1. Introduction
The goal of this research is to examine and investigate the
hashtag, BlackLivesMatter, on Twitter and showcase its effects
on social climate for African-American students attending a
Predominately White Institution (PWI). In my observations, I
will be looking at the hashtag and showcasing it’s utilization
for the explanation of black social discourse. Specifically, I
will be observing the influence that it has on the University of
Wisconsin – Madison (UW-Madison) campus. Through a
qualitative analysis, I will explore the change in the
perceptions of the social environment for African American
students on UW-Madison’s campus through the use of this
hashtag.
Methodology
My method for this research is to conduct a qualitative analysis to
show the impact of UW-Madison’s African-American community
within the social climate on campus. Asking them to complete a survey
with roughly ten questions, ranging from their own personal
experiences to more general diversity geared questions, I plan to gather
similar answers that will allow me to define what the social climate at
UW-Madison is. From here, I will review research regarding the
effects of social media on the African American community. With this
data, I will research more on the hashtag method and look into several
different articles regarding BlackLivesMatter and Black Twitter to
incorporate in my expected findings and overall research question.
Voices of Black Badgers
“Black Twitter is a safe space to discuss my academic and professional goals,
obstacles in achieving them, and a good space for shutting down the better
left unsaid comments from white twitter.”
“I think Black Twitter helps to keep me more informed on a lot of injustices
that my people are facing especially since current news media, especially
television, seem to be purposefully and obviously ignoring injustices going
on in the Black community.”
“I feel that the community is an important space to have in which issues of
race and the experiences of people of color can be discussed, as minorities
voices tend to be stifled when it comes to real life discourse.”
“Black Twitter represents black people being successful and makes me want
to continue my education even me.”
The Power of Black Twitter & Its Effects on Campus Climate
Marquise Mays, PEOPLE Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Results
References
Brock, A. (2012). From the blackhand side: Twitter As a Cultural Conversation. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 56(4), 529-549. doi: 10.1080/08838151.2012.732147
Florini, S. (2013). Tweets, tweeps, and signifying’ communication and cultural performance on “Black Twitter”. Television New Media XX(X), 1-15. doi: 10.1177/1527476413480247
Garza, A. (2014). A Hestory of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement. The Feminist Wire. Retrieved from http://thefeministwire.com/2014/10/blacklivesmatter-2/
Jones F. (2013). Is Twitter the underground railroad of activism? Salon Media Group.Retrieved from http://www.salon.com/2013/07/17/how_twitter_fuels_black_activism/
Manjoo, F. (2010). How black people use Twitter. The Slate Group. Retrieved from http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2010/08/how_black_people_use_twitter.single.html
Smith, A. (2011). Twitter update 2011. Pew Internet and American Life Project. Retrieved from http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Twitter-Update-2011.aspx
Wodak, R. & Meyers, M. (2001) Methods of critical discourse analysis. Sage Publications, 1(1). 124-125. Retrieved from http://www.fib.unair.ac.id/jdownloads/Materi%20Kuliah/Magister%20Kajian
%20Sastra%20dan%20Budaya/Analisis%20Wacana/methods_of_critical
_discourse_analysis_ruth_wodak_and_michael_meyer_sage_publications_2001.pdf#page=130
My graph showcases a diverse response based on how individuals defined
what Black Twitter means to themselves. 64% of students believe that Twitter
has an influence on the social atmosphere. Only 14% of students feel
comfortable attending their Predominately White Institution. 55% of students
described the diversity efforts here at UW-Madison to be very subtle. 51% of
students believed that racial microaggressions effect the social atmosphere on
campus. 51% of students believe that #BlackLivesMatter change social
climate at Predominately White Institutions. In conclusion, in an age of
social injustices, mass incarcerations, and police disparities, African-
American users on Twitter have allowed for this social media tool to
influence and improve social climate through solidarity at their respected
institutions . Through the hashtag #BlackTwitter, black users have been able
to categorize and create an “alternate” way to discuss black social discourse
that is different from past black culture identities of communication. With the
presence of the Black Voice and signifyin’, black users have found a way to
use a language that can only be understood by them and only for them.
#BlackLivesMatter Change the Social & Academic Climate for African
American Students at PWI
0%
15%
30%
45%
60%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Racial Microgressions at UW-Madison Play A Major Role in Campus
Social Atmosphere
0%
15%
30%
45%
60%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Social Networking Website
Most Frequently Used
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Facebook Instagram Twitter Other
Twitter Influences Social Atmosphere
on College Campuses
0%
18%
35%
53%
70%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Feels Completely Comfortable Attending PWI
0%
13%
25%
38%
50%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Describe UW-Madison's Diversity Efforts
0%
15%
30%
45%
60%
Non-Existant Very Subtle Developing Extremely Progressive