What is virtual signaling?
Right now, people are seeking to follow the “right” people; those educated and passionate about anti-racist rhetoric. During tough times, we often look towards someone or something to tell us what to think or do next. Some turn towards celebrities who appear to care about what’s going on outside the bubble of their own success. However, I have noticed many turning to Black activists of the past such as Malcom X, Fred Hampton, John Lewis, Angela Davis, and others. Many are using these figures to bring up feelings of inspiration, but performative activism tends to use these figures as ornaments to highlight avenues for virtue signaling.
Virtue signaling is defined as the practice of publicly expressing opinions intended to demonstrate the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue. Virtue signaling is likely not backed up by real action and is used when folks seek confirmation of superiority over others who share similar views, while passively condemning those who don’t. Boosting the words of public figures without applying any of their rhetoric into one’s daily routine is a gesture lacking in real world connection.
People who are seeking “wokeness” are more likely to virtue signal. The term woke has been around for a long time, specifically dating back to the 1940s. However, the term and the ideology itself has the tendency to set itself ablaze during moments of social unrest. There is a difference between being “woke” and being socially conscious. Being “woke” implies that at one point, one was asleep— blissfully unaware of the depths of issues they had only heard about in passing. Social consciousness emerges with age between the periods of childhood to young adulthood. Social consciousness is recognizing the world from your perspective. It does not necessitate understanding the complexities of lives that may not interact with your own. But depending on how large your scope of your world is, it might.
Due to the Minneapolis Riots in June, many people found themselves doing a lot more reading. Instagram was and still is covered in infographics detailing information on the many intersections of the causes of the occurring frenzy. Many types of public figures were giving to the movement as well, whether that be through donations or by joining protests. Amidst the constant quoting and recognition of celebrity work, celebrity activist Angela Davis emerged and joined the California streets in protest. People have been emboldened by the reminder of her existence. As a former associate of the Black Panther Party and a long time advocate of communism, the celebration of her words from decades ago are very much in line with the ideas that are circling today.
Angela Davis’s re-emergence during the nationwide protests has been incredibly important. Her presence was another needed reminder of how history is much closer to the present day than we think. However, Davis’s re-emergence has also led to her words and her very being to be subject to virtue signaling. People are taking her words as that of a godly figure, overlooking the fact that despite her wisdom, she is still human. This is a reminder that no one else can serve as the all-seeing eye for humanity when they are human as well.
Where my concerns for the glorification and use of Angela Davis lie is mostly in the prospect of moving forward. Her celebrity status is not what makes her words true, it’s her longtime standing of political influence. Angela Davis is a powerful voice to listen to and take with you, however, it must be stressed that studying her work and the work of other revolutionaries is more application rather than absorption. Application involves yourself as a critical reader and an educator. Putting in the work further validates your power as an individual. Wouldn’t Angela Davis want you put in the work yourself anyways? Placing too much energy into using her existence for virtue signaling absolves individual responsibility in actively pushing ideas we claim to support.
People rise to acknowledgement for a reason. There is no problem in admiring those in the public eye, especially those who have consistently pushed forward ideas that we are still working towards. It is beneficial to cherish the good that they bring. However, we must put in the difficult work rather than simply reposting an Angela Davis or MLK quote to virtue signal our beliefs. We can do better than that.
