Anyone who has a voice that can sway opinions is valuable right now. A sad, sorry fact of life is that white folks dismiss any minority fighting for a cause that has a race component that doesn't affect them. As soon as they hear "it's because I'm black" they not only tune out, they become hostile toward the message. The only thing that convinces SOME of them is first hand personal experience or undeniable proof such as a video. To acknowledge a certain type of evil exists might put them in the position of having to do something, and most don't want that responsibility.
The other thing that convinces them, is having someone champion a cause who doesn't have any skin in the game, meaning another white person. That is why we say white folks need to talk to their own people. They immediately shut down hearing it from the minority affected. They also are getting to the point that they shut down hearing from known whites activists, chaulk up their involvement to white guilt, and activists and minorities wanting them to carry it. Em will be effective, short term anyway, because he is the hero and poster child of angry white guys. It came out of the blue, and therefore has some shock value. This is even getting coverage in other countries, thanks to social media.
I'm not saying to kiss Em's ass, but his actions were effective, is keeping the discussion alive for another week, the narrative is this time being driven by someone on "our side", and is overriding that BS narrative Pence was able to get in the headlines last week. So what's the problem?