Black Pioneers in Social Media

           

During recent studies, African Americans have shown escalating numbers dominating the social media atmosphere. Our social media sphere includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterst, YouTube, Tumblr, Flickr, Vine, and the list goes on. Laura Washington reported in  Chicago’s Sun Times article that a new study by Pew Research Centers reports 29% of African Americans tweet, compared to 16% among whites and Latinos respectively. Additionally, blacks use LinkedIn 30% more than their white counterparts at 22% and Latinos at 13% who post resumes and connect on the professional networking site. Many researchers did not have much to offer about the digital spurge of African Americans but I can concur with some valid points based off the article.  Social media has been cutting edge especially to our nation’s leader, Barack Obama’s tweet “four more years” back in 2012, which was the most re-tweeted ever.

          Although African Americans have negative trends and stigmas, social media has given us an outlet to showcase our knowledge, positivity in our own voices and terms. We no longer need the media to misrepresent us through news stories by so-called “experts,” “spokesmen,” and well-meaning journalist. Oftentimes the truth is left out, but we must admit that African Americans rule social media because we set futuristic trends that evolve into other cultures and nations across the world.

        

          In the article, elected mayor of Newark in 2006, Cory Booker adapted Twitter to connect with his constituents through a myriad of causes from public safety to healthy eating to charitable acts. His now 1.47 million followers wrote his name in history when he became New Jersey’s first black senator dubbed “Twitter’s favorite mayor.” Mayor Booker captured major fame by tweeting his philosophy on governing, advice, news and campaign appeals, dozens of times a day.

         With the advancement of technology African Americans can continue to excel and develop digital standards by conquering the most powerful communications today, social media.

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