Baker Boy has shared a powerful statement regarding Black Lives Matter both abroad and at home.
Yolngu man BAKER BOY has shared a powerful statement online overnight, addressing people who have attempted to call him out "for not publicly sharing my rage about what is happening right now," in regard to the protests that have erupted in the United States recently demanding justice for police brutality against black Americans.
Explaining that while he uses his Baker Boy persona to "choose a path of positivity and light," he also stated "I don’t feel like it is anyone’s place to push guilt or question the activism of a First Nations person during this traumatising time," before detailing his own personal insight into the situation not only abroad but here at home in light of Australia's own systemic racism faced by First Nations people.
"I am angry. I am scared. I feel every negative emotion that there is to feel about what happened to George Floyd," he wrote. "I feel these emotions EVERY DAMN DAY not just right now when it’s big on the news or trending on twitter and Instagram. This is my life and I am scared[.]"
He called on non-indigenous Australians to ensure their activism extends beyond bare-minimum social media posting, stating it goes far beyond that. "As your eyes open and you slowly awaken to the realities of what it is like to be a Person of Colour, an African American, an Indigenous Australian, I truly hope your activism goes further than your social media. Activism starts at home, with hard conversations."
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Baker Boy recently released his first single of 2020 with the exceptional 'Move', which has been on heavy rotation for us. It's the perfect antidote to feel his infectious positivity and most importantly, move.
Read the full statement below:
Words by Emma Jones
Image: Supplied
LISTEN TO NEW MUSIC HERE
SEE ALSO
PURPLE SNEAKERS STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR SYSTEMIC RACISM AND POLICE BRUTALITY, AT HOME AND ACROSS THE WORLD.
BELOW ARE LINKS TO DONATE AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. #BLACKLIVESMATTER
Australian Indigenous Legal Services & Agencies you can donate to:
VIC – https://vals.org.au
NT – http://naaja.org.au
NSW & ACT – https://alsnswact.org.au
WA – https://als.org.au
SA – https://alrm.org.au
QLD – https://atsils.org.au
TAS – http://tacinc.com.au