Lifestyle2 min(s) read
Published 16:21 29 Oct 2020 GMT
Social media has given people from every background a platform to affect a real and positive change in the world.
Two people who are doing this spectacularly are Court and Lex, a Black and lesbian couple who have amassed a considerable following on Instagram and TikTok.
Court and Lex share content around their daily lives and how they experience the world as members of a marginalized group.
To put the experience of LGBTQ+ people of color into context, Stonewall reported that 51% have experienced discrimination within the queer community, let alone outside of it.
Hailing from Atlanta, Court and Lex are happily married parents to three children, who share content "to make you laugh and hopefully inspire you to be your whole self unapologetically!"
This Black History Month, VT spoke to Court and Lex about the challenges they face being both Black and as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
They said that the biggest challenge they have faced is finding a place to be seen and heard, and this goes beyond the world of social media.
"Whether it be in everyday life, the workplace, politics, or even social media platforms, it feels as though our words and our creativity are always being suppressed," they said.
"We have to be louder, brighter, and more determined than our oppressor, and this can really drain our energy if we let it."
They explained that as lesbian Black women, they can feel very lonely, and this can be a problem when they find the courage to speak up for themselves.
However, despite the challenges they face, they believe that they have "one of the most powerful positions in the world".
In the video below, Court and Lex celebrate their first year of marriage:
[[tiktokwidget||https://www.tiktok.com/@court.lex/video/6844640614869519621]]
When asked about their reactions to the Black Lives Matter protests that ignited over the summer, the couple said that they joined them without hesitation to let their voices be heard.
"We were so proud of our community and our allies for the way that they stood up and spoke out," Court and Lex said.
"We rallied outside, chanting and waving our signs, and it just felt peaceful. It was a beautiful sight and we're so grateful to be able to participate and be a part of something as monumental as this.
"The marches were very necessary because WE as a people are tired and we're ready for a change."
Black History Month means a lot to the couple, and while they are glad that there is a month set aside to honor their ancestors, they are still all too aware of the immeasurable adversity Black people have faced.
"It will never be enough to make up for everything that Black people have lost throughout history and the oppression that is still felt in today's society," they said.
Court and Lex say that "Black history should extend beyond one month" because Black history is present in all history.
On that note, Court and Lex said that they don't feel the need to celebrate Black History Month with their children because they teach Black history every day.
"When we march, our kids march with us. When we protest, they have their own picket signs," they said. "We explain the current events to them as they're happening and teach them about their ancestors. We teach them about how society is and why things are the way they are.
"When our kids ask questions now, we have answers for them in real-time because, as people of color, they don't just experience being POC for one month, it's their whole lives."
Court and Lex emphasized the importance of finally recognizing both Black and LGBTQ + individuals throughout history.
"You cannot exclude people from history based upon their sexual preference," Court and Lex said.
They cited a number of LGBTQ+ and Black individuals who have fought against oppression: Bayard Rustin, Barbara Jordan, and the founder of Pride, Marsha P. Johnson.
"They stood up to make a change, knowing that they could be a bigger target due to their sexual preference," Court and Lex said. "If that isn't something to be recognized, we don't know what is!
Check out one of Court and Lex's most popular TikToks below:
[[tiktokwidget||https://www.tiktok.com/@court.lex/video/6844150936105946374]]
As members of a marginalized group, Court and Lex want to use their social media platform for good and hope that their followers are encouraged to unapologetically be themselves.
"Don't let anyone put you into a box or tell you what you can and can't do," they said.
The couple are of the belief that self-love and self-acceptance are the keys to happiness and that "no one can tear you down if you love yourself first."
"We want our followers to see how we speak up for them and for ourselves," they said. "We hope that they can do the same because their voices matter!"
Court and Lex also had advice for white people who want to show solidarity with people of color, explaining that the best thing they can do is continue to break the silence around racism.
"If you see something, say something," they said.
"Continue to stand up to your family members, friends, colleagues. As Martin Luther King Jr. said: 'There is a time when silence becomes betrayal'.
"[These] words are more powerful than [you] know, and for the white people that do speak up, we appreciate you!"
