Black TikTok creators are on strike, and here’s why

Ama Nunoo June 25, 2021
Megan Thee Stallion has cemented her name on and off the app mostly due to her danceable tunes. Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Black creators are taking a bold stance to boycott TikTok for not being credited and appropriately renumerated for their works. This issue has been on the table since the video app gave creative licenses to its users.

From the point of view of Black creators, White creators are given more credit for appropriating the works of Black creators without giving much credit to the Black creators that started the trend in question.

To buttress their point, Black TikTok creators have decided not to create any choreography for Megan Thee Stallion’s “Thot Sh*t”, and in their absence, White TikTokers have come up with weak dances.

Viral TikTok dance moves always erupt from the catchy beats dropped by rappers, and if there is one artiste that has benefited from this trend, Hot girl Summer’s Megan Thee Stallion is one to name, from “Savage”, “Captain Hook” to “Body.”

She has cemented her name on and off the app mostly due to her danceable tunes but this time, she may be caught in the crosshairs since the usual originators of the dope dance routines have tossed out their dancing shoes until they are recognized for their talent and work.

Black creator Erick Louis (@theericklouis) took to TikTok over the weekend “to let the world know he made a dance to Megan’s latest single,” per INSIDER.

It got the needed attention. Even though he is only seen bopping to the song, his intended message was written in the text.

“Sike. This app would be nothing without [Black] people.”

White creators have yet again ripped off the dance and not credited Louis. The White creators believed the boycott video was a new dance trend.

In March, TikTok star Addison Rae made an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” and performed several TikTok dances, mostly created by Black dancers without giving any of them the credit.

He was heavily criticized. As a result, he invited Black creators via Zoom on the show.

Last Edited by:Mildred Europa Taylor Updated: June 25, 2021

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