The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (or on Facebook for that matter)… it will be Tweeted!
Talk with your kids about #Ferguson http://t.co/QNlR1wdaob #parenting pic.twitter.com/yf4ccRPjIY
— Bruce Reyes-Chow 🗽 🐑🤎 (@breyeschow) August 20, 2014
If anything has been made clear by what is going on in Ferguson, Missouri, it is that we as a nation are still struggling with race… Yes, even with a black president.
We need to talk about #Ferguson, because we need to make sure that the unarmed killing of a black youth doesn’t happen again. We need to talk about #Ferguson because we need to ensure that innocent citizens are not tear gassed and shot at with rubber bullets when they choose to exercise their right to protest their government. We need to talk about race. We need to talk about policing. We need to talk about the prison industrial complex. We need to talk about the war on drugs. We need to talk about it.
Unfortunately, it seems we still have some pretty major problems in starting these important conversation… especially where they concern race.
Thankfully, there is Twitter.
If it were not for Twitter, or I should say Black Twitter, the major networks might just be presenting this drama as if it were just another unfortunate death of a black youth as a result of “poor choices”. In other words, “move along… nothing to see here.”
But there is a LOT to see here, and thankfully, it’s been on full display on Twitter. In fact, there is a direct correlation between the uptick in the #Ferguson hashtag occurred after white journalists there to cover the scene were arrested.
There have been over 7.8 million tweets mentioning #Ferguson since Aug. 9, per Twitter data. http://t.co/AW8TPFU1LM pic.twitter.com/ZB3jf9Rqvi
— Elana Zak (@elanazak) August 18, 2014
You can criticize Twitter all you want, (and rightfully so where Kim Kardashian and Justin Beeber are concerned…). Nonetheless, it is hard to say that #Ferguson would be getting the type of attention it has if it were not for the folks tweeting the disconnect between what they are seeing on the ground in conjunction in the media.
Saw this #true stmt written on sidewalk early in #Ferguson Revolution. Couldn't find pic of it, so here's my version: pic.twitter.com/YjfxqHfxJH
— Constance Banks (@YouHavePurpose) August 23, 2014
Whether or not you are talking about Ferguson has a lot to do with your race and social status
I used to coach a high school debate team. One of the most powerful lessons I learned was the concept of “Silence equals Consent”. As a debater, if you are attacked by your opponent, and you do not address these attacks, no matter how irrelevant or illogical the point, it is counted against you by the judges. Each point successfully argued constitutes a point gained. Whether you like it or not, NOT DISCUSSING Ferguson, doesn’t make it go away; it reinforces the likelihood that it will happen again.
MT @QUBQStep: For context on race relations re: #Ferguson, this @pewresearch graph http://t.co/9ARmLDeGZW pic.twitter.com/A89EH5V5SC
— Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) August 20, 2014
I asked my (white) friend why white people seem to not really care about the mike brown thing. He said this: pic.twitter.com/apwGvC3HSB
— My name is pronounced Kay-Less. (@Namastekah) August 18, 2014
A half hour from #Ferguson, the Edwardsville school district has banned teachers from talking about the events there http://t.co/ddxQj8q65v
— Elizabeth Nolan Brown (@ENBrown) August 22, 2014
What an encounter with the right-wing perspective on events in #Ferguson tells us about the need for answers now: http://t.co/50okbmH16l
— The Nation (@thenation) August 23, 2014
Unfortunately, it’s not just white people that aren’t talking about #Ferguson
Next time Jay Z, Beyoncé, Kanye or any others release a CD,remember their silence in #Ferguson http://t.co/ByraINrE9I pic.twitter.com/7B68tOA959
— Khary Penebaker (@kharyp) August 20, 2014
… And where you go for information
Above: #Ferguson, on Twitter
Below: Rest of America, on Facebook pic.twitter.com/C8u2lqK40d
— Anup Kaphle (@AnupKaphle) August 18, 2014
Twitter vs. Facebook: my tweetstream is almost wall-to-wall with news from Ferguson. Only two mentions of it in my Facebook news feed.
— Mark_Hamilton (@gmarkham) August 14, 2014
https://twitter.com/briancmccomas/statuses/501206351767273472
https://twitter.com/7im/statuses/501637376867700736
The revolution will NOT be on Facebook! : How Facebook and Twitter control what you see about Ferguson http://t.co/HPGiJBvwIb
— The DJ Daddy (@The_DJ_Daddy) August 21, 2014
Groundhog Day
History just keeps repeating itself. Black Twitter has been a wonderful place to highlight how “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
"I CANNOT BELIEVE I STILL HAVE TO PROTEST THIS SHIT!! #toomanynames #ferguson #dontshoot #mikebrown." pic.twitter.com/jy4PNSusZt
— Ricardo Montero Allende (@Rmontero_) August 21, 2014
https://twitter.com/diagnosed/status/501273330918236161
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/502696575152295937
Over $100,000 has been raised for Darren Wilson. But man, why must liberals bring RACE into this?! It's about…oh. pic.twitter.com/UHagxSTuDL
— Abe Goldfarb (@AbeGoldfarb) August 21, 2014
RT"@RussellWebster: Now they just say "Support 'our' police" and everyone knows what they mean. http://t.co/7wwUIOoNCC"
— fine12 (@fine140) August 18, 2014
https://twitter.com/ChefWaites/status/501715997632770048
We Need to Talk about Policing
Is this Ferguson or the Gaza strip? Turns out, tear gas is made by the same company.
These people make tear-gas used in Egypt, Gaza and Ferguson https://t.co/nYOuFNIxMC @OpFerguson @AnonyOps
— John Sevigny (@John_Sevigny) August 20, 2014
WORTH POINTING OUT THE SAME BRAND OF TEAR GAS BEING USED IN FERGUSON IS BEING USED IN GAZA, BOTH BOUGHT WITH AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS
— ABASSI DUBIAKU (@veeveeveeveevee) August 19, 2014
#BREAKING: Police advancing on crowd. Guns drawn. Media ordered to stay in taped off area. #Ferguson #MikeBrown pic.twitter.com/dYm16HNksR
— Eli Rosenberg NBC10 Boston (@EliNBCBoston) August 19, 2014
#Ferguson Police Officer who threatened to kill people on #livestream suspended indefinitely http://t.co/Y0faPKirf4 http://t.co/meaRqJ3bHb
— Gary Archer (@Legendgary) August 21, 2014
https://twitter.com/juliacarriew/status/502262845112090624
https://twitter.com/scottbix/status/500311689544208385
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/502693669602742273
One thing each of us can do re #Ferguson : see what military gear your PD has received, ask yr chief/mayor about it. https://t.co/ixRoO0jsTT
— Thomas Levenson, Zṓiarchos (@TomLevenson) August 22, 2014
Speaking Truth to Power
Let’s get our youth educated on using social media as a tool for positive social change. Let’s arm our youth with cell phones with cameras. Let’s teach them how to use social media, apps and blogs to promote an end to racial injustice. Twitter, Instagram and Vine are already having an impact by shining the light on what is going on in #Ferguson.
I guess when you're fleeing the city after killing an unarmed kid you forget to fill out a few forms. BUT THE THUG DESERVED IT RIGHT?
— E. James White (@elonjames) August 22, 2014
https://twitter.com/UnifiedLeft/status/501629106425843712
https://twitter.com/jeffwired/status/503272733988651008
If local police officers are on duty with their badges off, your civil rights have already been violated. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/BJvM0nCtpO
— Nittacci (@nittacci) August 18, 2014
And, you’re telling us to be patient?
https://twitter.com/NaijaWarrior/status/502522528511037440
Challenging the Stereotype of Blacks as Aggressors
Let’s use these platforms to challenge the image of blacks as aggressors. Let’s challenge the idea of “black on black” violence. Of blacks as thugs. We are champions, heroes, volunteers and victims… And we have a lot to say.
My blackness is not a weapon. #Ferguson #HandsUp #DontShoot pic.twitter.com/U6soWD37FY
— Erika Maye (@ErikaSlay) August 21, 2014
The revolution will not be televised but it will be tweeted!! Take courage! @williealex: #NMOS14 pic.twitter.com/7z5qpWbDWC"
— dumpling 🕉 (@chasinglux) August 15, 2014
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/502184904424443904
To my brothers out there, drop that self-hatred and pride. Be steadfast and strengthen every aspect of yourself to be a leader
— Ackurate of AMG 🥷🏾🎒🏁 (@AckurateThaWise) August 22, 2014
Jameila White, who gave out water in #Ferguson yesterday, ended up getting maced. Her story: http://t.co/zenavmSrXl pic.twitter.com/IlgvhcBzd1
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 21, 2014
Volunteers clean up at #Ferguson QuikTrip, but are criticized: http://t.co/FGhQUeQQUt #STL #MichaelBrown pic.twitter.com/YbYFMEga5v
— Riverfront Times (@RiverfrontTimes) August 12, 2014
Moms may be the answer to solving the problem in Ferguson http://t.co/HrNXFKCYd9 @HuffPostParents @BlogHer @HeidiMurkoff #Ferguson
— Chaton T. Turner (@Chatonsworld) August 19, 2014
So many tweets from members of Black community about struggling w/ #Ferguson-related anxiety & PTSD. Racism harms MH. #DisabilitySolidarity
— Heather Ure (@riotheatherrr) August 23, 2014
In #Ferguson smaller crowds and less tension tonight: http://t.co/BBGkeH9gXq pic.twitter.com/kaS6cFCrWf
— St. Louis Post-Dispatch (@stltoday) August 22, 2014
As it turns out, we have a lot to say.
If you are not already. Get on Twitter. Educate yourself about what’s going on. Add your voice and listen to what people have to say.
These are the hashtags to follow: #Ferguson, #IfTheyGunnedMeDown, #DontShoot,#NMOS14, #IGotTheTalk, #BlackLifeMatters