Revolution: From the Streets to Social Media
Social media has revolutionized the way we spread information. During a raging pandemic, platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook can be considered the safest and most effective outlet to make a statement about what you believe in. The simple act of sharing a post can be a means of educating oneself about today's political climate. It forces those who would otherwise ignore these issues in the physical world to pay attention. After all, how could you ignore something when it comprises your entire feed?
content warning: police brutality, violence
Social Media Activism and Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter is a social and political movement that protests against police brutality and racial violence against the black community. The fight for freedom and equality has been present since the first slave stepped foot on colonial soil, spanning centuries from the Maroon conflicts in the 1740s and the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Black Lives Matter is not traceable to a specific person or establishment, as it is a movement that comprises those of every race and status worldwide. Modern technology has affect the way protest functions, with information, images, and opinions spreading like wildfire online. This form of advocacy, labeled "social media activism," has contributed to the immense impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, but not without its repercussions.
In the 21st century, it has never been easier to learn about the world around us. A few clicks and you have an entire movement at your fingertips. Online activist groups play an important role in both bringing awareness and documenting the principles of Black Lives Matter. Instagram has since become a hub of information, with posts from advocacy groups, such as the one to the right from @impact, granting the opportunity to become better educated about the critical conversation that is happening. These compilations of information are often aimed towards those who misunderstand the message behind Black Lives Matter, as they refute common misconceptions surrounding the goals of the movement. These particular posts are important to the production of history because they mediate the legacy that is left by Black Lives Matter, which could be tainted by the negative portrayals and opinions regarding the protests and demonstrations. In other words, advocacy groups remind us what is truly being fought for amongst systemic opposition.
With the combination of over millions of users on Twitter and billions on Instagram and Facebook, social media platforms have become an essential tool for contemporary activism. In 1805, Marcus Rainsford, a British captain of the colonial territories, created drawings to document the racially-motivated use of canine violence against slaves, stating that "mere description conveys not with so much force as when accompanied by graphic illustrations." Words, although powerful, are not enough to conceptualize the brutality and injustices committed against the black community. Words in the form of social media posts are impersonal and forgettable; it is easy to scroll past them and easy to stay ignorant about things that don't affect you. Images, on the other hand, capture attention, incite outrage, and force those who are unaffected to come to terms with the harsh reality that is racism in America. Attorney and Commenter Van Jones encapsulates how modern technology has affected the recognition of Black Lives Matter in the Netflix film 13th:
"The difference now is where someone can hold up one of these [cell phones], get what’s going on, they can put it on YouTube, and the whole world has to deal with it. That’s what’s new. It’s not the protests. It’s not the brutality. It’s the fact that we can force a conversation about it."
Jones emphasizes the fact that although society's ideologies and discrimination haven't changed, police brutality is in the public eye. A wider audience can be reached when these injustices are uploaded online. The follow video from NBC, a moderately centrist news source, details the phenomenon of posting incriminating evidence of police officers online:
The video, which is composed of several instances of police brutality, embodies how the shock of images drives the public response. The compilation switches from the newscasters' own commentary, to audio from the original videos, and finally other news reports to display both how law enforcement responds to protests as well as the reaction that arise from these violent outbursts. NBC also touches upon the impact of the public's reaction as they take record of how numerous law enforcement agencies have responded to the behavior of their kind.
Additional racial disparities within the justice system have been brought to light during the simultaneous occurrences of Black Lives Matter protests and demonstrations by those who oppose masks and stay-at-home orders. Protestors against police brutality and advocates for equality were met with riot gear and tear gas, while those who opposed safety mandates for the pandemic were allowed to display riotous behavior while heavily armed. The caricature above, posted by user @realdhughly, epitomizes the hypocrisy of law enforcement. The picture depicts the differences between a fight for equality and a fight for luxury, and is geared towards those who fail to see how police officers respond differently to battles fought by different races.
Do online posts truly make a difference?
The world watched as police officer Derek Chauvin suffocated George Floyd for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. The heartbreaking words "I can't breathe" became a symbol of American police brutality. Video evidence of the murder quickly made its way into the newsroom and social media feeds, rightfully inciting outrage and sparking what is considered the biggest movement in America. A New York Times article provides details about polls that capture the size of protests, stating that "about 15 million to 26 million people in the United States have participated in demonstrations over the death of George Floyd and others." To give a point of comparison, the civil rights marches in the 1960s only had hundreds of thousands of people in attendance. When addressing what makes these protests different, the writers explain that Black Lives Matter (as an organization) provided the guidelines for new advocates, while activists had social media as a foothold to spread vital information to a large body of users.
Social media statistics serve as proof for the large increase in support for the Black Lives Matter movement. The figure to the left displays the difference in tweets that contain content related to the movement over the last six years, with tweets in 2020 skyrocketing. The number 390 million is presented in bold to emphasize the large involvement in the critical conversation. This particular graph, however, is limited when it comes to evaluating the impact of social media on personal opinion.
A common misconception surrounding social media activism is the extent to which it truly influences public opinion and incites change. Research demonstrates that the combination of educational posts, protests, and the impression made by the presence of Black Lives Matter on every social media feed has made a considerable impact on the perspectives of those who were not previously receptive to police brutality. The graph to the left, provided by Pew Research Center, details how contrasting groups have changed their opinions due to online content. The comparison between the years 2018 and 2020 illustrates how online activism surrounding Black Lives Matter has impacted social media users. What I found to be particularly surprising was the rise in change of perspective within the Republican and right-winged groups between the two years. The typical disagreement between the two political groups that we see play out in the media can lead you to believe that neither side is readily accepting of compromise or a shift in perspective, but these statistics prove that change is possible. The graph, however, doesn't indicate what type of change occurred, so it could be that the viewpoints of either side was altered negatively. Nevertheless, what we see online has a proven influence on how we perceive these issues and what we do about it.
Performative or Genuine: Going Beyond a Screen
Although social media has made a substantial contribution to the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, advocating for black lives isn't merely a trend or fad that blows over in a couple weeks. The fight continues until the system, one that is inherently prejudice and built upon a foundation of racial violence, grants equality and freedom to live without fear to those it has oppressed for centuries. However, with the increase of social media use to advocate for civil issues comes the pressure to make a statement. This could lead to insincere gestures, otherwise know as "performative activism," that increase one's social capital rather than dismantling systemic racism.
Posting about Black Lives Matter and other civil issues online can be a great way to reach a wider audience and draw attention to those who are unaffected, but it is not a sufficient substitute for active efforts to change the structure of racism in America. The cartoon to the left comments on "slacktivism" and how it may be ineffective to advocate strictly online. It is a critique in two ways. First, it views social media activism skeptically and echos a commonly held sentiment that petitions don't work. Second, the cartoonist points out a problem in the way that some don't take their activism beyond their feed. This is where the issue begins to become complicated, as those who have genuine intentions and enter the conversation online may not know what to do next.
There has yet to be a consensus reached on whether social media activism, specifically acts that are performative, are helpful or hindering to the movement. Some argue it is a good place to begin one's involvement with Black Lives Matter, while others view this kind of participation as "half-hearted." An article from NBC details the frustrations, as well as optimism, of activists and scholars surrounding this issue. It's overall purpose is to discuss what happens after George Floyd and how the work of Black Lives Matter must continue past its presence in the mainstream media. Professor Nadia Brown and activist Nupol Kiazolu both emphasize the importance of accountability in these situations, as well as the recognition that posting online is merely the first step. These sources serve as guidelines to those who are looking to do more to aid the fight against systemic racism, and therefore are significant to the development of Black Lives Matter as a mass movement.
A big point of critique came from the trend #blackouttuesday, which served as a way for online activists to show support for the movement. However, this backfired as vital updates and information about protests were blocked from view. The hashtag also gave rise to how celebrities and cooperations capitalize off of the showcasing of their support for Black Lives Matter. Although social media activism can lead to a wider involvement in the movement, as NBC suggests, there must be active efforts to incite change in order to overcome of performative activism. Vox ATL touches upon acts of performative activism as well as the ways in which you can support Black Lives Matter beyond the screen. Articles such as these become an important source for younger people of the generation who may be experiencing heavy issues like police brutality for the first time and are looking for ways to get involved. This information is especially helpful to those who recognize how they may have failed to go beyond the limitations of social media activism. See the full list here.
Inciting Violence on Social Media: When to Put the Phone Down
Donald Trump has largely remained silent surrounding deaths in the black community that involve police officers. However, he took to Twitter to respond to Black Lives Matter protests in a manner that promoted violence and reinforced the barbaric actions on behalf of riot officers and white supremacists. The former president is known to be extremely public about his opinions, and social media has only amplified his voice. His account and tweets are an excellent example of the drastic effect that social media can have on the attitudes and actions of the public. There is a certain level of responsibility that comes with using these platforms, especially if one is a person in power. Trump's tweets not only heightened racial tension throughout his presidency, but incited aggressive behavior and violence on multiple occasions, including the storming of the U.S. Capitol. Twitter, as well as several other platforms, have since rightfully suspended Trump's accounts. There was a debate amongst media outlets surrounding the suspension, but social media platforms are ultimately run by private companies and may ban users that violate their policies. Trump's social media blackout may seem like wrongful silencing or violation of free speech to some, however, the civil rights and lives of Americans are at stake.
Reflection
I chose to curate the historical moment around social media because so much of our lives are online. After the tragic death of George Floyd, many took to social media platforms to express their heartbreak. For some, including myself, the internet was a starting point for a new journey of activism. Most would go beyond the screen to protest in the streets, donate to organizations, and sign petitions. For others, the activism ended on their feed. In the coming months, there would be less posts aiming to educate and more made towards those who had partaken in performative gestures. Whether or not we like to admit it, we project a a specific image of ourselves on the Internet and we, in turn, are affected by that of others. The pressure to join on a conversation that is happening all around you is certainly there, but posting serves no purpose if it lacks the intent to bring change. This is something that I myself needed to address, as I became worried that I wasn't doing enough as an ally. Writing this post has helped me see how we can incite real, structural change beyond reaching out to people online. What surprised me was the extent to which these platforms can change opinions, garner more involvement, and hold people accountable. Revisiting as well as making history is about addressing the ways in which we have failed to listen to and include the perspectives of people who have suffered at the hands of its protagonists. Analyzing history has shown me the way that we have failed in the past, but has made me hopeful for a future in which silenced voices are made loud. I have since gained a newfound appreciation for the practice of making and analyzing history. It is crucial to have uncomfortable conversations, make an effort to educate oneself, and listen to black voices. What has happened online and in the streets, made for the whole world to see, is only a rendition of a continuous fight.