Justin Bieber, a Canadian singer has acknowledged that his music career has been shaped by black culture.
In a note penned on Instagram, the pop star stated that he has used black culture as an inspiration for his work; and succeeded because of it.
He also pledged to use his privilege as a white celebrity to engage in work against racism.
“I am inspired by black culture. I have benefited off of black culture,” Bieber wrote on Saturday. “My style, how I sing, dance, perform, and my fashion have all been influenced and inspired by black culture.”
“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,” he said.
Bieber speaks against racism
This week, Bieber’s Instagram feed — like those of many other artists — has been focused on speaking out against racism.
“No lives matter until black lives matter,” he said on May 28.
“Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice,” he wrote the next day.
On May 31, he shared a graphic in reaction to the police officers involved in George Floyd’s death: “They’d rather let the nation burn than arrest 3 of their own…let that sink in.” On June 1, he posted one that said, “”Dear non black friends…. I’m paying attention to your silence” and another pointing out, ”It is not enough to be quietly non-racist. Now is the time to be vocally anti-racist.”
George Floyd, a black American, died on May 25, after being pinned down by the neck for nearly nine minutes by Derek Chauvin, a Minnesota police officer, during an arrest.
Justin Bieber who also took part in Black Out Tuesday, encouraged followers to vote and take action; and paid tribute to Breonna Taylor over the past few days.
Read Bieber’s latest post below.