#I Can’t Breathe
Activism has always been and will always be the surge of change and justice for the world; moreover activism is the answer to the voices calling out social injustices. However, with the evolving society and especially in connection with our technological based modern world that means that activism too translates into internet usage. Further, online activism can be described as the various ways that individuals and organizations have used online technologies for advocacy and activism associated with causes they care about, like social justice issues. Online activism also is linked to the idea of digital leadership, in that both ideas are using the vast reach of the technology and social media in today’s world to improve the lives, circumstances, and wellbeing of others in a community. Essentially, digital leadership and activism are pathways that people can use to enhance the lives around them and create positivity and influence on others.
The image above illustrates an amazing and relevant example of activism; especially for the demand to have increased human rights of African American people living in the United States as well as a better connection with institutions and law enforcement. Overall, there is a call of equality and driving force of respect for the African American population; of which is being supported today more than ever before. One may be asking themselves how do I, as one single person in the midst of the entire world, make a change? Can I have even make a change? How much can the internet really influence what is going on in the “real world?” There may not be concrete answers to all of these questions, but it is irrefutable to say that each person has the power to generate change no matter how big or how small; the relation of the internet is making this even more profound and allowing us to reach, discover, and interact with more than ever before and prompting a rare form of connectedness. According to Pew Research Company and the contributions of authors Monica Anderson, Michael Barthel, Andrew Perrin, and Emily Vogels who wrote the article “#BlackLivesMatter Surges on Twitter after George Floyd’s Death” the #BlackLivesMatter has been used roughly 47.8 million times on Twitter — an average of just under 3.7 million times per day — from May 26 to June 7. This statistic proves the power of just one person and how it can collectively combine to produce profound impacts; generate a sea of change and encourage others to do the same.
Though it is clear that the internet is allowing people to communicate in unprecedented ways and allowing for the transmission of ideas and content globally, it is hard to prove that it is all done authentically. Further, it is nearly impossible to know if the people who post their content authentically belive it it; or rather post it as a way to be a part of a “trend” or “social norm”. Regardless, I think it i safe to say that the power of the internet and mass communication stands whether the content is genuine not and proves what we can really do with just the accessibility to the internet. Further, I think it is clear that the internet has the the power to bring about change around the world and bring to light injustices that were never known before and to combat the ones that are already at hand. I contend that the internet has profound power to generate social change and cultural connectedness through its ability to unify people; this to me is how we can use digital tools to make a difference in our communities.
Lastly, the case that I would like to reflect on for online activism is the tragic death of unarmed African American George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the custody of Minneapolis Police where the back of his neck was kneeled on by an officer for nearly nine minutes. According to research on the case, a spectator video of the incident showed Floyd saying “I can’t breathe” multiple times while he was under officer Chauvin’s knee. Despite his pleas, as well as a bystander exclaiming that the officer was preventing Floyd from breathing, Chauvin continued the restraint for 2 minutes and 53 seconds after Floyd became unresponsive, while three other officers watched. This was not the first case that an African American had stated the absoltuely shattering plea “I. CANT. BREATHE.” In fact, According to a 2020 report by the New York Times, the phrase has been used by over 70 people who died in police custody. The #ICantBreathe became a symbol and global statement used to express police brutality and injustice to the black people in our country. This hashtag became so influential that according to NBC news ust the hashtags #Ferguson, #Eric Garner, and #ICantBreathe (referencing Garner’s final words captured on video) have been used almost 10 million timeson Twitter over the past 30 days. This example alone proves that the internet houses the ability for people to generate social change and mass communication with the use of our digital tools to let our voices be heard and used for positive influence accompanied by the drawbacks too.
