'Check your privilege': The anti-racism challenge that's going viral

It all started with a video posted by internet user @boss_bigmamma on TikTok. In the video you can see her sitting in her car holding her ten fingers up while someone asks her:

• Put a finger down if you have been called a racial slur.
• Put a finger down if you've been followed in a store unnecessarily.
• Put a finger down if someone has crossed the street to avoid passing you.
• Put a finger down if you've had someone clench their purse in an elevator with you.
• Put a finger down if you've had someone step off an elevator to keep from riding with you.
• Put a finger down if you've been accused of not being able to afford something expensive.
• Put a finger down if you have had fear in your heart when being stopped by the police.
• Put a finger down if you have never been given a pass on a citation that you deserved.
• Put a finger down if you've been stopped or detained by police for no valid reason.
• Put a finger down if you have been bullied solely because of your race.
• Put a finger down if you have been denied service solely because of the color of your skin.
• Put a finger down if you have ever had to teach your child how not to get killed by the police.

The 'voice' spells out a whole list of examples of discrimination and @boss_bigmamma puts a finger down for each one she's experienced. And from the looks of it, she's experienced all of them. The caption of her TikTok post reads:

How many willing to do this? All races. Privilege isn't all about money.

Those who don't put their fingers down

Many users of all skin colours followed suit and posted their videos on the social network. As you can see, some people aren't putting their fingers down. Who exactly? White people. They decided to participate in the challenge to show that there really is such a thing as white privilege. Some of the most telling videos were posted by mixed couples like Buffie Purselle and her husband.

Of course, these videos carry a lot more weight now that the United States is going through tense times following the death of George Floyd, an African American who died during his arrest by a white police officer.

Huge protests have been taking place around the world for several days in tribute to George Floyd but also to Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and all the other victims of police brutality. Several celebrities also took part in these protests such as Omar Sy, who marched in Los Angeles.