Week 9

"Is Twitter the Underground Railroad of Activism"

For this week's blog post I focused on Feminista Jones' article about the political and cultural significance of Black Twitter. What struck me the most is the argument made that for Black communities, Twitter isn't just Twitter, it functions as a modern adaptation of historical alternative communication systems.  Jones explains the historical tradition of coded communication among African Americans, ranging from the spirituals that allowed enslaved people to communicate across languages to the political narratives embedded in early hip hop. Understanding this history makes it clear why Twitter has become such an important digital space for Black users. 

What really resonated with me was Jones' discussion of the George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin cases. She explains how rallies, petitions, and national awareness were circulated through Twitter within hours. From Jones' view, Black Twitter doesn't wait for large, mainstream institutions to act, users rally on their own. Over two million signatures were gathered on a petition for Tayvon Martin, mostly through social media, demonstrates how these networks can turn grief and outrage into action. 

The article highlights demographic data showing Black and Hispanic users are more active than white users on Twitter. Jones uses this to illustrate why Black Twitter has become such a powerful, connected community, capable of quick response. Her example from IMPACT's #VoteReady campaign to Paula Deen losing business partnerships, to the pressure that stopped Juror B-37 from publishing a book, are incredibly compelling. Not only are these online conversations, but they are meaningful real world outcomes driven by digital mobilization. 

This article made me reconsider before dismissing Twitter as "not real life", as this ignores how deeply digital spaces shape political realities. Twitter isn't just entertainment for many Black users, it's community, a tool for social change, and empowerment.