The Power of Social Media on Black Identity
Across decades, minorities have been portrayed as poor, ugly, criminals, and unintelligent affecting how the world views us and how we view ourselves. However, with the rise of Social Media, hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter and #BlackGirlMagic has given a voice to the voiceless, helping to bring awareness to diversity issues and the treatment of minorities. Most importantly, social media has helped us love ourselves. I personally decided to do this because hashtags like #BlackGirlMagic remind me just how beautiful and amazing we are. After years of the media defining beauty with European characteristics, #Blackgirlmagic helped me to see my hair as beautiful and worthy. Social media is finally a place where people of color can come together, support and love each other, and go against mainstream media.
Nellie Hernandez is a junior at Emory University majoring in Media Studies and African American Studies.