With the changing of Presidents in The United States, the nation still faces civil unrest with countless protest, demonstrations, and riots. With an increase in violence because some people feel that it the only way to let their voices be heard; but for students at Florida Agricultural Mechanical University, (FAMU) some feel that their voice cannot be heard.
Since the discovery of the Internet in 1969, the creation of social media has increase with the inventions of emails, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and many other applications. Social media has become a platform for people searching to be heard. On the campus of Florida Agriculture and Mechanical (FAMU), and throughout Tallahassee, Florida when conducting research about the Black Lives Matter Movement; it is a movement that was founded in 2012. After the killing of Trayvon Martin Sandra Bland, Michael Brown, and many others who have lost their lives unjustly because of senseless gun violence.
BlackLives Matter started with the not guilty verdict in the killing of Trayvon Martin, and translated to the streets after the killing of Michael Brown, #BlackLivesMatter is an organization, a movement, and a rallying cry for racial justice.
With the historical tenure of President Barack Obama, ending in January, systematic racial injustice still exist in America. According to statics, systematic racial injustice persists: young black men are 21 times more likely than their white counterparts to be shot by police, public schools are more segregated now than ever, and black unemployment is doubled then whites.
When people say Black Lives Matter, they are saying Black Lives Matter, broadening the conversation around the state of violence to include all of the ways in which Black people are intentionally left powerless at the hands of the state.
Furthermore, by talking about other ways in which people of color lives are deprived of basic human rights and dignity.
The hashtag BlackLivesMatter is working for a world where African-Americans people lives are no longer systematically and intentionally targeted for death.
Having to put much sweat equity, and love for Black people into creating a political project that is taking the hashtag off of social media ,and it is a way to get the word into the streets.
Overall, the call for this social media movement black lives matter is a rally cry for all black lives that are searching for liberty.
In the Declaration of Independence, there is a segment of that document that talks about liberties of being independent in the America, this quote was uttered by one of the founding fathers Thomas Jefferson:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal,” Jefferson said. “That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
With the changing of Presidents in the United States of America, the violent has increase in many cities nationwide. Riots, protest and public demonstrations have increase in the last year.
Violence, is contently at work not just in our everyday lives but also on the television, movie screens, music, communities and in the entertainment industry but the violence plays a vital part in the development of young minds.
At the Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University Student Government Association (SGA), meeting students, faculty and members meet throughout each semester to plan various event that deals with social change.
Not only is their new goals, expectations, and new ideas floating in the room for all students, and faculty advisors to grab a hold onto for this upcoming year but when asking Kenidee Webster, a sophomore business student and the 46th Senate President Pro-Tempore students took away a few key points from the meeting:
“If we could get people to start little, then we can get them to understand the importance of things going on around them at a minutia level then they will understand why it is important to vote, march and let their voice be heard,” Webster said. “All lives matter not just black lives however, all we can practice is safety because it is really hard to predict when somebody is going to get into a situation but some of the deaths are innocent while other are provoked.”
Another element that social media brings to the world is diversity. Since the creation of Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter people have slowly learned about social media over the year with the development of trends.
By making online profiles that allows the user to tell others about their self. For example, first and last name, date of birth, hometown, likes and dislikes, favorite athletes, and band are just some of the examples that go into making any social media platform page. Not only is social media for a regular person but many celebrities, and business use social media to promote their events.
Eugene Moore, a student work for Commissioner Proctor, explains the level diversity and civil rights in America, by offering an expert opinion:
“America is extremely diverse with different cultures, backgrounds, faiths and it is possible to see everything,” Moore said. “America must be on the side of the oppressed since the existence of this nation we have turn a blind eye and a death ear to the needs of minorities.”
In conclusion, if we are going to be about the real thing then we must use all of our resources to get the point across by embracing social media as a game changer.
Joint Operation Office Assistant Kier Riley, and Administrative Assistant work closely together organize events and activities for the student body.
A Timeline Of Unarmed Black People Killed By Police Over Past Years – Sheet1 (1)
Joshua Lowder 