Digital artist Rames Harikrishnasamy has come under fire for an insensitive post on Black Lives Matter.
In an Instagram post depicting a statue of the Goddess Durga, a lion and a black dog, Rames tells a story about a lion, the pet of Goddess Durga who stumbles upon a black dog who was lamenting its blackness.
Rames ends his post by correlating this story with the Black Lives Matter movement. It is an international human rights movement, originating in the African-American community in the United States of America, that campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people.
“Why did You made me black Maa?! Why?? Everyone just hates me because I am black! But I didn’t do anything. I don’t even have any friends because of my look. Every time I walk around the neighbourhood, people chased me away”
People from around the world have taken to his comments to express their dissatisfaction with the distasteful comparison, including African Americans themselves.
Rames, however, appears unfettered by these messages and chalks it up to a difference in opinion, reinforcing that he has no control over how people perceive his work.
The sheer number of positive comments on the post are part a worrying trend that most of these individuals have no comprehension of the term Black Lives Matter.
Many of those calling Rames out for this post have reinforced that they understand his intention was to mean no harm, but they are concerned that his insensitivity in keeping the post up is very inappropriate.
The Varnam team stands with those who have called Rames out. Equating the laments of a black dog to the Black Lives Matter movement, one birthed to decimate systemic racial oppression of African Americans isn’t just wrong, it is downright insulting.
Feature image credit: Rames Harikrishnasamy
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