Racial prejudice has been a repeated issue throughout history, always defining societies in complicated and often harmful ways. Despite progression in civil rights, equality and inclusion, it remains a topic that is either spoken about just enough to acknowledge its existence- through media, tweets, shallow discussions, or failing education systems that struggle to confront it’s full reality – or so loudly outspoken that it’s meaning is drained, lessening it to endless debates and recycled rhetoric. With heated arguments within families sometimes indoctrinating ideas while completely dissolving the opportunity for individuals to have the possibility to form their own beliefs. While others simply choose to ignore the conversation altogether.
Yes, statements are being made. Social media has provided us access to conversations that past generations never had, but with that access comes a jarring reality: awareness doesn’t equal action. In the past, movements were built through field work – marches, protests and direct activism that made change involuntary. Now, we sit behind screens, hashtagging injustice, mistaking visibility for progress. But what real change comes after the hashtag?
When It’s Spoken: The World Talks, But Where is the Change?
Hashtags trend. Protests fill the streets. Corporations pledge diversity. Governments promise reform. Yet, systemic racism has kept reinventing itself, altering forms but never disappearing. Some of the biggest racial justice movements of our time prove this defeating reality:
#BlackLivesMatter (2013–Present)
- Set in motion by police brutality, mainly after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, this movement led to reforms, diversity hiring and assemblement of protests worldwide.
- But what happened after? Police brutality persists in the present day, racial inequality continues to flourish and companies that pledged diversity are now quietly retracting their commitments.
#EndSARS (Nigeria, 2020)
- Nigerians demanded an end to police brutality and for the government to dissipate SARS.
- But what happened after? Police violence carried on and little accountability and liability followed.
#StopAsianHate (USA, 2021)
- The movement brought global awareness to anti-Asian hate crimes.
- But what happened after? Hate crimes had raised even higher in 2022 and 2023.
These movements just attest that awareness alone does not guarantee action. Conversations set change in motion, but real change is slow and very often temporary. We have to face the facts, which is the truth in question- are we simply speaking or posting about these issues to ease ourselves of the guilt of being bystanders?
Now It’s Outspoken: The Cycle of Endless Conversations
History tells us that racial injustice has been outspoken for centuries—discussed, debated and resisted. Yet, by some means, racism is still strongly ingrained in our society.
- Slavery ended, yet economic slavery remains. The destruction of slavery was a huge victory, but today, prison labour, sweatshops and debt traps keep millions in a new form of slavery.
- Apartheid ended, yet inequality still remains in South Africa. The world celebrated when apartheid fell, but Black South Africans still face economic exclusion, poor living conditions and micro-aggressions that are simply just to be ignored .
- Colonialism officially ended, yet neocolonialism dictates Africa. The same Western powers that colonised African nations now choose to exploit them through debt, unfair trade and resource extraction.
The world discusses these issues. Textbooks teach about racism. Films and documentaries expose injustices. Yet, the same systems stay in one piece —just rebranded. When something becomes “outspoken,” it risks becoming nothing more than historical noise, repeated without resolution, leaving the solution to be a new label.
The fight between Hashtags & Real Change: One Step Forward, Many Steps Back
Social media has loudened voices that were once silenced. However, real progress requires more than a trending conversation.
- Performative Activism: Many people support movements online but don’t take real action beyond their screens.
- Government Resistance: Laws and policies may change, but the system seems to always fight back to keep its power.
- Short Attention Spans: The world moves too fast. Once the outrage dies down, so does the priority for change.
This is why we find ourselves stuck in a cycle of speaking about racism without demolishing it.
What Now? We Have To Move Beyond Just Talking
If we want real change, we need to escape this cycle. Talking about racism is important, but it’s only the first step. The real challenge is to mould activism to a continuous movement, not just a momentary stand still. Because, what happens when the world stops watching— do we do our usual and ‘stop’ fighting for justice, or do we let history repeat itself?
And I am well aware of my hypocritical self, out here writing this blog just to spread awareness on the real truth and reality that we live in on this earth, but from writing this I am well aware of the lack of field work that I haven’t included myself in & the need to be commit to what I preach. I’m going to make a change one way or another this is just my first step not my last.
To be spoken or to be outspoken—either way, if we are not acting, we might just be turning a blind eye.