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A woman, known only as Lady Stoneheart (@hayden1222) on Twitter, shared a video of her White, gay son performing "with his majority-Black-school's west African drum and dance group tonight as part of their #BlackHistoryMonth performance," which has gained an unexpected amount of support from the internet.
The video, shown here...
...shows Declan, the woman's son, dancing with the group with all the hairography that is functionally allowed by his head of blonde hair.
That’s him on the left in front with all the hair ❤️— Lady Stoneheart (@Lady Stoneheart) 1582167321.0
But many of the views and positive support came when another Twitter user, K, reshared her post after noting an exchange between Lady Stoneheart and another mom on the video, remarking, "I love Black women."
Black lady: What’s yo baby name? Mother: Declan Black lady: COME ON DECLAN!!! Mcmcmxmfmfmfmfmfm I love black wom… https://t.co/ZUTTYSjuDs— vaccine waters (@vaccine waters) 1582243850.0
K noted you could hear a woman ask the mom:
"What's yo baby name?"
Lady Stoneheart answers:
"Declan."
The other woman then yells at the stage:
"C'MON, DECLAN!"
@sirK88 @brookandthecity “He betta get it!” Black women are the best!!!— T.Mo the Great 👑 🏁 (@T.Mo the Great 👑 🏁) 1582250911.0
@sirK88 @brookandthecity “COME ON DECLAN” HAS NOW BEEN ADOPTED INTO VOCABULARY! Ima say it whenever I’m happy— iMANi ROSE💋 (@iMANi ROSE💋) 1582252296.0
@sirK88 Black women are such magical people.— AstraZ Auntie (@AstraZ Auntie) 1582257873.0
@sirK88 That baby aint have to eat that dance up like that! 🗣Come on Declan!!!!— Wade Official👑 (@Wade Official👑) 1582261695.0
The mom, whose name is Christi and uses "hayden1222" on both Instagram and Twitter, describes herself as a "Crazy. Southern. Liberal."
According to her Instagram, she has two boys, Declan and Simon.
Declan, pictured in the video, is a sixth grader.
Though not everybody was thrilled to see a White person in the school's African dance group.
People brought up the idea that Declan was made a part of that celebration by his classmates and fellow dancers, rather than commandeering the celebration as his own.
@song4jjong @hayden1222 No baby. It's cultural exchange. He is respectfully learning and engaging in African cultur… https://t.co/VOfxBogCOe— A Masculine Queen (@A Masculine Queen) 1582290008.0
@song4jjong @hayden1222 How is it disrespectful? He’s celebrating African culture and he’s enjoying himself and him… https://t.co/hFB1CGffmF— 🧚🏽♀️✨ (@🧚🏽♀️✨) 1582325908.0
@hayden1222 Ok today's not over but this is the best thing I'm going to read today. Be. Like. Declan.— Twits McGee👡💄💍 (@Twits McGee👡💄💍) 1582249343.0
@hayden1222 Black people is the nicest people on Earth— Phenom (@Phenom) 1582251320.0
People were also loving the show of solidarity and the celebration by everybody in the room.
@hayden1222 Screaming @ “what’s your baby name? Declan? COME ON DECLAN!!!!” Black parents at school events >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>— Blanche Deckaheaux (@Blanche Deckaheaux) 1582234694.0
@hayden1222 I’m adopting ‘come on Declan’ as a generic encouragement for all of my non problematic white friends this year— Alpha Dynamo (@Alpha Dynamo) 1582261868.0
@hayden1222 This made me cry!!! That “come on, Declan!!” Got me!!! I’m glad the drum & dance group accepted him as he is. ❤️— Thunderlicious (@Thunderlicious) 1582244865.0
@hayden1222 Declan tore it up! 💃🏽🕺🏾💃🏽🕺🏾— Chanel Does Nails💅🏽 (@Chanel Does Nails💅🏽) 1582292621.0
Celebrating marginalized cultures with those cultures and supporting each other—these are the things that really touch the hearts of all of us.