#BlackTwitter for Educators and Activists
Do you support social justice?Are you an educator? Are you on Twitter yet? If not, with school out, there is no better time than the present to set up a Twitter account and “curate” a great list of educators and activists over the summer!
A friend of mine recently sent me a link to an article on EdWeek explaining how educators of color are using the hashtag #educolor to share ideas to create more equitable schools. It’s true, professors, journalists and educators committed to social justice are using social media to share resources and connect with others. Twitter is a great place to have conversations about race and education, ask questions and get exposure to ideas you didn’t know existed. 🙂
When the narrative from “both” sides of ed reform debate is “We’ll save you,” what is an edu of color to do but create their own? #educolor
— José Vilson believes in us. (@TheJLV) April 30, 2015
Twitter might seem overwhelming to the unitiated. Nonetheless, I have found it to be a highly valuable resource. My only major advice on this is you just kind of have to get used to having your brain explode… Just accepting that you can never know all that is going on is a bit of a mind-bender, but definitely worth it. Twitter has allowed me to connect with other educators raising similar questions. I may feel “alone” in all white groups when I confront delicate issues on race. But now, because of Twitter, I’m more likely to do it because I feel emboldened by others involved in the struggle.
Twitter for Educators and Activists: Twitter 101
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the hashtags and @ symbols, here is a basic tutorial put together by an educator named David Truss I follow. Here is an “Anatomy of a Tweet” from his blog to get you started :
So… no excuses! GET ON TWITTER and find out for yourself! Your experience will be a result of who you “curate” or follow. Here are some great “Tweeps” to get you started! (In no particular order.)
Twitter for Educators and Activists: You just gotta LOVE #BlackTwitter… these educators and activists keep it real!
Want to hear what folks are saying related to the #BlackLivesMatter movement? Here is a list of great folks to follow with some of my favorite tweets!:
Jose Vilson @TheJLV
The teacher Gotham deserves. Author of This Is #NotATest. Keeper of the#EduColor vision. Race, class, education, and my conscience.
The only way to deal with true conflict is through it, not around it. Race, gender, and class included. True change requires discomfort.
— José Vilson believes in us. (@TheJLV) June 5, 2015
Melinda D. Anderson @mdawriter
Mom • Writer • Thoughts on race, culture, equity in education • Intersectional always • #EduColor squad •#todayinblackhistory • Unabashedly and fervently Black
This. Focused on his words, the beauty of the moment. Rather than what brings him to Charleston in the first place! https://t.co/bAPkByuItA
— melinda d. anderson (@mdawriter) June 26, 2015
Rafranz Davis @RafranzDavis
(She also belongs in the list below!) Executive Director of Professional and Digital Learning, Math & Tech Geek! Author, Speaker, Google Certified Innovator, Disruptor of Ridiculousness
Hey @twitter Can we get a twit-moji for #BlackLivesMatter? #LoveWins
— Rafranz⁷ 💜🧈 (@RafranzDavis) June 26, 2015
HystericalBlackness @hystericalblkns
Christina Sharpe. Professor. Monstrous Intimacies. In the Wake.http://tinyurl.com/oncf26w http://amzn.to/kZHlpd
DISGUSTING. https://t.co/pWpdsbhaFa
— in the wake (@hystericalblkns) June 26, 2015
Deray Mckesson @deray
I will never betray my heart. Curator, connector. TFA. Educator. Bowdoin alum. Protestor. snapchat: derayderay IG: iamderay deray@thisisthemovement.org.
Passionate race lecture. https://t.co/O0MogTfVxj
— deray (@deray) June 26, 2015
Melissa Harris-Perry @MHarrisPerry
Wake Forest University Professor, Director @AJCCenter, Executive Director@WakeEngaged, MSNBC Host of@MHPShow, contributor to @TheNation& @EssenceMag
Reminding Black Girls that they Rock is my duty."—Beverly Bond at #ywca2015 https://t.co/WwxUTE9ZSu
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) June 6, 2015
Blavity @Blavity
A startup with a little sophista and a little ratchet for millennials. Content + tech + culture.
In theaters NOW! Check out critically-acclaimed movie "DOPE" this weekend👌🏾 #blackcreativesociety #supportblackfilm… pic.twitter.com/KAniNUzwKb
— Blavity News (@Blavity) June 26, 2015
Son of Baldwin @SonofBaldwin
The literary, socio-political, sexual, pop culture blog. Live from Bedford-Stuyvesant. Disturbing the peace in order to find it.
I complied retired officer @MichaelAWoodJr's tweets & links about the inherently corrupt Baltimore Police Department: http://t.co/6ZcG1Er3ud
— Son of Baldwin (Robert Jones, Jr.) (@SonofBaldwin) June 25, 2015
For Harriet @ForHarriet
A community dedicated to celebrating the fullness of Black womanhood.
What would change in our society if Black folks were encouraged to arm ourselves as often and openly as white folks? http://t.co/3OoRQ2VA2G
— For Harriet (@ForHarriet) June 26, 2015
Trudy @thetrudz
Writer & social critic at @GradientLair. Photographer & writer at @driftsojourn. Womanist. Bibliophile. Electric Lady. ***Flawless. INTJ. http://cash.me/$thetrudz
https://twitter.com/thetrudz/status/614542177637511168
P Mimi Poinsett MD @yayayarndiva
Snarky crone, mama pediatrician of da boi and partner of Mah Sweetie aka el jibaro#tweetiatrician, subtweeter and asker of impertinent questions
I'd rather follow the doers who raise doubt than the doubters who do nothing….
— Pierrette Mimi Poinsett MD (@yayayarndiva) June 26, 2015
The Dream Defenders @Dreamdefenders
An uprising of communities in struggle, shifting culture through transformational organizing. Florida · DreamDefenders.org
The Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage is a step in the right direction but as @GetEQUAL reminds us, there's still work to do.
— Dream Defenders (@Dreamdefenders) June 26, 2015
ShordeeDooWhop @Nettaaaaaaaa
I am the stone that the builder refused…the promise of what’s to come. And I’mma remain a soldier till the war is won. netta@thisisthemovement.org
Dispatch From Charleston: The Cost Of White Comfort http://t.co/GthmrBpVxb
— Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) June 26, 2015
Jamilah Lemieux @JamilahLemieux
(writer/editor/receipt holder.) it’s cool if you dont want to, but you’s a fool if you don’t want to.
Black teen dead in the street.
(Silence)
Black girl dragged by cop.
(Tumbleweed)
Gay marriage legal.
"Wilona, iron my protest suit!"— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) June 26, 2015
