#ShareTheMicNow: A Bold Idea that Puts White Women's Megaphones into Black Counterparts' Hands

When the world listens to women, it listens to white women.

How’s that for a f*in lede?

This year has been mostly been a double-decker sh*t sandwich that makes you question the very existence of humanity among us. However, the strange merging and melding of COVID-19, George Floyd, PRIDE Month, and all the commentary and conversation around all those topics, may have at least one positive outcome.

Black, Asian, elderly, gay, women…groups that have been marginalized, ostracized and, in many cases, de-humanized, are now standing up, speaking up and refusing to be silenced. They are being seen and heard. #Sharethemicnow is another example.

It’s an idea that should be applauded. Yes, for its purpose and message. But also for its creativity. Ideas that move people are simple, strong and, often, jolt you to attention. Check marks all around for #ShareTheMicNow. The quote referenced at blog’s start continues thusly:

….For far too long, Black Women’s voices have gone unheard, even though they’ve been using their voices loudly for centuries to enact change.

So, what’s the idea? What is #ShareTheMicNow? The brainchild of marketer Bozoma Saint John and a handful of others, is brilliantly simple. Famous white women hand over the keys to their Instagram channels for the day…with each of them passing the mic to a black female counterpart. The power and reach of the likes of Julia Roberts , Gwyneth Paltrow, Hillary Clinton and Katie Couric, placed in the hands of powerful black women at a time when their activist voices deserve to be heard with the loudest megaphone.

Couric’s tweet helping to announce the effort delivered the punch of the concept in plain English:

The primary effort enlisted 46 women - 23 white and 23 black - partnering to reach an estimated audience of over 300M on Instagram. The full roster revealed the magnitude of the campaign by way of its participants:

Organizers hoped the IG blitz would spark others to spread the hashtag, and the concept, by similarly arranging IG takeovers by black females. I’ve only just begun to scroll through the hashtag, posts and comments. I don’t know the metrics set or the impressions or pass-along goals a marketer or PR person might try to hang their hats on. I do know already — from a mere hour of scrolling and reading - that this hashtag has produced posts that will move you to tears. It’s generated stories that will make you think. It’s shouted calls to action that will compel action. It has shared books, resources, facts and figures that demand attention. It has the elements that start and change conversations. This is what powerful modern communications can and should look like. Bravo. #ShareTheMicNow