WASHINGTON — The fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, by the police in Ferguson, Missouri, has sparked protests and vigils — which ended in looting on Sunday night — but it’s also inspired an online response fueled by the depictions of young African-Americans in the media.
On Sunday night, Twitter lit up with the hashtag #IfTheyGunnedMeDown, which included photos of African-American men in their graduation gowns and military uniforms, as well as holding their young children, juxtaposed with photos of the same men in more aggressive poses. The tweets all ask variations on the same question: If I were fatally shot, which picture would be used to identify me in the media?
Some of the examples are below:
would the media use my past against me when I've done nothing but strive to be better black man?
— Him (@ZelThaGreat)
which picture would the media use ?
— Yung PeeWee ` (@_itsrico_)
would I be labeled an honor grad or a blunt smokah
— (@TopFlightRod)
, and I was unarmed, what picture would the media use to create a racialized bias?
— LEFT (@LeftSentThis)
what young black girl would they see
— Brie Nurse (@BriannaChevonne)
what picture would they use
— King Ghidorah (@__TrillClinton)
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