Was Wearing All Black Enough? | Time’s Up on Staying Silent
EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T TUNE IN TO WATCH THE GOLDEN GLOBES, YOU KNOW WHAT WENT DOWN. A MAJORITY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN IN ATTENDANCE DONNED BLACK TO SHOW THEIR SOLIDARITY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FACED DISCRIMINATION, SEXUAL ABUSE, ASSAULT, AND HARASSMENT. THE PLAN TO WEAR ALL-BLACK INSTEAD OF THE USUAL COLORFUL GOWNS AND SUITS WAS ANNOUNCED BACK IN DECEMBER, A SHIFT FROM SHOWING OFF THE LATEST FASHION TO MAKING A POLITICAL STATEMENT.
WHEN I FIRST HEARD OF THE ALL-BLACK PROTEST, I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AND HONESTLY ROLLED MY EYES A BIT. HERE ARE HUGE CELEBRITIES WITH PLATFORMS THAT ALMOST EVERYONE IN THE WORLD IS WATCHING, AND ALL THEY ARE DOING IS PICKING A NEW COLOR OF DRESS TO WEAR? IT FELT PERFORMATIVE AND THE EQUIVALENT OF CHANGING YOUR PROFILE PICTURE FOR A WEEK TO HONOR THE LATEST TRAGEDY. IT SIMPLY DID NOT FEEL LIKE ENOUGH. THOUGH I AM FAIRLY NEW TO ACTIVISM, THIS DIDN'T FEEL LIKE ACTION. IT SEEMED TOO SIMPLE FOR ANYONE TO JOIN IN, AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY FULLY UNDERSTOOD THE MAGNITUDE OF THE ISSUE DIDN'T SEEM TO MATTER.
I don't watch the Golden Globes usually and the protest didn't do much to garner more interest for me to tune in. But unlike other awards shows, I couldn't ignore this one. All night long photos rolled in on my timeline of actors and celebrities wearing black and being asked "why?" instead of "who are you wearing?" And then there was the speech.
Oprah, thank you for your words of encouragement and light. She spoke from the heart, saying, "For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up." Wearing a black dress is easy--speeches are hard. She ended her speech by exclaiming, "So I want all the girls watching here, now, to know that a new day is on the horizon! And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say 'me too' again."
Despite the moving speech, I still went to bed that night feeling like I wanted more from the celebrities... but I didn't know exactly what I would have wanted to see. What could have been done to make me feel like actual change was put into action that night? Unfortunately, probably nothing. Physical assault, sexual harassment, and every ugly thing that individuals put up with and survive are so deeply rooted in our society. It is going to take so much more than a wardrobe change.
I don't want to sound like a complete hater and as if I don't agree with what they stood for that night. But I kept asking myself, "How would this protect women from the patterns of abuse they are subjected to on the daily?" How will the way you dress for one night really make a difference for those 1 in 3 women who experience sexual violence?
I do acknowledge that it was symbolic; having not ever been in a situation of harassment or physical assault I don't know what it would be like to see people stand up for me. The women and men who participated did accomplish something that I haven't seen before and for which they should be applauded--they got people talking.
I looked more into the main group that was involved in the all-black protest, the women who are a part of Time's Up. Time's Up was founded at the beginning of the month and included over 300 major celebrities and powerful women coming together to speak out against workplace assault and harassment. Not only did they sign their name to publicly speak out but a legal defense fund was created to provide subsidized legal services for individuals subjected to workplace sexual harassment and abuse. This defense fund felt more like real activism to me and will hopefully continue to become the norm--real help that can change lives. To access the fund, you may apply online.
I don’t know why I demanded so much more from these individuals who are probably figuring out activism just like I am. Sexual abuse is such a difficult matter to discuss, it is personal for so many of us. If wearing a black dress is all we can do at the moment because everything else feels too hard, then that should be valid enough for me.
When I really think about it, I know that the action of wearing black was a tiny step in the right direction. A few years ago, I wouldn't even have the chance to question a protest at an awards show. I am eager to see what the #TimesUp movement does next and that will really show whether the protest was just a drop in the ocean of work that needs to be done or if it sparked change.
It is difficult for me to accept but, baby steps are still steps.