Social media is the most powerful thing we have right now. Nowadays, it is the only way we’re able to obtain information because many of us, especially youth, do not watch the news.
I first heard of what happened in Ferguson, Missouri on Tumblr over a month ago. Since then, I have seen debates about the police department and black men in regards to the police department. There are reblogs, tweets, and likes for the images that stand up for black men, and cry out to those who mindlessly scroll on their phones and laptop how what happened to Michael Brown wasn’t the first time, and won’t be the last unless we do something about it.
Social media is fantastic in that retrospect…until it calls us to do something in person.
Tonight, at East Carolina University, there was a panel about Michael Brown. The event has been promoted for a few weeks by Greek Life, Black Student Union, Word of Mouth, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, various staff, the ECU Police Department, the Ethnic Studies department, Ledonia Wright Cultural Center, and much more. It was held in Hendrix Theater on campus’ Mendenhall Student Activities Center.
In Hendrix, there are movie events, performances, and even health awareness events that makes the whole room so packed that some would have to stand because all of the seats were taken.
Tonight, from 6:30 PM to 8:45 PM, it was so sparse. I have never felt Hendrix so empty in my whole year and few months being there.
Ranting online is helpful, but when it only promotes activism from the couch and not by human assembly, social media becomes frustrating.
I wish that more people were able to see Word of Mouth’s spoken word on the social commentary regarding Michael Brown. See the intellectual staff and students from Ledonia, Black Student Union, ECU’s Police, and even staff of higher power you’d think wouldn’t show up, express how dialogue must increase between different communities about this issue. See InterVarsity’s campus minister speak up about how the majority must stop being silent.
Something was still accomplished tonight. Despite the fact that there are a lot who still choose to be silent, those who showed up I know aren’t going to be. And this may be just a rant to some people, and some may believe that I’m defeating the whole purpose of what I’m talking about, but I am encouraging whoever is reading this to take action.
Writing has always been a form of therapy for me, and it has always been a way for me to take action. To keep this discussion going, comment if you would like to set up a Google Hangout talk on how else we can take action. Discuss dates and times that work best and stick to the one we choose. We don’t have to just talk about the Michael Brown case, because there are many things that need to be changed in this world. Society can’t run the show forever. The majority can’t run the show forever.
I understand that not everyone who follows me reads everything I blog, but here’s to hoping that that changes for this particular blog.
flighty101 