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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of The Black Detour.

For the past decade since the advent of social media, there has seen to be an increase in public criticism and the new movement of cancel culture. With access to comment and give your opinion on any topic has caused hot takes where anyone will say anything to gain clout or attention. This issue does not escape the Black community, and in many cases, it seems as if we are sometimes quicker to call someone out publicly.

In many respects, cancel culture within the Black community is alarming because the number of Black people who “claim” to be for Black empowerment and social justice publicly criticize and cancle seeminly on a daily basis.

It is not uncommon to see Black people specifically with platforms demonize, drag and cancel other Black people for having a difference in opinion, ideology or beliefs. This was seen ealier this year in the aftermath of the police murder of Stephon Clark. When old tweets of his were discovered with derogatory statements about Black women. One particular tweet said: “I don’t want nothing black but an XBOX dark bitches bring dark days.”

Clark tweets caused many commentators, activist, and people who claim to be for the community to denounce Clark, saying he doesn’t deserve any of our support because he did not support us when he was alive.

A recent example of this type of public criticism is when journalist Roland Martin and film producer/media personality Tariq Nasheed got into a war of words concerning voting in the recent mid-term election.

Several Tweets by Nasheed that stated he was not voting and doesn’t believe there is an agenda to specifically address Black issues. Martin responded to Nasheed and others who had a similar opinion on Tom Joyner’s Morning radio show and his online news show Roland Martin Unfiltered. Then Nasheed responded on his YouTube channel with an audio-video address entitled “Tariq Nasheed: Rotisserie Martin and the Un-Talented 10th.”

The back fourth continued between the two men who continuously throw shots at each other on social media.

This is one of those stuck on stupid tweets https://t.co/vnDZul2lCj — rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) November 6, 2018

So Rollie the Buck Dancing Boule Bird is talking greasy? pic.twitter.com/G1V0SVp1wc — Tariq Nasheed (@tariqnasheed) November 6, 2018

Regardless of how you might feel about any of these issues the question still remains why are Black people quick to drag and call each other out publicly?

Dragging, belittling and canceling each other is counterproductive when every other entity including but not limited to the mainstream media, government officials, popular opinion etc. do a great job of misrepresenting, distorting and dragging us on a daily basis.

The other disheartening fact that many of the people who’re participating in public criticism are supposed to be our “elders.” People were supposed to be learning from but instead, it seems like they use their platforms to criticize Black people with differing opinions.

Many Black millennials who are politically engaged and want to see a change in the Black community are tired of the social media antics that really don’t help us move forward. There are too many issues facing the Black community to spend them dragging, belittling and denigrating each other online.

In the end, publicly calling someone out instead of reaching out to them behind closes doors does not have any benefit to the Black community. We have to learn how to have more intellectually conversations and debates instead of public dragging sessions. Regardless of political party, religion, income, education or anything that the system has put against us to keep us divided we need each other. The future of Black America depends on a collective of us (not all Black people) coming together and realizing we’re stronger and more powerful together than apart.

SEE ALSO: Being Black in a White America that wasn’t created for Black people

SEE ALSO: Are Black people too forgiving?

SEE ALSO: Opinion: Black media is vital to the future of Black America

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