DocNow Advisory Board Meeting Panel 2: Social Media and a Record of the Movement (Video)
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Beginning in August 2014, after the killing of Michael Brown, activists in Ferguson, Missouri forced a nation to pay attention to the epidemic of police violence against African Americans. Ferguson was central to the mainstreaming of what is now commonly referred to as the Black Lives Matter movement. Michael Brown’s family and neighbors, local community organizers, and protestors in Ferguson controlled the narrative of this story from the very beginning and the story was shared with the world, in large part, via social media platforms. Without their work in the streets and their ingenuity to amplify their stories via new media, it is likely Michael Brown’s story would not have been as widely known and Ferguson would not have been the catalyst for this social justice movement. The panelists, all of whom participated in the initial Ferguson protests and organizing that lasted almost a year, and who are still engaged in local community organizing today, will discuss their work over the past two years, how that work continues, and the impact of social media in the early days of their organizing. The panel will also offer perspectives on how they see their current and past activities being remembered, and what role, if any, they see for social media presenting a record of the movement for future audiences.
