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~ ‘Black twitter’ as a new social activism tool?

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The CSRA’s FREE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER VOL.3 NO.46

AUGUST 14-20, 2014

déjà vu

Another black teen shot dead in the street

A police officer in riot gear watches as protesters march in front of the Ferguson police station on Monday, Aug. 11, 2014.

Marchers are protesting Saturday’s police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager. Photo by Robert Cohen - St. Louis Post Dispatch

Eddie Bussey 706-772-9800

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Creola McCalister, 88, protests the killing of teenager Michael Brown on Tuesday at a rally outside Greater St. Mark Family Church. Brown’s death Saturday has sparked both peaceful rallies and violence this week. Scott Olson Getty Images

Shooting spurs hashtag effort on stereotypes

By Tanzina Vega New York Times When Tyler Atkins heard about the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, 18, an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Mo., he posted on Twitter a picture of himself in a tuxedo, with a saxophone around his neck, next to a photograph of himself dressed in a black T-shirt with a blue bandanna tied around his head and his finger pointed at the camera.

Like hundreds of young African-Americans, he placed his pictures under the hashtag #IfTheyGunnedMeDown, protesting Mr. Brown’s killing by a police officer and the way young black men are depicted in the news media. He said that Mr. Brown’s identity was distorted and filtered through negative stereotypes, and that the same would have been done to him with the bandanna image if he found himself the victim of a similar event.

The first picture was taken after a

jazz concert at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, where Mr. Atkins, a senior, studies music. The other was taken during a recording for a rap video he made with friends for a school math project.

“Had the media gained ahold of this picture, I feel it would be used to portray that I was in a gang, which is not true at all,” Mr. Atkins, 17, wrote in an email.

The speed with which the shooting of Mr. Brown has resonated on social media has helped propel and transform a local shooting into a national cause, as African-American commenters draw attention to continued episodes of violence directed at African-Americans and the media portrayals of young black men. “This affects me deeply because the stories of Mike Brown, Renisha McBride, Trayvon Martin, Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo and many more could have been me,” Mr. Atkins wrote, referring to the shooting deaths of blacks, some at the hands of police officers.

On Tuesday, President Obama issued a statement calling the shooting “heartbreaking” and urging Americans to remember Mr. Brown “through reflection and understanding.”

Mr. Obama said, “I know the events of the past few days have prompted strong passions,” adding, “We should comfort each other and talk with one another in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds.”

Brittney Gault, 28, a student at DePaul University, said the #IfTheyGunnedMeDown campaign gained popularity because of the strength of black Twitter users collectively known as “Black Twitter.”

“They are really a media response team,” Ms. Gault said. “Everybody is tapped into Black Twitter.”

And the social media chatter and anguish have become part of a complicated sea of viral words and images — a picture Tuesday of police officers in combat gear pointing military-style rifles at a young black man in jeans and a blue T-shirt was one of them —

that have created a new and charged environment for social activism.

According to data from the Pew Research Internet Project, 40 percent of African-Americans ages 18 to 29 use Twitter, compared with 28 percent of whites of the same age.

Since the #IfTheyGunnedMeDown campaign began, the phrase has been used on Twitter more than 168,000 times. Commenters on Twitter are also hoping to organize a series of vigils called the National Moment of Silence, which is meant to commemorate victims like Mr. Brown. The St. Louis County N.A.A.C.P. urged people on Twitter to use the hashtags #MikeBrown and #blacklifematters “so that your posts can be seen nationally.”

Local authorities in Ferguson are less enthusiastic about social media’s role, blaming it for inciting looting and violence following after the events. “They have the ability to understand where they’re all going Continued on Page 4

Black Twitter and Social Change: Augustans have something to say

by Vincent Hobbs Political and social protest is the hallmark of a free society. Boycotts, sit-ins, marches and non-violent demonstrations have moved entire nations to change the way its citizens are treated by government entities.

With each generation come new tools to disseminate information and to organize people to effectively communicate their grievances.

“Black Twitter”, which is defined by Wikipedia as “a cultural identity on the Twitter social network focused on issues of interest to the black community, particularly in the United States,” is a new form of social and

political protest that has sprung to life, allowing a new form of activism that has an instant reach of millions.

UPW contacted several Augustans to get their insight on the social web site, but the most were not aware that “Black Twitter” existed. A few said that they “don’t do Twitter.” Augustan Jeff Watson expressed that he “will check out the site from now on’’ after hearing about the “Black Twitter” feed. Vincent C. Sullivan-Hobbs, a student who posts to Instagram and Facebook, also wasn’t aware of the feed. “People need to have a place to make their voice heard – that’s the only way things will change,” he said

after reviewing the Twitter page.

The demographics for the heaviest Twitter users include 40% of AfricanAmericans, aged 18-29, according to the Pew Research Internet Project. In contrast, only 28% of whites in the same age range use Twitter.

Recent events involving law enforcement officers killing unarmed black males has sparked a national outrage, and “Black Twitter” has been at the forefront of keeping the pressure on authorities to become accountable for their actions. A fascinating development, born out of frustration with the media’s portrayal of young, black males, is the Twitter feed #ifthey-

gunnedmedown. The feed features side-by-side photographs of young men and women in which one image portrays a casual look, such as jeans with t-shirt and baseball cap, contrasted with a second image of the person in professional or work attire – and the question “which photo will the media use, if I am gunned down?” is posed to the reader.

The postings are a response to the media’s portrayal of gunned-down teen Michael Brown, in which a photo of him giving a peace sign, while wearing a Nike jersey and jeans, attracted Continued on Page 4

3 UrbanProWeekly • AUGUST 14 - 20, 2014

The New Laney HS campus scheduled for completion in 2015.

An empty lot awaits new construction at the site for Lucy Craft Laney Comprehensive High School on Laney-Walker Blvd. The projected completion date for the project is March 2015.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Inner city changing its face Piles of rubble are all that remains of a section of Cherry Tree Crossing, a 75-year-old public housing complex that was home to 355 families. The Augusta Housing Authority is slated to build a new mixed-income apartment complex at the 15th Street location after the demolition is completed. Walton Communities, the same developer that constructed Walton Oaks and the Legacy at Walton Oaks, was selected for the project.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

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UrbanProWeekly LLC Mailing Address: 3529 Monte Carlo Drive Augusta, Georgia 30906

Publisher Ben Hasan 706-394-9411 Managing Editor Frederick Benjamin Sr. 706-836-2018

Sales & Marketing Phone: 706-394-9411 Photography and Social Media Courtesy of Vincent Hobbs

email: Ben Hasan bzhasan54@yahoo.com Frederick Benjamin Sr. editor@urbanproweekly.com Vincent Hobbs coolveestudio@gmail.com

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Black stereotypes from page 2 to be, and they can basically plan where they want to go next,” said Jon Belmar, the St. Louis County police chief. “So it’s a really efficient way to communicate.”

Local officials have also declined to release the name of the officer who shot Mr. Brown, citing concerns about the officer’s safety because of threats on social media.

The image of Mr. Brown that spurred the campaign on Twitter showed him with the fingers of his right hand extended in what some considered a peace sign, but which others called a gang sign. A spokeswoman for NBC News, one of the outlets that published the photograph online, said it was taken from Mr. Brown’s personal Facebook page, where it was his profile picture.

In a subsequent article about Mr. Brown’s killing, the network used a different photograph of him that showed him wearing headphones and gazing at the camera.

Tosan Tutse-Tonwe, 32, a blogger, consultant and co-founder of a nonprofit group called Act 4 Accountability, said photographs remove context from a situation, particularly in the wake of negative stereotypes about black men.

Jeremy Connally posted a photograph of a rabbit nuzzling against his face, as well as a picture with a red scarf tied around his face.

Mr. Tutse-Tonwe posted a photograph of himself wearing a T-shirt from his group and another with a black male friend who is flashing peace signs. Mr. Tutse-Tonwe said he chose to post the photograph with his friend after the image of Mr. Brown making the same hand gesture was circulated.

“Mike was throwing up a peace sign and people thought it was a gang sign? You’ve got to be kidding me,” Mr. Tutse-Tonwe said. “People make these leaps and there’s no basis in them and they go unchecked.”

Jeremy Connally, 24, a student studying computer science at University of Texas at Arlington, agreed. “They’re portrayed as if they deserved it, cop versus robbers, good guys versus bad guys,” he said. The Twitter engagement is part of broader efforts to use social media as a tool for education and engagement, particularly among the young. Few things have been more of a spur to passionate campaigns on Twitter and other social media than some of the racially charged killings of young blacks in recent years.

Last week, when The Associated Press published a Twitter message announcing that Theodore P. Wafer had been found guilty of second-degree murder for killing Ms. McBride, Twitter users reacted swiftly, criticizing the post that described Mr. Wafer as a “suburban Detroit homeowner” and Ms. McBride as a “woman who showed up drunk on porch.”

In response, Twitter users posted African-American history images, including one featuring a slave ship with the headline, “Families board wrong ship, end up in wrong place.”

Yemisi Miller-Tonnet, 19, a student at Spelman College in Atlanta, said social media movements should be taken seriously. “Hashtag activism is activism,” Ms. Miller-Tonnet said. “We might be tweeting from a couch, but we’re also getting up and doing the work that needs to be done.”

Samantha Storey and Alan Blinder contributed reporting.

Black stereotypes from page 2 more attention than the initial photo of Brown’s high school cap-and-gown image that was released. The peace sign photo was even interpreted by some conservative media outlets as a gang sign, fueling the fire behind the Twitter protest of how blacks are

Stop Da Stigma 4th Annual Red Party On Augusta 30, get ready to have a great and fun time for the Awareness of HIV/AIDS at the Stop Da Stigma 4th Annual Red Party.

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portrayed in the media.

With a reach of over 645 million active users, Twitter is emerging as a positive catalyst for young people who are in engaged in social and political activism. “Black Twitter” could be a game-changer.

Tax Hike Public Hearing The Augusta Commission on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 will conduct a Public Hearing at 1:30 P.M. to receive public comments regarding the 2014 proposed property tax increase and a Special Called Meeting at 2:00 P.M. to adopt the 2014 millage rate in the Lee Beard Commission Chamber, Room 200B in the Municipal Building, 530 Greene Street.

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BY KRISTIE ROBIN JOHNSON

One step forward, two steps back

L

ate last week, a Michigan jury found Theodore Wafer guilty of second-degree murder in the slaying of 19-yearold Renisha McBride. Back in November 2013, Wafer shot and killed McBride out of an apparent irrational fear as she knocked on his door in the middle of the night seeking help because she had crashed her car in his neighborhood. Finally, the so called “stand your ground” defense had been rejected by a jury. Twelve human beings wisely agreed that overreacting to wrongheaded and preconceived notions does not justify cold-blooded murder. The McBride family’s unspeakable tragedy became something of a national legal triumph for civil rights and race relations. For a moment, it seemed as though we were turning a corner.

Then, on Saturday, tragedy struck again.

Eighteen-year-old college hopeful, Michael Brown, was shot and killed by a Ferguson, Missouri police officer. Details are still emerging about the specific events that led up to the shooting. But it is clear that Mr. Brown was unarmed. It’s almost a foregone conclusion that Mr. Brown was African-American. The shooting has triggered protests, an uprising in the suburban St. Louis community, and a nauseating feeling of deja vu across black America. We’ve been here before. We’ve lost so many sons to police violence that we no longer feel shock or awe in these instances. The only emotion left is a numb familiar grieving. As a community, we’ve become uniquely accustomed to the tears of inconsolable mothers.

We are far too well acquainted with the sight of youthful faces lying in caskets. It is our tragic second nature to feel abandoned by those who have promised to protect us.

It seems at times that the great burden of being black in America is the traumatic and near constant expectation of injustice.

One of my Caucasian colleagues asked, as many white Americans will in the wake of these types of events, “What sense does it make to riot?” Her question was fair. It is indeed senseless to burn down buildings, destroy property, and steal merchandise in the name of justice. It’s not something that any of our leaders would stand for or condone. But, sadly, it is a reaction that they may understand. While

Runs Missionary Baptist Church Events Runs Missionary Baptist Church invites the public to its Women’s Conference on Friday, August 22 through Sunday August 24, 2014.

On Friday, August 22 at 7 p.m., Rev. Monica Cofer of Carpentersville Baptist Church, North Augusta will be the speaker.

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Lesley McSpadden, the mother of 18-year-old Michael Brown

looting and rioting makes no sense, try making sense out of the fact that an unarmed boy was shot and killed by law enforcement. Then try making sense out of the fact that this isn’t even a rare occurrence if you happen to be African-American. Try making sense out of the fact that as a mother of a black child, you have the arduous and unfair task of explaining to that child why a different set of rules applies to them, especially when it comes to dealing with law enforcement. None of it makes any sense.

With any hope, the family of Michael Brown will get justice for their son.

We often say “no justice, no peace.”

We should also remember that without peace, justice cannot prevail.

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Good Shepherd Baptist Church

Rev. Clarence Moore, Pastor 1714 Olive Road / P. O. Box 141 (mailing address) Augusta, GA 30903 706/733-0341- Telephone/706/667-0205 – Fax E-mail address: admin@goodshepherdaugusta.org Web address: goodshepherdaugusta.org Rev. Clarence Moore Church Service: 7:45 & 11:00 a.m.

Church School: 9:45 a.m. / Prayer Service: 11:00 a.m. – Wednesday Bible Study: 9:00 a.m. - Saturday / 7:00 p.m. - Wednesday

Everfaithful Missionary Baptist Church

314 Sand Bar Ferry Road Augusta, Georgia 30901 (706) 722- 0553 Church School Sunday 9:25am Morning Worship Sunday 11am Evening Worship 6pm (1st & 3rd Sunday) Midday Prayer 12pm Wednesday Intercessory Prayer/Bible Study 6pm Wednesday

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Commentary

Get On Up – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!

By Corey Washington Special to UrbanProWeekly

W

hen Augustans found out that a James Brown movie was being made, we were ecstatic. James Brown was still alive then and Spike Lee was hired to direct the film. Little did we know that James Brown’s life would be cut short on Dec. 25th, 2006.

After Brown’s death, a free for all occurred with messy litigation ensuing. The rights to the movie were in limbo for some time, but finally Mick Jagger and Brian Grazer stepped in to make the movie a reality. Spike Lee was out as the director and Tate Taylor was brought in to direct.

It was then that Augusta found out that Get On Up would not be shot in Augusta. All shooting locations were to be shot in director Tate Taylor’s home state of Mississippi.

Furthermore, Augusta wondered if we would be left out altogether. With all these mixed emotions concerning the film I decided to lay out The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Get On Up. The Good: (The acting, particularly that of Chadwick Boseman/ Better understanding of the complexities of James Brown) The movie started off with one of the funniest scenes of the whole movie. Many who know the events in the life of James Brown can recall the incident where somebody was using his bathroom at his building here in Augusta. It is unclear whether Mr. Brown was mad because someone used his bathroom or because they forgot to spray some air freshener after they did their business. But the whole situation is overblown when Mr. Dynamite gets his shotgun from his truck. It was the beginning of the end for Mr. Brown when he put a bullet hole in the roof. This led to a two state chase from Augusta to Aiken, S.C., where Mr. Brown’s truck was riddled with bullets. It was later discovered that Mr. Brown was high on PCP while this was all going on.

Chadwick Boseman absolutely kills this scene in the movie.

Watching the movie, you can’t help but come away understanding the complex character of James Brown more. Seeing the turmoil in his early life and how his mother and father abandoned him really drives home the point of why he was so resilient. Seeing the domestic violence between his mother and father and then later between him and his second wife Dee Dee, played by Jill Scott, one can only wonder if it was a learned behavior by Mr. Brown. A troubled childhood is no excuse for violence towards women, but it does give some context to the situation.

Most of those men and women that we put on a pedestal are complex figures. They have their great moments and their not so great moments.

Brown is no different. Those people that he hurt the most have forgiven

him and recognize his greatness and good qualities. They choose to focus on the good that he did for the community and the healing that he brought to people of all colors.

They still give turkeys and toys to the unfortunate in Augusta in his name during the holidays.

In addition, his daughter Deanna has founded J.A.M.P., which is a music academy for local Augusta children. Many of the scenes in Get On Up were well acted and exciting.

There weren’t many down scenes in the movie. The dancing and musical scenes were on point and the comedic scenes were too. I encourage everyone to check out Get On Up weather you like James Brown or not.

The Bad: (Not shooting the movie in Augusta/leaving out crucial people and episodes in JB’s life/poor screenwriting and directing.

If JB were alive, he never would have let them shoot the movie entirely in Mississippi. The scenes that were supposed to represent the CSRA, looked nothing like this area.

I understand director Tate Taylor wanting to help out his hometown, but his main concern should have been making the best movie possible.

Glaring omissions: One of the biggest ones was the cape man Danny Ray being missing from the film. I got a chance to speak with Danny Ray at the Augusta Red Carpet event and he was just as surprised as the rest of us as to why he was left out.

He was J.B’s cape man and emcee for 46 yrs. He mentioned that it was a lot of things that the people making the movie probably didn’t know about James Brown because they never consulted him.

Another glaring omission is that of J.B.’s third wife Adrienne. She was a big part of his life and died tragically due to complications from plastic surgery. (like Kayne West’s mother) James Brown’s son as a result of that marriage Darryl Brown was recently interviewed and he agreed with Ray. Darryl felt it was a travesty that Ray wasn’t in the movie and also stressed that many people who knew Brown intimately were not consulted, including him. Other notable figures left out: Mr. Bobbit, JB’s longtime manager, Fred Wesley, his longtime band director, and Al Sharpton, his longtime friend and confidant.

Breaking the fourth wall: For those that don’t know, breaking the fourth wall is when a character interacts with the audience that’s watching the movie. Several times J.B. looks at the audience and narrates the movie.

This takes away from the seriousness of the film. It’s no big secret that this movie will be compared to Jamie Foxx’s portrayal in the movie Ray. While I loved Chadwick Boseman in this film and hope he gets an Oscar, I can’t help but thinking that the cheesy nature of the film may hurt his chances. It would be one thing for Boseman to break the forth wall during comedic scenes, but he does

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this during some dramatic moments.

The Ugly: (Black involvement was very thin) When Spike Lee was originally cast as the director of the JB biopic; many wanted him to give JB the same treatment that he gave Malcolm X. When Lee was no longer involved, many thought another black director would be cast to tell the story of one of the most influential black people in America. That didn’t happen. Mick Jagger took over to team with producer Brian Grazer and director Tate Taylor, an all-white team. Not only that, but they also chose two British screenplay writers and all the story writers were white.

Were there not any competent black writers to add to the team who could have added some authenticity to the film? Would an addition of credible black writers make Get On Up a better film? Yes and yes are the answers to both questions. How did the film do at the box office? As of this writing, the film has yet to break even on its budget of $30 million. It has grossed $23.7 million dollars as of Aug. 11th.

I will stop short of telling people not to see the movie because it lacks authenticity. I will say, just see the movie so you can join in the conversation. Ultimately, I hope that another biopic of JB is made with black involvement and is shot here in Augusta. After all, how can you make a movie about Soul Brother #1 and not have any soul brothers or sisters on the writing team? That’s like talking loud and sayin’ nothing!

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