Black Lives Matter: From Social Media to the Streets
A look at the rise of a movement that took off on Twitter and has now become a topic of conversation all across America
Introduction to the Movement
It is the summer of 2013 and George Zimmerman, a police officer, has just been acquitted for the shooting in which caused the death of a young, innocent, unarmed black man named Trayvon Martin. The night this tragic event occurred in 2012 sparked the birth of a movement. Three young black women formed the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2013, and over the past six years, the movement has been impacting and working to change the social justice movement surrounding police brutality and the marginalization of black communities. The Black Lives Matter Movement has found a voice through utilizing social media, specifically Twitter, and gaining so much support from an online community. There are sceptics who do believe that the Movement has not moved past social media, but the Movement has in fact made incredible steps within society and advocated for so many both online and off. There is also doubt that this Movement has and can survive the Trump era, but it absolutely has been and will continue to thrive no matter the governmental oppression. The Black Lives Matter Movement has successfully found a voice through social media and sustained its presence and impact beyond social media. The Black Lives Matter Movement has also changed the way that America discusses racism and the work that they have done to end the cycles of violence towards black communities. Not only does the Movement focus on the issue of police brutality against black communities, but also works to address all racial injustice, LGBTQ rights, and healthcare among many other social justice movements. The Black Lives Matter Movement has made a very strong impact, given youth a voice, and will continue to make positive changes.
The Rise of the Movement on Social Media
To start, the Movement begun and was truly sparked by it’s presence on social media. In today’s society and climate, it is necessary to have an online presence as it does appeal to a lot of the younger generations and can encourage getting them involved in social justice issues. Though the Black Lives Matter Movement has moved beyond social media and conquered issues offline, it is important to discuss the roots of the Movement and the ways in which it found its feet on social media. The hash-tag #BlackLivesMatter has been used around 30 million times on the social media platform Twitter (Simon, 2018). This movement is so meaningful because it is so accessible to so many — especially young people. This movement allowed for young social justice warriors to find their voice and an opportunity to speak with people just like them, fighting for the same justice. Social media was just the beginning of phenomenon that this movement came to be and the hash-tag was brought to life with rallies that began in the streets and protests of black communities fighting for justice within their communities — certainly surrounding police brutality. It is important to believe that most people using the hash-tag are also taking it to the streets through marches and rallies, and also encouraging and educating others on the issues that are facing them on a daily basis. Social media has given black communities a voice, especially in a climate where they do not feel represented by the American government and are not receiving justice for the crimes committed against members of their communities.
The Movement Beyond Social Media
Next, I wanted to touch on the work that Black Lives Matter has done that goes beyond social media and the impacts that this work has had on Americans. Also, that the movement is more than just a civil rights movement it is addressing deep rooted systems of oppression against black communities. The movement has changed the ways in which Americans approach and fight for their freedoms and resist against systematic oppression (Sidner, 2015). The Movement is one of the most prominent movements since the post civil rights era and has become so influential in American society today and for the past six years (Roberts, 2018). The Black Lives Matter Movement has sparked resistance all across the country and encouraged people to fight for their rights and freedoms and against their oppressors. The Movement can be seen as a collective group of people across America, belonging to smaller groups fighting for social justice. For example, students in Missouri helped lead the resignation of the University of Missouri president as he failed to address racism on their campus (Roberts, 2018). Black Lives Matter encouraged the Democrats to change their platform and expand their platform when it came to criminal justice and police brutality. It is important to note that even in today’s climate with Trump as president, the movement is still prominent and will not back down. From the start of his presidency, Trump made Black Lives Matter his enemy but that was not going to stop this Movement and groups of people across America from fighting for what is right. Above all, the most important thing that the Movement has done is starting this resistance and bringing police brutality and inequality to the forefront of our conversations.
Social Media to the Streets
Finally, I think it is important that we touch on some of the times that Black Lives Matter have taken to the streets to protest and resist the oppression that black communities have been facing. In 2014, Black Lives Matter demonstrated against deaths of many black lives lost at the hands of the police force and did this in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November. (Lowery, 2018). That year ended with Black Lives Matter protesting the shooting death of Laquan McDonald who was shot sixteen times by a Chicago police officer. The year 2016 began with a protest march in San Francisco to protest the shooting of Mario Woods by police officers and finished with a march in Tulsa, Oklahoma where yet another young black man lost his life because of a shooting by a police officer. More recently, the Movement has fought and demonstrated against Trump’s immigration laws and stands against Trump’s policies that are separating children and families. There have been many more demonstrations and actions taken to resist police brutality and violence towards black communities over the past six years and these truly just scratch the surface regarding the amount of times the movement has taken to the streets.
The Black Lives Matter has made leaps and bounds to bring the issues of police brutality, social injustice and racism to the forefront of political and social conversations. The Movement is inclusive and works to bring light and change years of systematic oppression across America, and has even transcended globally. It started on social media with the hash-tag #BlackLivesMatter and has stayed consistent and prominent through the past six years and has become exclusive and expansive. The movement has so much further to go and will continue to make changes for black communities that will be long lasting and will work toward making real change in the political and social realm. The Movement has been impacting and working to change the social justice movement surrounding police brutality and the marginalization of black communities and will continue to make strides
