Playing respectability politics in a 21st century civil rights movement

Respectability politics is nothing new for the movement for civil rights. The black community has long been plagued by having to prove its humanity and worth in the eyes of white audiences. In the modern fight for civil rights and justice, voices like Samaria Rice (Tamir Rice’s mom) have called out prominent activists like Tamika Mallory, Shawn King and others who she felt benefited from the death of her son. But she isn’t the only one side-eyeing how the movement has sidelined communities but propped up TV-ready black people with corporate sponsors and larger-than-life book or TV deals. But the BLM activists are younger, don’t follow norms, and continue to gain steam. Could this finally upend the politics of respectability?

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