Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Showing Original Post only (View all)

sheshe2

(83,355 posts)
Sat Dec 6, 2014, 05:33 PM Dec 2014

This is the New Civil Rights Movement and It Will be Digital [View all]

I’ve been going to racial justice marches in New York City for nearly 20 years (for Abner Louima, for Amadou Diallo, for Sean Bell, for Ramarley Graham) and I’ve never seen anything like the mass protests in response to Eric Garner. This gives me hope.

Protests like this one happened all over the U.S. With respect to Gil Scott Heron (who told us that The Revolution Will Not be Televised), this movement is and will be digital. More precisely, this new civil rights movement is spreading quickly because it is digitally augmented through Twitter, Vine, Instagram and other social media platforms. The movement is also, simultaneously, in the streets. It is both/and – both digital and material – at the same time. And this, too, gives me hope.

The both/and, digital/material feature of the new civil rights movement means several hopeful things.

It means that it’s both youth-led movement, and it is intergenerational. It means that it’s both youth-led and leaderless, in the traditional sense. It also means that it both circumvents and subverts legacy civil rights organizations that are now mostly corporate-funded or corporate-affiliated. It means that it is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic movement.

The both/and quality of the new civil rights movement means that while much of the organizing is happening online – through websites like Ferguson Action, and email newsletters like thisisthemovement published by DeRay McKesson (@deray) and through Twitter hashtags #EricGarner #BlackLivesMatter #ShutItDown – people have been showing up in the streets for 118 days now.

Video at the link.
http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2014/12/05/new-civil-rights-movement-digital/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+racismreview%2FnYnz+%28racismreview.com%29

38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Revolution will not be Televised!!! bravenak Dec 2014 #1
Yes it is and who needs sheshe2 Dec 2014 #2
We need a button that allows us to collectively shock lying talking heads. bravenak Dec 2014 #3
Hey, they sure as hell use stun guns, sheshe2 Dec 2014 #5
I'd watch Fox all fucking day just looking for a lie. bravenak Dec 2014 #6
Lol~ sheshe2 Dec 2014 #9
We could do it like the jury system. bravenak Dec 2014 #15
Oo, I love it. malokvale77 Dec 2014 #29
They make an app for everything else. bravenak Dec 2014 #34
Indeed it would. malokvale77 Dec 2014 #38
Funny how some here claim it is NOT a revolution. JaneyVee Dec 2014 #4
It has already started Janey, you are so right. sheshe2 Dec 2014 #8
I feel like most of America's current tensions are due to... JaneyVee Dec 2014 #10
I agree with you 100%. sheshe2 Dec 2014 #12
"20 to 30 yrs from now conservatism will be a dead ideology." malokvale77 Dec 2014 #30
The revolution has been happening since the Arab Spring. Jackpine Radical Dec 2014 #26
Uunfortuntely a Tienanmen Square outcome hifiguy Dec 2014 #7
Well, the world is watching. sheshe2 Dec 2014 #11
I agree with you but the words of John Kennedy hifiguy Dec 2014 #14
the world is watching and the cops are listening questionseverything Dec 2014 #27
This is not China and Americans are not the Chinese! icymist Dec 2014 #16
By the time the Corporate Media hifiguy Dec 2014 #20
Not in New York City. icymist Dec 2014 #22
Social media will die without net neutrality. malokvale77 Dec 2014 #31
You mean worrying about how things are when it hasn't happened yet? icymist Dec 2014 #32
Not what I meant malokvale77 Dec 2014 #36
The best part is how people are organizing and communicating without malaise Dec 2014 #13
+++ LawDeeDah Dec 2014 #23
A bit of both malaise Dec 2014 #24
You know, when even CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER says that you effed up, you've effed up Number23 Dec 2014 #17
Well some... sheshe2 Dec 2014 #18
gotta love she she! Stellar Dec 2014 #21
I'd love to see the finger malaise Dec 2014 #25
In living color malaise~ sheshe2 Dec 2014 #33
LOL, a faints dead smiley! Stellar Dec 2014 #19
+10000000000000 nt steve2470 Dec 2014 #28
"Today is a day for hope".. Most certainly is.. thank you, she. Cha Dec 2014 #35
Let's listen to it! Dyedinthewoolliberal Dec 2014 #37
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»This is the New Civil Rig...