meet on here, you already were before all this, but now more than ever I've never felt more sure that you are (as us Aussies like to say as the ultimate form of flattery) an absolute bloody champion.
🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺Im fragile you can’t shower me w love like this
Your dads quote!! And I’m crying again. I finished my contract with the National Guard this year and my heart broke for you because that was a betrayal. All my love and support will always be with you Jesse 💜
Growing up I was so used to never seeing myself in the stories I read, the movies I saw that I normalized this. I grew used to seeing all white casts and have subscribed to services that have little to no diversity in the “influencers” they showcased. And I’m so annoyed with myself that it has taken this long for me to see that no that’s not ok. As a black Dominican I need to make sure that I support and put my money where my mouth is. You’re so right when you say we can’t continue to support these businesses that have no regard for black people. I will do better bc it’s not okay and I will not let the cycle continue. There will not be another little girl who accepts the scraps i was given. We are strong, we are beautiful and we deserve to have stories were we are more than just the token black side character.
You are so strong and so brave. I’m usually a silent supporter but I see now that has to change.
So many people don’t consider the humiliation as well and I’m over here crying because gods no parent should have to go through that. You shouldn’t have to go through that. George shouldn’t have had to be crying and begging. And the fact that there are people who feel so fucking privileged, who believe that they don’t have to say anything at a period when they know that silence kills is so fucking frustrating and makes me so fucking furious. Thank you as always for this video.
I am 55 years old and I clearly remember feeling bad for my mom because I thought she had it rough in her lifetime, which to me, made her angry. She would "drag" me to protests and activist meetings and tell me how important it was that I be involved because Black people had to learn to fight for their right to exist. I was a child, so I didn't get it. I cannot believe that I am a grown ass woman (forgive my language, I'm bitter) and I'm doing the exact same thing she did & for the same reason in f**king reasons. Damn! I'm exhausted.
I can be killed right here. My god, this is what I struggle with everyday. There is nowhere I can be safe in this country.
I just posted to my community tab, videos I remember from THREE YEARS AGO of Black Booktubers having these SAME conversations. I remember these same conversations THREE YEARS AGO. I feel you. My IG has been growing and I’m thankful but also...I’ve been here. Been making videos, been posting on IG. Sending you my love. Thank you for being on the frontlines and sharing your experience. I really am holding onto faith that things in our bookish community will change but again...here we are again. You’re such a ray of sunshine🖤
Thank you doing what you do. You’ve put in so much time and effort into the protests, your channel, and making me feel like a toad when it comes to my cooking (your IG stories seriously make me hungry 😋). You’re a delight-thank you for being such a positive force 💗
Wow Jesse you are incredible. Thank you for everything that you are and holding the community accountable and being an inspiration to us all💖
Thank you!
Your IGTV video broke my heart. I was so angry when your video went up, because you were right: we are supposed to have a right to peaceful protest, yet then they go and do this. Stay safe. Stay strong.
"Demand my allies to be here for my life and my death." Yes. Girl. You had my subscription before that already.
‘I demand that my allies show up for my life’ your words are incredibly powerful and I thank you for sharing them with us
10:36 it’s true. I remember India from Life is a Page Turner specifically talking about this on a panel at BookNet fest. She said “you all love when Francine Simone spills the tea but you won’t pull out your phones and subscribe to her right now”.
We love you Jesse. Thank you for everything you do.
I work at an indie bookstore and something I’ve noticed is that while books like How to Be an Antiracist and So You Want to Talk About Race are sold out and backordered we still have lots of Black fiction -new popular fiction!! - on hand. I’m glad that people in my community are trying to do the work and educate themselves, but we need to realize that Black literature’s value lies beyond its capacity to teach white people about racism
“The cost of your silence is my life.”
OMG i had chills when you said that, jesse. i'm so proud of you for speaking up, and i vow to be a better ally
To some of the things you were talking about I kept thinking: "Don't bring flowers after I'm dead. Save your givings for the living instead". In regards of people needing to start checking out companies they consider supporting, don't people already use time to check reviews, shipment costs, return policy etc. So researching their diversity should be that much more work! Also just wanted to say that I love your content and have for a long time, not only because you are black but because you are you. And if people only Subscribe to you or other black creators because it is trending, they obviously don't know what they are missing
I’ve been in tears repeatedly and here I am again! You’ve been such a powerful influence for me - moving me into a more intentional method of choosing books to make sure my reading is more diverse for starters. Sending you all the love, prayers, positive vibes, however you receive it, and my gratitude for saying the hard things.
"the cost of your silence is my life" chills. thank you for all you have done♥️
Thank you for this. Thank you for reminding us that being an ally is a LIFELONG commitment - not just when it's trendy. This video has pushed me to be better both now and in the future, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way.
"Your uncomfortability is not going to kill you, but your silence might kill me."
This is very much true and sad. A few years ago, I hated being political but now it's so dangerous not to speak up about the system and how wrong it is. Life isn't sunshine and rainbows and I hate that some people in this community don't want to speak up for BIPOC because they simply don't want to get uncomfortable and be happy all the time. It's selfish, and if I've ever come off as that person, I apologise and I want to do better.
Jesse, I'm happy you survived. I hope one day you can be safe, and I hope those who watch you and know your story can fight for you. From my side of the world, I will fight for you. x
As a child/ teenager I had racist grandparents and would always speak up and say NO that's a wrong way of thinking. My grandmother actually said 'if you have a black baby no one would want you'! I'm in the UK by the way. I can remember feeling physically sick and angry at this comment and telling her that was the most ridiculous and stupid thing I'd ever heard! My youngest daughter is biracial and I don't look at her or love her less than my other two children, that's how it should be and I've never understood racism but have know it exists. I'm 42 this year and from the time I could walk and talk I've known racism is wrong and will ALWAYS speak up against racism, will actively boycott racist companies etc. Stay strong. Sending love from the UK.
Btw I didn't know of your channel til today.
your respectability politics post was SO well-worded and powerful. thank you for everything that you have been doing for the Black book community both in the past week and way before then because you have been doing this for as long as I have been watching you.
"The world is on fire and we no longer have the privilege of not being political." This really resonated with me. There are so many people who have stayed silent because they don't want to get political when this is clearly a human rights issue. We need to do better. Not only do we need to be better about uplifting Black voices, but we also need to be better when it comes to choosing the companies we support. You're 100% right, Jesse. We need to start really looking into the companies we give our money to and the companies that we are working with.
Years ago I went from “police reform” only, to “defund the police” and I’ve absolutely moved to “abolish the police” -this shit is, and has been, just ridiculous.
I love that BookOutlet lost so many of their Vlogger Friends before that b.s. apology. Lol love to see it.
You’re a light in our community & every community you are a part of, Jesse.
i have the same fear about all this growth among Black creators. its so bittersweet ... we wanted this growth but we want it because people actually want to watch and hear and support us not because of white guilt ... what do we do with this?
idk if this helps at all, but I only follow black creators after I have viewed multiple works and it's something I love and want to see more of, not simply because they are black. I followed some black artists on insta/deviant art and black youtubers before now, but most of the time they weren't promoted or mentioned by big name people and NEVER came up in my recommendations. I would only slowly find them over time as a person I followed mentioned another creator. They also often didn't show up in trending. All of a sudden the amplify melanated voices challenge has made tons of incredible black creators more visible in my feeds. I am Puerto Rican and also discovered some afro-latina accounts that really spoke to me. I hope you don't sell yourselves short, because I'm certain there are a lot of new followers who appreciate the incredible content black creators are making which was made more invisible to white users due to algorithms that give suggestions based off a users gender, age and race, rather than interests and content quality. Have a look at the profile google builds off you. Do an experiment and create a new account pretending to be a white man, the ads and recommendations become seriously white washed and more conservative. medium.com/productivity-in-the-cloud/6-links-that-will-show-you-what-google-knows-about-you-f39b8af9decc
Your dads comment is so powerful. I watched all your IG stories and your IGTV and I couldn't stop crying. "How much will you charge for your allyship?" It's more than just performative activism on social media. These are the questions every non-black person needs to TRULY ask themselves. Thank you Jesse for this, congratulations for hitting 10K, its so important to you and that makes it valid and exciting! I love you so so so much
This. This right here is the reality. Hearing what your dad said had me in tears because there’s so many black people who are Superman and Superwoman all the time. Hearing you voice a lot of what happens in the book community has helped me realize why I’m so hesitant myself to step in further and start my own channel. It’s taken me months to get my bookstagram over 100 followers and even then, I still lose some. As a black person on any platform, it’s so hard to be heard when you don’t already have a powerful voice. So thank you Jesse for bringing it into the light more and for helping me realize that it’s something I want to do and I should do it
I think we're all grateful for your presence on this platform. You do tons for this community and I am grateful for all the work you have put in. It is frustrating that it took recent events for folk to come out in support of black authors, but I hope that they read the works and put what they learn to use. You have my continual adoration and support, take care.
I hate how hard simply exisiting is for you and every other black person out there. I truely hope that when all this “hype” dyes down for BLM people continue to show up and uplift black voices. Thank you for everything you do, you shouldn’t have to fight this hard for basic human rights, but I know you’re making a big difference in educating the non-black reading community 💜
I love you a lot as Jesse even though we've never communicated & I'm really thankful that you took the time to film this video ❤ I can only promise to not stop supporting you & your community and to do better and always listen & do my part.
❤❤❤❤
This has been a very trying time but I’ve never found so many different black creators at once. This is the renaissance we needed. Black creators matter!
I love you I love you I love you, and I promise to keep showing up and doing the work and I'll keep checking myself to make sure I don't slip. thank you for what you're doing and saying--you make a difference and I feel so lucky to know you. 🖤
I love you too Em
I cried watching your Instagram stories. I tried telling my mom about you and couldn’t get a word out, especially when you talked about your dad calling you. You’ve taught me SO much about being a good ally and I can’t thank you enough, especially because you shouldn’t have to be educating all of these people. Nothing but love and strength being sent your way, Jesse. ❤️
I love you for speaking on this. I literally cry often because as black ppl we have to go through this. This is not the 1900's, we should not have to March to be treated equal. These things really touch me because I have a brother that was killed at the age of 19 he would be 44 today and I have NEVER had an officer show up and ask any questions! They serve and protect??? I'm afraid for my husband everyday, I don't let him drive alone and I don't let him travel alone. I'm not gon lie black ppl need to take advantage of these gun laws and just FIGHT BACK! Talking and marching isn't working perhaps drastic action will 🤷🏾♀️ just my opinion.
All of this 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I saw your video and started crying so hard because I was also tear gassed at a peaceful protest, it is terrifying. It hurts that every though we’re peaceful, it doesn’t matter.
It’s disgusting how the media focus so much those who weren’t protesting peacefully 🤦🏽♀️ Rioting
And now more and more people are calling the BLM a terrorist, a propaganda
I’m so sick and tired of the lies about us. The long ass gaslighting.
It’s exhausting
The last few years have been a lesson on how staying quiet can be dangerous.
This is everything. You’re... this is everything. Thank you❤️
Cindy Pham helped me find a lot of diverse creators
Honestly Jesse you are so inspirational and I am in awe of you. Please allow me to worship you.
You are so powerful and I am so happy you are okay. you have shown the truth and used your voice to help so many. Black lives matter always and I know that I will not stop supporting and fighting ever🖤
I hate that it took me a YEAR to speak on my experience of police brutality as a black woman with anxiety. I called 911 for a panic attack. 3 cops and their captain handcuffed me and didn't let me go until I got admitted to the emergency psych unit. Every time that another murdered black person makes the headlines, I remember that that could easily have been me. My shoulders still hurt after that.
I couldn’t even pick a quote, everything you said hit. Your father’s quote to you was also incredibly powerful and I thank you for sharing something so intimate♥️ you have been someone I have admired for a long time but I have since realized I was not doing enough as an ally and I will be making changes to be worthy of the title.
Black lives matter and I’ll be making sure to make that statement a priority when lending my support or friendship moving forward.
Thank you for protesting. Omg I didn’t know that you were tear gassed. 😢 😠 I don’t have iG or twitter. Yes, it’s exhausting trying to explain things. I don’t even waste my breath anymore. Congratulations for making it to 10k subscribers. It’s so hard to not be slightly cynical and suspicious with how now it’s trendy or now people have pity. Yes, be here for our lives. Yes, call out the phonies. I’m so glad that you wrote that letter.
I had never ordered from book outlet and was going to order from them but Bethany and Naya brought awareness to their BS.
You are so right about checking out companies track record. This situation has enlightened me to see that there are some companies that need to get it together. Silence is deadly.
Yes we should check out their social media and their values.
Yes, I love the Belles.
Yes, you should have more than 100k .
When you said “Your uncomfortableness won’t kill you but your silence might kill me” that struck me. So strong and so true. We can’t afford to have silent white allies.
Facts
It's been three days since I watched your video, but that first part about you saying you knew that nobody would believe you about being teargassed - not assumed, but /knew/ - just stuck with me the most.
As someone who doesn't have Twitter, I'm grateful for people sharing their stories publicly so that I can still read them without an account because in Germany, it took the media a while to actually report what you and other black people have documented and it shows that we have so much to learn from this.
Even as someone who assumed she learned a lot before these protests happened, I had to relearn and rethink more than one thing. But I also learned that I know more about black lives in America than I do about BIPOC in Germany. It's not that I know nothing about it and I'm aware of the racism we have here. But as someone who knows the importance of education, it's not enough and I have to do better.
Honestly, I wasn't sure if I'm supposed to comment and sorry if this sounds like rambling/incoherent, but I'm glad that you got the support you needed and to see how much people love you. You always say important things in your book discussions, but what you said in this video just emphasis this and I'm grateful that I've known and was able to enjoy you / your videos for a while now.
Your IG tv and your first-hand accounts at the protests made my heart drop! and counting to see so many peaceful protestors be treated in this constant violent manner angers me but also brings me to tears. Echoing what you are saying it's not enough anymore for companies or people trying to be allies to just make empty statements and sentiments, How you show up for black folks matters seeing companies who've been so silent countless times before but now want to make a small statement (probably without any change to their companies or offices) comes off performative. Or how black authors are just now clearing shelves is an issue that needs to constantly be addressed of WHY NOW why weren't these authors or Booktubers being promoted before? Anyways I thank you for always being honest and transcribing what's actually going on at protest your voice and viewpoints are ones I always look up too and hold onto, and thank you for sharing a viewpoint that many allies and nonblack people of color often miss. ♥️
Your IGTV video was so powerful. When you spoke about what was happening to you at these protests and how you served in the military, I knew I needed to kick my ass into gear and become a better ally. You are out there inspiring people. 💛
Your dad sounds like the most supportive person. I am glad you have him, and your whole family. I hope permanent change follows from this and I understand I need to start from myself and my own peers to keep accountability. Thank you for being one of the pillars of this community.
Thank You for speaking the truth on Black people in this country
tbh, I just found your channel. I am thankful for having had the opportunity to start experiencing books from black authors as well through the last two semesters at university because they really broadened my horizon or opened up my eyes, actually. I do really pray and hope and wish for a change coming. I want for everyone to live in peace and harmony.
I will definitely be looking far more closely at what businesses and people I follow and support. Thank you for sharing with us, Jesse ❤️
I definitely think that skin politics/colorism within the black community that I was not aware of until I moved into a minority community and began teaching at the local high school. This was something I did not realize was such a daily conversation, but it is how many of my black students identify and describe each other. I might say something like, "Hey, have you seen Sylvester from my 6th period? Tell him he needs to come see me." and the response will be "the really dark on or the light one?" The first time a student said something like this, I was like, "I don't know. The funny one." And I know my face was very confused because I do not know what constitutes which description. This was particularly apparent when I had 5 Isaiah's one year. Or, another way students might respond is, "So and so with the small lips. Yeah, he's running for Prom court."
These physical characteristic descriptions are different than what I was used to growing up in a different community. I might have described a classmate growing up based on hair color or texture (like red head Kim), but more often I might say Jared who drives that classic station wagon or plays such and such sport. It would be more about what the classmate does or their personal style or maybe even where they live depending on who I was talking to. I think that this difference in talking about people within the community is something that is largely unknown unless you live in the community like I now do. And, honestly, I still do not know where which differentiation of skin tone lies, and I even seethe descriptions vary among my students as they use them. Is this differentiation healthy? I don't know??? But it is a reality. I just know that it is eye opening and has lent me new perspective as I have taught and grown over the past 17 years. Sorry, so long.
I hate that it has taken such horrible things to be able to even know of your CZcams channel but I am very grateful to have found you. Your words are beautiful and articulate.
I agree that black creators get suppressed until it’s popular to show them. Personally, if I didn’t make the conscious effort to go looking for Chicano and Latinx creators when I wanted to see more representation like me, I wouldn’t have come across more than one or two bookstagrammers. And black representation is even more lacking. I found loads now on my recommends pages after this happens that I was never given a chance to see before. And all those black initiatives can’t go far if it’s not highlighted on recommends pages or blasted by non-black creators, especially those with large followings, or linked to in those diversity book stacks and tags that pop up every heritage month.
I even made it a habit to mostly stop following these last few month because of how lacking in diversity the recommendations are. And it’s worse on CZcams, especially with LGBTQ+ creators of color, which is a spectrum than needs representation the most with their treatment inside and outside of their communities. I know I can do better to go looking for them and I hope to do that more going forward, especially if that will shift my recommends page, but I really shouldn’t have to do tens times the effort.
It is so messed up that I have never seen black booktubers recommended by CZcams to me
Until now, and the only videos im seeing on my feed are about "being black on BookTube"
I'm gonna keep looking for content and voices I genuinely love and want to support. I subscribe and be a fan of booktuber because they are black and want to look like I'm diverse.
I will look for black booktubers that I love and include them in my feed because I know I don't have any, and I need to do my part to finding them.
It may be not be the right way, but I'm so happy that they are being exposed. I'm fairly new to the BookTube community, so I can't wait to see what there is to watch.
This video was so powerful, thank you so much
Glad to see you as well as can be. ❣️
Thank you for all you do. Stay safe, Jesse.
Thank you for documenting your experiences. Your courage and bravery is beyond words that I can express.
“Being an ally is a lifelong commitment. It is constant self work, listening, admitting your inevitable mistakes, and continuing to support EVEN when it’s uncomfortable for you.”
This! Being an ally means getting work DONE. Thank you so much for sharing!
I discovered you because of your stories on Insta. And you are right nobody would have believed you. I thought the media would share this. I thought I would see it on the news. It makes me incredibly sad that it doesn't get shown that way. Your stories have been devastating to watch, and so moving. I am sorry that you have been through it, and yet I am grateful for what you did. I have learned a great deal. And I have realized that even though I thought I was doing things right, I wasn't. Thank you for sharing your heart with all of us.
Book Outlet or Book of the Month? I saw the latter, but did I miss something?
I watched Andrew Mercado's live facebook stream of the peaceful protestors in MN getting tear gassed and rubber bullets fired on them. I cried, I was disgusted. You and all the protestors are so brave❤️❤️❤️ Your dad's words❤️❤️😭😭😭 Thank you for sharing
You are so powerful ❤️ Thank you for your emotional labor. This is inspired me as a brown woman 🙌🏾
I am sorry for your daily struggle. I don't live your life and I am not a black person in America. I will never say I understand what you are going through. I listen to you, I see the pain. I feel your story and it's touching me. This was the first of your videos I watched and I will have a look at your other content. It takes a lot of courage to speak up and talk about the issues you talk about. You have my deepest respect 🙌
followed bc i am black & just tuned into the black booktube community 😍 sending love & support, we are in this together 🖤
Wow, sis. Thank you for your story and your words. I am new to booktube. As a black woman, I admire you and I stand with you.
i can't even imagine how frustrating it is to be in the booktube community. black bodies shouldn't prompt people to suddenly support the black community. i came into booktubing really late (literally found out about it today), but i'm glad you're one of the first channels i stumbled upon. keep up the great work, take care of yourself, and stay hydrated.
I just found your channel today, but I will definitely be subscribing. This was such a well spoken video. I definitely think there is lots of systemic racism in the booktube community, like the fact that all of the booktubers who got to be extras in the Hate U Give movie were light skinned when the movie is supposed to be about black voices being heard. I have never bought from book outlet before nor do I ever plan to. Black lives matter and until all black lives matter, there should be no silence.
This video was so powerful and thank you for sharing your story. I am so sorry that it unfortunately took the loss of so many for me to end up here but I am glad I did.
I am listening and learning to do better and to be a better ally/human-being and will continue to support the black community. Thank you.
I'm glad that I found you. I'm not really apart of the Booktube community,(I'm more into Authrotube and ArtTube, and even with those it's hard finding black creators) but I've been getting into it a lot more lately and I've had a really hard time finding diversity. I don't think I ever would have found you if #Blacklivesmatter hadn't been trending. Now more black creators are showing up in my recommended and I'm well aware as to why. I'm putting a lot of people into my watch later, however, as you said it's a shame that I don't see or hear about these content creators and it took this movement happening for me to do so. You said so many things that I have been trying to get into people's heads and it's honestly shameful that we as black people have to have these discussions at all. Thank you for sharing your experiences, you've earned yourself a new subscriber that isn't going anywhere.
Your IG story had me in tears. Thank you so much for everything you do and for sharing everything you have. You are truly an inspiration, you always have been ❤️ We need to do better, we need to do the work. I’m here, I’m listening and will continue to use my voice. Thank you Jesse, I hope you are safe and as well as you can be. You are incredible ❤️❤️
This is powerful 👏 The best video I have seen on this issue.
Thank you!!
I started following you far before the black lives matter protests started.. and I followed you, because you make great content and an amazing energy. As an ally; I stand with you. I stand with all of you. I can’t even begin to understand what it’s like to be a woman of colour.. and it makes me sick how awful the human race can be. On behalf of anyone white who has ever said or done something, I’m so sorry. I hope for a world where everyone is respected, and has rights. I also hope that these asshole cops start paying for their brutality - justice for all. You did an amazing job with this video.. thank you 🙏🏼 it helped educate me. Stay safe, and know that I stand with you.
I'm so glad I'm finally finding more black booktubers, I'm fairly new to the booktube community in general, but until this week I've never seen any black booktubers on my suggested feed. But I'm glad to be here now. Thank you for sharing your story and congratulations on getting 10k. ♡ ♡
A Novel Beauty I’ve noticed the same, I’ve been watching booktube for years but I’m only ever been recommended white booktubers :/ I only found out about this amazing lady due to a comments section on another booktuber’s page
@@persephonekore7738 Here's to hopefully finding more diverse booktubers in the future as we go on! ♡ ♡
I love this and you. Thank you so much for everything you do.
I need to own up to my ignorance in HOW terribly we in the community have been doing in buying Black novels. I have been in a booktube bubble where most of the people I watch and interact with in the comments of my videos are my friends, people who have been very outspoken in reading diversely. And I thought that meant everyone was, that people were listening and buying Black novels. I should have known better and I shouldn't be surprised that hasn't been the case.
I'm glad you said it YOU SHOULD BE OVER 10K. because you're absolutely right. - Rebecca
I am a book blogger. I have seen you around the book community before, but have been somewhat of a silent follower. I would just like to say that this video was one of the most insightful, educational and powerful videos I have ever watched. As an ally, you called me out, and I so thank you for that! I really need to consider how much I jumped to read more books from black authors and follow black creators after George Floyd was killed, but before that my bookshelf was essentially white. White people are so fixed on performative activism that it took a death for us to say: hmm maybe I should say something. I promise to be a better ally. And I'm sorry for not speaking up a long time ago.
“Your uncomfortability isn’t going to kill you, but your silence might kill me.” Snaps!!! So good. I feel called out, but in a good way haha
You definitely deserve more subscribers. This video has been in my recommended and I normally don't watch booktube because well I don't really read (much unless it's below 300 pages and even then not very frequently) BUT you are really intelligent and wellspoken and deserve to be heard. And since I quite often also don't know what to read maybe your videos will help me to find out about new books that normally wouldn't be on my radar. Hope you are staying safe and much love and support. Keep calling people out, we all need to hear it.
This is 100% on me as a subscriber and as a reader, I never personally went out of my way to look for Black creators or for Black authors. Creators was less so as authors but obviously there was a reason I was only being recommended white creators and that is because I never actively searched. I never not watched a video because it was a Black creator, it was because I was never recommended it; which does not make it okay. As someone who is LGBT+, I know you have to look for that stuff, I should have been actively looking but instead I just decided not too. For books I just picked books I felt that sounded interesting. I have realized that is not enough. While I should be picking books I actually want to read, I should be doing more research into diverse books. All of this has been a learning experience for many people, I hope that I can grow as a person while supporting the Black community here on booktube and in the real world. Doing the minimum is not enough and it is time to change.
This is not a comment to be like "oh look at me doing the right thing." I have been doing the wrong thing for many years and I am sorry for not doing more. My goal is to do more and to be better. I hope that others will do the same.
I'm catching up on booktube videos and I feel like an asshole commenting on this video so late. I stopped watching the news cause the media has manipulated the whole situation. I've been watching you and other creators on instagram for REAL news and what's been going on during protests. "do not leave us the second supporting us is no longer popular". THIS. this is a very important statement. I made a vow to myself to CONTINUE to listen, research, donate, sign petitions and share/educate for the rest of my life and I'm hoping others have done the same cause this isn't a "share once" situation. Thank you for all that you do and WILL do for the booktube community
Such powerful words Jesse. Please cont to fight and be safe out there. I've seen your videos and you are so brave and inspiring. 💛
Your IG live broke my heart, but thank you for your truth. You shouldn’t have to do all this and I hope everything changes for Black people everywhere. Not just hoping but I am going to do everything I can to help. I’m here, I’m listening. ❤️
Thank you for making this video and sharing your experience. I have found a lot of Black creators that have amazing content and should be recognized more because they have the same quality of content other booktubers have. I have tried to be a better ally, though I still don’t believe I’m the best I could be, but sometimes it’s important to fight even after you’ve made mistakes and been silent for far too long.