A couple weeks ago, Lorde sent out a rare email dispatch to her fans talking about the progress of her new album and her mindset during the pandemic. Today, she’s sent out another one, this time addressing the George Floyd protests and weighing the value of white celebrities “strik[ing] a balance between self-serving social media displays and true action.”

“I’ve been following this week’s events in the States from New Zealand. I also attended the peaceful protest in Auckland today to support the Black Lives Matter movement,” she wrote. “One of the things I find most frustrating about social media is performative activism, predominantly by white celebrities (like me). “It’s hard to strike a balance between self-serving social media displays and true action. But part of being an ally is knowing when to speak and when to listen, and I know that white silence right now is more damaging than someone’s wack protest selfie.”

“So let me be clear: this ongoing systemic brutality by police is racist, it’s sickening, and it’s unsurprising,” she continued. “As someone who has made art directly inspired by and in conversation with hip hop, it’s my responsibility to let you know that I’m here.”

Read her full statement below.

Hello again,

I know what you’re thinking — “Two notes in two weeks? Who is she?!” You probably weren’t expecting to hear from me for another few months, but I can’t ask for your attention one week and go silent on something like this the next. So here goes.

I’ve been following this week’s events in the States from New Zealand. I also attended the peaceful protest in Auckland today to support the Black Lives Matter movement. One of the things I find most frustrating about social media is performative activism, predominantly by white celebrities (like me). It’s hard to strike a balance between self-serving social media displays and true action. But part of being an ally is knowing when to speak and when to listen, and I know that white silence right now is more damaging than someone’s wack protest selfie.

So let me be clear: this ongoing systemic brutality by police is racist, it’s sickening, and it’s unsurprising.

As someone who has made art directly inspired by and in conversation with hip hop, it’s my responsibility to let you know that I’m here. I extend that sentiment to all my fellow musicians and producers who have tightened a snare to make it more trap, who’ve drawn a pattern of high hats in ProTools because they heard something similar in a hip hop song and it made them feel big and cool. We have a responsibility to let our affected listeners know that we’re with them when it’s hard too, not just when it’s easy. Not just when we benefit. We see you, and we’re here.

I’m still learning the nuances of all this. I’m still working out how to practise activism while refraining from social media. Numbers at protests and mass gatherings speak loudly, hopefully lead to eventual legislative change, so I do that. Money helps concretely, paying things like bail funds to free unjustly held activists, so I do that. I don’t feel completely comfortable posting donation links asking you for money – I don’t know what kind of financial situation you’re in right now. It’s on me to use my resources — resources you gave me, directly or indirectly — to donate on your behalf.

To my black and brown listeners —
I’m so sorry this is your reality, that you haven’t had a choice but to be defined by this, to give it your energy. I’m aware of that tax on you. I hope white people you know are doing what they can to ease your load. And I really, really hope systems will change to better protect you.

Black Lives Matter.

L

https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd