African Americans protest media portrayals of black victims with #IfTheyGunnedMeDown hashtag
In the wake of the shooting death of Ferguson, Missouri resident Michael Brown, African-Americans have taken to Twitter to highlight how the media portrays blacks if they should become victims of police shootings.
Initial photos showed Brown in a cap and gown at his high school graduation, but a lot of media organizations and conservative bloggers are increasingly turning to a photo of Brown throwing up a gang sign. The images are an obvious attempt to sensationalize the shooting, and infer that Brown was a thug.
Black Twitter has responded with the #IfTheyGunnedMeDown hashtag.
#IfTheyGunnedMeDown I have a feeling I know what picture they’d use. pic.twitter.com/A0eUvBqoUP
— Pete Haviland-Eduah (@TheNotoriousPHE) August 11, 2014
#IfTheyGunnedMeDown would I be seen as gang affiliated or a leader in education ? pic.twitter.com/SdOrKA1Mhh
— BigBrotherAlmighty (@AfricanMalcolm) August 11, 2014
The hashtag reveals users posting multiple pictures of their selves, asking which photo the media would use to draw traffic and dictate the narrative.
Black Twitter you’ve done it again. Amazing work.
Sound off below!