Justin Bieber admits he's benefited from Black culture, vows to fight racial injustice

Justin Bieber is joining the growing number of celebrities using their social media platforms to be allies to the Black community in the wake of recent anti-racism protests. The “Changes” singer took to Instagram and Twitter over the weekend vowing to help fight inequality and systemic racism after admitting that he's "benefited off of Black culture."“My style, how I sing, dance, perform, and my fashion have all been influenced and inspired by black culture," he wrote on June 7. "I am committed to using my platform from this day forward to learn, to speak up about racial injustice and systemic oppression, and to identify ways to be a part of much needed change.”

 

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A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on Jun 6, 2020 at 2:53pm PDT

Over the past couple of weeks, Bieber has populated his Instagram and Twitter feeds with links to resources and petitions as well as memes, photos and quotes dedicated to the important Black Lives Matter movement. This past weekend, he also shared a post to celebrate what would have been the late Breonna Taylor’s birthday, encouraging his fans to sign the petition to seek justice in her case that would see the police officers involved in her killing charged, and to donate to her family.

 

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JUSTICE, JUSTICE, JUSTICE

A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on Jun 1, 2020 at 3:27pm PDT

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” Bieber wrote on May 28, quoting Martin Luther King Jr., three days after the killing of George Floyd by white police officers in Minnesota. “All lives do not matter until black lives matter,” he added on June 2.[video_embed id='1972001']RELATED: Selena Gomez having Black leaders take over her Instagram[/video_embed]When Bieber was 13 years old he was famously mentored by Usher, and growing up he idolized groups like Boys II Men and musicians like Stevie Wonder, but he’s had a number of racial missteps along the way: when he was 14 years old he swapped out the word “girl” for the N-word during a performance of “One Less Lonely Girl,” prompting Usher to speak out after footage was leaked years later. “I can say I’m not happy with all the choices my friend has made, but I’m supportive of him,” he told Billboard in 2014. “He’s making his own decisions and it’s important to show support.”Last December, Bieber apologized again for that past behaviour in another public post, condemning racism in all forms. “When I was young I was uneducated and found myself saying really hurtful things not knowing the power of my words,” he wrote on Instagram. “Racism Is still very prevalent and I want to use my voice to remind we are all human being and all of EQUAL VALUE BEFORE GOD!”The “Sorry” singer has been using his platform to call out police brutality and support the anti-Black racism movement recently. A couple of weeks before Floyd’s killing, Bieber posted about another Black man who lost his life after a racially-charged incident, Ahmaud Arbery. “Praying for the family mourning the loss of Ahmaud Arbery. Also praying for justice!” Bieber posted on May 6 along with a picture of Arbery, who was gunned down by a father and son in Georgia while he was out for a jog.Bieber is one of many celebrities adding their voices to the current fight for social justice, joining personalities like John Boyega, Lady Gaga, Beyonce ,Selena Gomez, and Riverdale stars Lili Reinhart, and Cole Sprouse, who have either attended rallies and/or spoken out at length on Black Lives Matter on social media, amplifying Black voices.[video_embed id='1972310']RELATED: Spike Lee is 'optimistic' about the current Black Lives Matter movement for this reason[/video_embed]