#Ferguson
Hear No Evil
Is something
“shared” really starting a conversation?
There
are many ways to pull a part the situation in Ferguson and accumulation of
racial tensions built up in America since the Civil Rights Movement in the
1960s. Rather than using this entry to argue a “side” my hope is to look more
specifically at the way in which social media is being used to organize
protests, walkouts, and in time a movement.
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| Post Indictment Report |
Since the incident in Ferguson involving
Michael Brown and Darren Wilson this past August there has been growing tension
in the town as well as across the nation. With the decision made on November 25th
to not indict (now ex-officer) Darren Wilson there was a national response. Of
course the first and hardest hit was social media. Primarily Facebook, Twitter,
and Tumblr. Instagram and YouTube served as a powerful tool for sharing images
and video (as they are meant to do) but the sharing of articles, news clips,
and opinion-based blogs has since seemed to dominated the “common man’s”
discussion on the outcome on the grand jury’s decision.
Social Media Spreads the
Words and Gets People on the Streets
Protests
and walk outs have been organized in a matter of hours using social media
outlets. Take for example in Worcester. There was a march to City Hall the
night of the grand jury decision, the formal walkout proceeded the next day
(after weeks of planning on a Facebook event), which covered the main streets
of Worcester and the police station. There has also been organization and mass
cover on Facebook for protests in Boston, New York, and many other cities and
towns nationwide.
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| Facebook event |
Twitter
individuals are instantaneously sharing stories articles and live reports from Ferguson
directly. And through Tumblr there is a string of comments on photo and video
content that illustrates the back and forth between the different sides of the
issue. I liked to focus more specifically on the use of Facebook as a tool and
a method of organization among a mass group of individuals ranging in
location and demographic.
I realize that looking at this matter as
social media “marketing” seems to dehumanize the issue at hand. However that is
in no way my intention. I feel if we look at how activists use social media we
can build off of the pre-existing strategy and use these platforms as effective
planning and marketing tools for social justice activists.
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| Facebook event |
For instance activists and allies alike
have utilized the Facebook events app to plan, update, and gain support for the
ongoing marches/walkouts/protests going on across the nation. By having a
common thread to communicate through these events can be clearer and better organized.
Additionally word spread quicker by allowing the groundswell to “work its magic”
and have individuals take ahold of information and spread it to others, turning
dozens into thousands.
Can Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr Help Create a
Dialogue?
Social media provides networks where
content can be shared on a large scale (nationally, sometimes internationally).
But with all this sharing is there really any listening going on?
Looking at the titles
and comments that go with Ferguson posts you would probably be compelled to
say: No. No there is not.
In fact, there is not
much real dialogue occurring but rather thousands upon thousands of monologues.
Everyone must speak,
but no one is obligated to listen, take in new information, and attempt to view
the topic from other perspectives.
It’s
not that a conversation, a true dialogue,
couldn’t happen online. But it is extremely difficult. People are very
opinionated and quick to vilify and degrade those taking an opposing side when
they’re acting behind a computer screen. This is also seen with major media
outlets as well.
Listen & Respond
This
blog entry really hits home the take on social media and dialogues:
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| Social Media & Ferguson |
LISTENING NEEDS TO
HAPPEN.
Or else all this
“promotion” of a singular cause is does not seem based on fact or moral code,
but rather bias instilled by upbringing, ethnocentrism, and good ol’ fashioned
ignorance.
It
has already been made clear that the many of the white population in America
are not sure how to positively and effective contribute to easing racial
tension (ultimately eliminating, if even possible). Posts on Facebook, Twitter,
and Tumblr do create a conversation her and essentially market the concept of a
“white ally.” The use of “market” in regards to “white ally” is not meant to
imply a cynical tone when it comes to this term, but rather point out the
benefits of marketing/outreach/promotion on social media in a time crisis.
Promotion
of text and visual content that creates an emotional connection to the events
in Ferguson can help “recruit” more to the cause. Instructive blog articles invite other into the
conversation. Also with an implemented social media strategy
and an effective and appropriate response system on Facebook, Twitter, and
Tumblr these social justice causes can be shared with the public and allow them
to engage beyond just a screen.
By social media's impact on social justice is dependent on going beyond sharing and using each platforms unique features to EDUCATE and ORGANIZE.
Activists can TAP and ENERGIZE the groundswell to help further their cause, but they also must LISTEN in order to articulate the importance of their actions and to persuade those on the opposing side. By sharing links to petitions, events, and news articles their are utilizing social media to further their cause and (perhaps unintentionally) developing a social media campaign/strategy for their group.
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| Pro-Activist Article |
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| "Turtle Boy Blog" |
Overall...
In the case of social justice causes there will always be opposing sides. It's best to listen to both and work on how you can best make your voice heard, and speak to the people you are trying to reach. In the case of Ferguson and activists, that's the American public. Engage in a "appropriate" fashion, and keep the conversation going.
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