I am both frightened about the world we live in, and hopeful for the future. With the recent numerous deaths of young black people by the police, I have seen the divide the is still so present in America.
I am seeing the power of subtle racism, and while this terrifies me, I am seeing the power of the internet to unite people and create a large and powerful movement.
I have spent enough energy expressing my heartache about the unnecessary deaths of black people on other social media platforms, so I will focus on the positive.
I often hear the argument that if you want to make a difference, you should get offline and go actually do something about it. While I agree to a certain extent, I have to disagree in this case.
I heard about the death of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri from tumblr. I saw firsthand videos of the protests and what the police there were doing in violation of human rights. I sat shocked behind my computer screen as pictures, videos, tweets, and blog posts flew in.
This was before any of the mainstream news stations had reported anything, and by the time they did, the info was out of date or completely different from what I was seeing.
I was already distrustful of mainstream media (despite being a journalism student) but this solidified my feelings.
When I tried to explain to my white friends why this death had stirred the black community, and many other minority groups, I felt like I was talking to a wall. They didn't understand a reality where you feel fearful about the arrival of police.
Then the hashtags #CrimingWhileWhite and #AliveWhileBlack cropped up on Twitter. The juxtaposition of white people admitting to getting away with crimes because they were given a break from the police, and black people getting stopped and arressted or harrassed (often at a very young age) for nothing except a racist suspicion by the police that they might be up to something was just what I needed to show my friends.
At times I grow weary of the internet, and how it's shaped society. However, my heart was warmed by tweets I saw from protesters in Gaza. While in the middle of their own struggle, they took the time to tweet out advice to protesters in Ferguson about how to stay safe, avoid tear gas, and what to do if they get injured. The solidarity from various minority communities across the world was astonishing. And posting it on social media brought attention and support to a story that is unfortunately all too common in the United States.
I learned that the internet is a powerful tool, and that the people are much stronger than their oppressors if they remain united.
I am seeing the power of subtle racism, and while this terrifies me, I am seeing the power of the internet to unite people and create a large and powerful movement.
I have spent enough energy expressing my heartache about the unnecessary deaths of black people on other social media platforms, so I will focus on the positive.
I often hear the argument that if you want to make a difference, you should get offline and go actually do something about it. While I agree to a certain extent, I have to disagree in this case.
I heard about the death of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri from tumblr. I saw firsthand videos of the protests and what the police there were doing in violation of human rights. I sat shocked behind my computer screen as pictures, videos, tweets, and blog posts flew in.
This was before any of the mainstream news stations had reported anything, and by the time they did, the info was out of date or completely different from what I was seeing.
I was already distrustful of mainstream media (despite being a journalism student) but this solidified my feelings.
When I tried to explain to my white friends why this death had stirred the black community, and many other minority groups, I felt like I was talking to a wall. They didn't understand a reality where you feel fearful about the arrival of police.
Then the hashtags #CrimingWhileWhite and #AliveWhileBlack cropped up on Twitter. The juxtaposition of white people admitting to getting away with crimes because they were given a break from the police, and black people getting stopped and arressted or harrassed (often at a very young age) for nothing except a racist suspicion by the police that they might be up to something was just what I needed to show my friends.
At times I grow weary of the internet, and how it's shaped society. However, my heart was warmed by tweets I saw from protesters in Gaza. While in the middle of their own struggle, they took the time to tweet out advice to protesters in Ferguson about how to stay safe, avoid tear gas, and what to do if they get injured. The solidarity from various minority communities across the world was astonishing. And posting it on social media brought attention and support to a story that is unfortunately all too common in the United States.
I learned that the internet is a powerful tool, and that the people are much stronger than their oppressors if they remain united.