September 1

September 1

http://mg.co.za/article/2016-07-11-the-blacklivesmatter-movement-as-told-by-and-through-social-media/

In an article from July, 2016, Ra’eesa Pather wrote for the Mail&Guardian about how social media has played a role in bringing the BLM movement to South Africa. The topic of social media is integral to the movement for the ways in which it has propelled and encouraged adaption and support for the movement. Across the continent, Africans seem to be curious as to what level of involvement they can and should play in the movement that is taking place oceans away. As this article mentions, violence throughout the African continent, particularly in South Sudan, has some people questioning exactly which black lives matter? Lack of airtime and news coverage about the killings and violence across the continent has Africans questioning how much allegiance the international community will show them in relation to the support shown for the BLM movement. Social media however, is a platform from which anyone can engage in ongoing movements or rally support and awareness for one. As student protests in South Africa have intensified since they commenced in 2015, social media has been useful in the organization process and in spreading awareness to the rest of the world. The movement has even adopted some of its own hashtags such as #FeesMustFall and #Fees2017. It is likely that South Africans are taking a page from the BLM’s book because of the media success it has garnered and proven to be an effective means for online protesting.