During the pandemic, social media has become our central form of communication. It keeps
us informed, helps us engage in activism, and several times a day, it freaks us out,
because we see the name Mary Berry is trending, and think, “Oh god, is Mary Berry—? Oh
no!” But she’s alive! She’s great. And that’s why she’s trending. But can Instagram
and Twitter really affect change? I asked Naomi Ekperigin to find out more.
The pandemic has me using social media more than ever. And I'm seeing a lot of hashtags
and a lot of weird-a** posts. I’m talking about the black square. And of course, whatever
the heck this is. And with the city of Louisville coming to a $12 million settlement with Breonna
Taylor’s family, I found myself wondering, did the posts do that? Or are they bad? To
find out, I talked with Feminista Jones, an activist, organizer and author of a book about
social media activism—which you might think is an oxymoron, but it’s not!
Oh, yes, Feminista Jones! Girl, I’m so excited. You the first Black person I’ve seen in
six months. - Ooo! Oh my gosh.
Okay. This is what’s getting me, and this is why I had to ask you. You know, someone
who has been with the online activism from the jump. How are we gonna arrest these cops
that killed Breonna when people just wanna post these watercolor paintings of her?
- That’s not gonna happen. It’s not gonna get there posting a meme about the NBA schedule,
and then you swipe and it says arrest the people that killed Breonna Taylor. That’s
not gonna work. So why are you doing this? So as we talk about Breonna Taylor and the
work that needs to be done, how can we use online activism to actually get this done?
- If you’re thinking about Breonna Taylor, you have to go talk to the folks that are
organizing in Louisville. Alright. I’m on it. I’m on it, Feminista.
Meet Talesha Wilson, a grassroots organizer from Kentucky who has been a local activist
since she was in high school. Talesha, you are born and raised in Louisville.
- Yes. Louisville? Louisville. What should I call
it? Louisville? - Louisville.
Louisville, okay. - Do it with a little spunk. Louisville.
Louisville. - Louisville.
Louisville. - Like, uh, Louisville. You gotta do your
tongue. Louisville.
- Louisville. Louisville.
- Yeah, you gotta like, let your mouth go out. Louisville.
Just relax, okay. Louisville. - Yes.
Louisville. I felt it. I felt it. I felt it there.
- It felt good. Yeah. So you’re an activist on the ground
in Louisville. - Yes.
How do you feel about the memes and the posts that have been circulating about Breonna Taylor?
- I like the memes and posts because I think that they serve a purpose. The purpose I think
is to reach people who it wouldn’t reach unless you did it in that way.
So you like them! Like, you like some of these memes and posts.
- Yes. Everything is a tactic. Tell me about the social media that you use.
- Okay, so I used to use Black Planet. Black Planet? How do I get to—? Honey, I
want to be on a Black planet right now. How do I get there?
- Black Planet that was all of that. Wow.
So this is what Heaven looks like. - I used to use those things back in the day
but now I am Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat. If I need to get more Generation
Z people to pay attention to social justice, as it pertains specifically to Breonna Taylor,
then I’m gonna go to TikTok. That’s where they are.
Honestly, it’s amazing, too, that you use social media to do all these things because
I basically just use it to organize animal photos and pictures of babies that aren’t
mine. I just love an animal and a baby. Okay, so I guess memes like this, while not
my cup of tea, can have value in keeping the issue at the forefront of people’s minds.
But are all posts created equal? Where’s that line between activism and meme-ification?
- When you are an activist, you are going to provide people with information that they
need to do things. To act. Act-ivist. You want people to act. When it’s meme-ification,
it’s like, you just wanna post something to look cute so you can show them your post
and be like, I’m just letting you know through this weirdly sketched photo that don’t really
look like her, and her name is misspelled, that I had heard she got shot.
What do you think about when people do tweet at, let’s say, the attorney general in Louisville?
Is he really checking his mentions? He’s at the RNC!
- Yes, right. Ah, yes, the RNC. Or, as I call it, political
Get Out. No! No! Noo!!! So it is safe to say, like posting is not
enough. - No, it’s not enough. It’s not enough
to just go out there and protest. It’s not enough to just post memes and graphics. It’s
not enough to just make a mural of her in the street. You have to do all of those things
at the same time together. And everyone has a role in the movement.
Arresting and indicting the cops that killed Breonna Taylor is a must. And while we’re
at it, let’s throw in some equality for all people. Social media is a great way to
raise awareness, but we can’t move the needle just by posting. So after you add that hashtag,
make sure to take action, be of service, and email attorney.general@ag.ky.gov. And if you
really want to get his attention, make the subject line “Perfect gifts for the man
in your life who is a turtle but is also the Senate Majority Leader.”