Showing her appreciation and advocating for education!

Selena Gomez Thanks "Inspiring" Black Leaders Who Took Over Her Instagram

A couple weeks ago, Selena Gomez gave her Instagram account to leaders in the Black community. Here's what she said about the experience once she logged in again herself!

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Selena Gomez is back on Instagram after letting influential Black leaders run her account for the past two weeks!

As People shares, Gomez passed her platform to 12 different voices in the Black community, allowing them the opportunity to educate and inform her 180 million followers. And on Thursday, she made a long Instagram post about having done so!

Gomez talks about the importance of education on systemic racism

Gomez began her lengthy post by thanking those who took over her account. "I want to thank all of the amazing people that took the time to speak to us directly," she said. "I am blown away with your knowledge, eagerness to teach and commitment to ensuring Black voices are not silenced."

"Educating ourselves is the first step if we hope to make any progress in bringing an end to systemic racism. As much as one might want to believe things have gotten better we cannot deny any longer that they have not."

Gomez went on to express the importance of recognizing systemic racism. "We need to acknowledge that social, political and economic discrimination against Black communities continues to exist," she said. "There is a deep pain that needs to be healed. Unless this is recognized history will continue to repeat itself over and over."

Gomez turned Instagram platform over to artists and activists

Gomez made the announcement on Instagram on June 4 that she would be turning her Instagram over to the Black community for some time. "After thinking about how best to use my social media, I decided that we all need to hear more from Black voices," she said.

People mentions that since then, Gomez's account has hosted the likes of many influential voices in the Black community. Black Lives Matter co-creator Alicia Garza, author Jelani Cobb, civil rights advocate Kimberlé Crenshaw, professor Sarah Elizabeth Lewis, and author Ibram X. Kendi were the first to take over her Instagram.

They were followed by activist and rapper Michael Render (aka Killer Mike), Working Families director of strategy, Nelini Stamp, actor and activist Kendrick Sampson, writer Raquel Willis, civil rights activist Ruby Bridges, activist Brittany Packnett Cunningham, and finally, politician Stacey Abrams.

Gomez urges followers to be aware of importance of Juneteenth

Gomez also encouraged her Instagram followers to educate themselves about Juneteenth, the June 19 holiday celebrating the official end of slavery in the United States— which came two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

Gomez requested that in honour of Juneteenth, people "take the day to have conversations with your family and friends about the importance of Black Lives Matter and how we all need to join together to ensure equality and justice."

Gomez on sharing her own platform: "This is just the beginning"

Gomez acknowledged her own privilege in the powerful post as well. "It's not lost on me how fortunate I am to have this platform and appreciate you all for taking the time to watch, listen and take in the powerful messages and information we've been provided over the last two weeks by some of the most inspiring people I've come across in my life," she said.

"If you missed any of these incredible IG stories they are all saved in my Story Highlights under #BLM and #BLM2," Gomez shared in conclusion. "This is just the beginning and we will continue to hear from other Black voices and as well as other marginalized communities I am committed to doing the work and I hope you join me."