Democracy Remixed
Democracy Remixed Paper
Aaron L. Banks II
111807345
AASP 202: Black Culture in the U.S.
WB11
Today, we live in the year 2014. In this year, African Americans, as any American, have so many opportunities at their fingertips. Since the inception of the Internet, and handheld devices such as smartphones, that allow you to browse the Internet, information is readily available at any moment. With this quick access to information, you have the ability to find out what you want to be, how to get there, and make your dreams a reality. If we take a look at American History, we see that many African Americans before us accomplished many things, in various disciplines, such as become the surgeon general of the United States, Win an Olympic Gold medal, Become a President of an Ivy League University, become CEO of a Fortune 500 company or even become President of the United States. These and the others on the extensive list of African American Firsts did not come easy or were given. In the words of Cohen, “They had to work hard, be respectful, and always have your superior humanity on display for whites to observe.” With more and more 1st being accomplished, it has become more possible for many African Americans to reach those same positions or go further. Today, in the year 2014, we also have new problems to face in terms of this new technology.
Black twitter, for example, is an unofficial title for a community on twitter that has a huge impact online and in the media. Whether there is a primetime television show or some breaking news story, Black twitter has you covered. Seemingly as a voice for all black Americans, this is heavily skewed by its demographic. Consisting of mainly young adults, this community becomes very negative and often creates moral panic and suppresses each other in the black community. The post-racial thesis suggests that in the post-civil rights era, material conditions have improved for Black Americans,
Aaron L. Banks II
111807345
AASP 202: Black Culture in the U.S.
WB11
Today, we live in the year 2014. In this year, African Americans, as any American, have so many opportunities at their fingertips. Since the inception of the Internet, and handheld devices such as smartphones, that allow you to browse the Internet, information is readily available at any moment. With this quick access to information, you have the ability to find out what you want to be, how to get there, and make your dreams a reality. If we take a look at American History, we see that many African Americans before us accomplished many things, in various disciplines, such as become the surgeon general of the United States, Win an Olympic Gold medal, Become a President of an Ivy League University, become CEO of a Fortune 500 company or even become President of the United States. These and the others on the extensive list of African American Firsts did not come easy or were given. In the words of Cohen, “They had to work hard, be respectful, and always have your superior humanity on display for whites to observe.” With more and more 1st being accomplished, it has become more possible for many African Americans to reach those same positions or go further. Today, in the year 2014, we also have new problems to face in terms of this new technology.
Black twitter, for example, is an unofficial title for a community on twitter that has a huge impact online and in the media. Whether there is a primetime television show or some breaking news story, Black twitter has you covered. Seemingly as a voice for all black Americans, this is heavily skewed by its demographic. Consisting of mainly young adults, this community becomes very negative and often creates moral panic and suppresses each other in the black community. The post-racial thesis suggests that in the post-civil rights era, material conditions have improved for Black Americans,