On TikTok, white women are now going around making blue friendship bracelets as a way to not only show their support for Vice President Kamala Harris after her loss to former President Donald Trump, but also to be what they claim is “a safe space” for others…. right.
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Despite all the talk and promise, 53 percent of white women voted for Trump, according to exit polls from NBC News. Meanwhile, 92 percent of Black women showed up to the polls for Harris, so you already know Black women have a lot to say about it. On TikTok, one Black woman, @SincerelyMaxxDotcom, responded saying white women “would rather make bracelets instead of holding each other accountable for being racist.”
Another user, @brisalauren, said the bracelets are a distraction. According to her, “we don’t need to be talking about it, arguing about it, making thesis about it, [or] making videos about it,” she said. “It’s time for us to educate ourselves and get back into this movement work.” She argued blue bracelets aren’t even close to the solution to the real problem at hand. “There is a whole war that is coming for us, and we are not prepared for it.”
One hilarious TikTok was posted by a group of Black women, and their reaction is low, elementary, and hit it right on the head. The caption reads “keep em babe,” and we know white women got the message.
Now, n the other side, many Black folks understand where white women are coming from, like social worker and TikToker @vmjen who argued this shouldn’t even be a discussion about race:“In this red state, you need to know who’s safe and who’s not,” she said. “Not only people of color need to know that. White women need to know that.”
VM Jen, who lives in the red swing state of Arizona, went on to say she will be wearing her blue bracelet with pride until she deems it unsafe to do so. In response to her video, many in the comments backed VM Jen. @patticake1900 wrote “thank you for saying that. I’m was going to wear a blue bracelet for us women period.”
Another user, @belles_tales, said “I’m a blue dot in a red state as well, and when I first saw the blue bracelets I thought it was just so we all could know who’s safe. I was disappointed to know that it enraged so many.”
No matter which side of the blue bracelets trend you fall on, there’s no denying the fact that Black women showed up for Harris and white women did not. Could this be their attempt at making amends and proving to Black folks where they stand? Maybe, but in addition to the bracelets, we all know there’s more work to be done.
