Social Media and the Civil Rights Movement of 2020

  A Note Before I Begin...

    In order to best articulate the importance of social media in the 2020 civil rights movement, it is important that I explain to you my current situation. I am a caucasian, 22-year-old woman from Chicago, Illinois. I am incredibly blessed to have been raised in an upper-class household, in an upper-class public school, in an upper-class suburb. I am incredibly blessed to reside in Bend, Oregon. When I drive around town everyone looks the same. Diversity is few and far between. It is important to explain that my social media platforms, at first, didn't seem to look much different than they did before George Floyd passed on. Excluding political figures' and civil rights activists' posts, my Instagram feed seems to be filled with the same content it was before the movement started. With that being said, just because the protests have stopped doesn't mean the violence, racism, and hate have. I ask that you continue to educate yourself on the ongoing movement. Below are links to websites, Instagram pages, and donation pages for you to explore. 

Black Lives Matter   Reclaim the Block American Civil Liberties Union Places to Donate Don't Shoot Portland

Best,

Olivia Orput

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   On May 25th, 2020, as a majority of U.S. Citizens remained locked down due to COVID-19, George Floyd's life was taken in just 8 minutes and 46 seconds. I had just returned back to Bend, Oregon after a two-month lockdown in the midwest with my family. I was sitting on my buddy Merritt's couch. I was scrolling through Instagram when I came across a friend's story. Instagram had placed a "sensitive content" warning on her story. I clicked okay, and I watched a man's life get taken away from him. He was in Minnesota, I was in Oregon. I had not known him, but I had just witnessed a man die before me. Later that night, I felt glued to my phone as cities and towns around the world took to the streets, mid-pandemic, in what would become the arguably largest civil rights movement in modern history. I was in the comfort of my home, a home that looked no different than the day before. I, and those around me, had never been in a situation where these racial injustices were apparent in our everyday lives. Then, almost all at once, my world online began to change; a reality check of sorts. It was almost impossible to avoid the event which, in my opinion, was the biggest role that social media played in the 2020 civil rights movement. By making these pieces of content, and the stories of those impacted personally, accessible to everyone on these platforms there were more opportunities to form opinions and take action. Without this role of social media in the movement and protests there might not have been as much of a movement as there was, especially with most people being locked inside due to COVID-19.

  One of the biggest upsides to the presence of social media amidst these protests and civil rights movements was the birth of a new way to document history. Before the age of social media the only ways to see photos and videos of similar movements was through newspapers, news sites and television. These seemingly outdated ways to witness history had to, also, be taken with a grain of salt. The content we consumed through these media outlets were always taken by reporters, videographers, and those employed by the companies who were reporting on the subject, therefore they didn't always show all of the sides of the movements. Now, with social media, users are able to see historical documentation from those who are impacted by the movements, those who took to the streets to protest, giving users an opportunity to see all sides and viewpoints of the movement instead of just what the news and government wanted to disclose. 

    Lastly, I have found that, although social media can at times be used in a negative way, social media was utilized in this recent movement for good. From spreading awareness about the reality of the movement to showing the outpouring of love for the BIPOC community in the United States, social media platforms provided their users with an opportunity to come together in their own way. In my opinion, one of the most positive ways that social media impacted the civil rights movement of 2020 was by allowing artists and creators to share their work that supported the movement. The photo above is of the Minneapolis mural of George Floyd which was first posted (by the artist) on Instagram. By sharing murals and artistic expressions of the love and support behind the movement, social media provided users with an opportunity to stand together with love and humility amidst such a trying time in American society.