Black ‘Alors on Danse’ TikTok creators not given identical alternatives as white counterparts

White creators of the popular app receive more awards and opportunities than black people

The black creators of the TikTok viral dance “Alors on Danse” last summer say they haven’t got the same level of recognition as their white counterparts.

Usim Mang created the dance and video, set to a remix of 2010 Stromae Song that has received more than 150 million views and is growing. It has since been shared by more popular TikTok users – many of whom didn’t credit Mang or the other dancers – all black – by tagging them on the videos, Insider said.

Additionally, TikTok has not verified the creators of the video; As with Twitter, verification is a seal of authenticity that confirms that someone else is not pretending to be the original creator.

The viral nature of TikTok videos makes it attractive to other forms of media, including late night TV. White teenager Haley Sharpe created a viral dance too Doja cat ‘s “Say So” in 2020 and since appearing in various shows has over 3 million TikTok followers, a clothing line, a verified account and was invited by Doja Cat himself to appear in a music video.

The TikTok logo will be displayed outside a TikTok office on August 27, 2020 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Mario Tama / Getty Images)

“The opportunities these artists or creators are given are really life changing.” Akua SackeyShe, one of the dancers in the video, told Insider.

Mang has tried in vain to get the media to cover his dance.

“We’ve proven time and time again that black creators can’t get credit,” Sackey, one of the dancers in the video, told Insider. “And people just don’t care about black creators.”

In June, the makers of Black TikTok went on strike by deciding not to publish their choreography Megan Thee stallion theGrio previously reported new song “Thot Sh–” after all credit for viral dance routines was given to white creators.

“We have observed over the years at TikTok that most of the dances in the app are by black creators. And creators who are not black will water it down to do the bare bones of the dance and claim it as their own. Jazmine Moore, a 20-year-old TikTokker, told Mashable.

The story goes on

As with many viral memes, identifying the original creator and giving due credit can be difficult, but TikTok has the ability to locate the creators through verification.

“White creators are trying to figure out like, ‘I didn’t know the dance maker’ – well, find out,” TikToker said Aaron Canthoop, which can also be seen in the “Alors” video, to insiders. “It’s literally easy,” he added. “I think some YouTubers think they’re too big to do that, but it’s important for YouTubers, especially when they’re trying to grow.”

As is so often the case, famous whites who co-opt or use the intellectual content of black creators do not credit them. This was the case when Addison Rae, one of TikTok’s most followed personalities, was stalled earlier this year for performing black dances on the Jimmy Fallon Show without offering credit.

The same with Charli D’Amelio who also performed on Fallon to dance a dance created by Black Teen Jalaiah Harmon. D’Amelio used her TikTok fame on a Hulu reality show.

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