The presentation discusses the origins and goals of the Black Lives Matter movement, which was founded in 2013 in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin and acquittal of George Zimmerman. It then analyzes tweets using the hashtags #BlackLivesMatter and #ProtectTransKids to see the level of intersectionality between the two causes. While most tweets used both hashtags, some prioritized one over the other, bringing up questions about whether the primary focus of a social media post impacts its message. The presentation examines the shared struggles of marginalized groups and how digital media can be used to both constrain and unite communities.

1. #BlackLivesMatter Presentation
May 1, 2017
Jordan Politz Garza

2. The Faces of #BlackLivesMatter
I created #BlackLivesMatter with Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi, two of my sisters, as a
call to action for Black people after 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was post-humously placed
on trial for his own murder and the killer, George Zimmerman, was not held accountable
for the crime he committed. (Garza) Garza, Alicia, Opal Tomezi, and Pastrisse Cullors. "Our Herstory." Black Lives Matter

3. About #BlackLivesMatter
Black Poverty ⇒ State Violence
Locked in Cages ⇒ State Violence
Assault on Children ⇒ State Violence
Trans folks’ burden ⇒ State Violence
Black & Undocumented ⇒ Shadows
Black Girls ⇒ Negotiation in War
Black w/ Disabilities ⇒ State Violence
6.5% Black
U.S. pop.
Garza, Alicia, Opal Tomezi, and Pastrisse Cullors. "Our Herstory." Black Lives Matter

4. #BlackLivesMatter #ProtectTransKids
On 2/22/17 President Trump "rescinded protections for transgender students that had
allowed them to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity." (Jeremy)
1,119
tweets

5. Correlation: #BlackLivesMatter
#ProtectTransKidsRT @AdamantxYves: So, let's talk
intersectionality in this
#ProtectTransKids discussion
because #BlackLivesMatter .
Occurrence = 1415 tweets (86.23% of #BlackLivesMatter
#protecttranskids tweets)
RT @laurenevemay: "The resistance
will not be successful unless it is
intersectional." Be an ally.
#ProtectTransKids
#BlackLivesMatter #Ref…
Occurrence = 110 tweets (6.7% of #BlackLivesMatter
#protecttranskids tweets)

6. Literature
Race and Identity in Digital Media
Lisa Nakamura
Constraints / Limitations on
Marginalized:
➔Gender
➔Size
➔Body shape
Collaboration & Common Support
Among Marginalized:
➔ Gender
➔ Size
➔ Body shape
➔ Skin colour

7. So what? What now?
#BlackLivesMatter #ProtectTransKids vs. #ProtectTransKids #BlackLivesMatter
➔Does it matter which hashtag defines the primary concern of a Twitter user?
➔Look at % of #ProtectTransKids that use #BlackLivesMatter on Feb. 26
#BlackLivesMatter #ProtectTransKids
&.
#ProtectTransKids #BlackLivesMatter
Works Cited:
Garza, Alicia, Opal Tomezi, and Patrisse Cullors. "About the Black Lives Matter Network." Black Lives Matter. N.p., n.d. Web.
Guynn, Jessica. "Google pledges $11.5M to fight racial bias in policing, sentencing." USA Today. February 23, 2017.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/02/23/google-115-million-racial-justice-grants/98283364/.
Jeremy W. Peters, Eric Lichtblau and Jo Becker. "Fight Erupts in Trump Administration Over Transgender Students' Rights." The
New York Times. February 22, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/22/us/politics/devos-sessions-transgender-students-rights.html.
Nakamura, Lisa. 2011. “Race and Identity in Digital Media.” In Mass Media and Society, ed. James Curran, 5th ed., 336–47. New
York: Bloomsbury Academic.