"Our future activism is born from relationships."

White Irish influencers are handing over their Instagram accounts to women of colour today in the first of Ireland's #ShareTheMicNow campaigns. The event encourages the amplification of black voices on social media, allowing women of colour to share their stories, experiences, and work to audiences of millions. Model Fionnghuala O'Reilly, DJ, Mona Lxsa, activist Amanda Ade, and dancer Ruth Charles are among those taking over the accounts of Marissa Carter, Rosie Connolly, Courtney Smith, and others to discuss their experiences being women of colour in Ireland and chat about what we need to do to keep the anti-racism momentum going. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBa6Akvhnz6/ Started in the US by Bozoma Saint John, authors Luvvie Ajayi Jones and Glennon Doyle, and fashion designer Stacey Bendet, #ShareTheMicNow is a direct response to the suppression of black voices and the experience of black women. The campaign, organisers say, has four stated goals: “To form a social media campaign that magnifies black women’s lives and stories. To form relationships among black women and white women, so that our future activism is born from relationships. To create a network of disruptors who know and trust each other. To create action that could make change.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CBEPGXPDXrb/ Last week, #ShareTheMicNow kicked off in the States, as white celebrities including Julia Roberts, Hilary Swank, and Gwyneth Paltrow handed over their accounts to allow people of colour to speak. 46 black women took over the accounts of 46 white women with considerable followings for the first #ShareTheMicNow on June 10. Organisers predicted that the total audience reach for the first event would be 300 million. Fashion and beauty editor Kahlana Barfield Brown took over Roberts' account while actor and transgender activist Angelica Ross worked with Swank. Mama Glow founder Latham Thomas took over Paltrow's account, and Saint John worked with Kourtney Kardashian. You can follow today's campaign by checking out the #ShareTheMicNow hashtag on Instagram.