WASHINGTON — The fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, by the police in Ferguson, Missouri, has sparked protests and vigils — which ended in looting on Sunday night — but it’s also inspired an online response fueled by the depictions of young African-Americans in the media.
On Sunday night, Twitter lit up with the hashtag #IfTheyGunnedMeDown, which included photos of African-American men in their graduation gowns and military uniforms, as well as holding their young children, juxtaposed with photos of the same men in more aggressive poses. The tweets all ask variations on the same question: If I were fatally shot, which picture would be used to identify me in the media?
Some of the examples are below:
#IfTheyGunnedMeDown would the media use my past against me when I've done nothing but strive to be better black man? pic.twitter.com/hoXomS0Foj
— Him (@ZelThaGreat) August 11, 2014
#IfTheyGunnedMeDown which picture would the media use ? #RIPMikeBrown pic.twitter.com/Gk0i4kn1KC
— Yung PeeWee ` (@_itsrico_) August 11, 2014
#IfTheyGunnedMeDown would I be labeled an honor grad or a blunt smokah pic.twitter.com/BCaRqMCMn8
— (@TopFlightRod) August 11, 2014
#IfTheyGunnedMeDown, and I was unarmed, what picture would the media use to create a racialized bias? pic.twitter.com/AolLMfiOJV
— LEFT (@LeftSentThis) August 10, 2014
#IfTheyGunnedMeDown what young black girl would they see pic.twitter.com/NWx9MYfHOs
— Brie Nurse (@BriannaChevonne) August 11, 2014
#IfTheyGunnedMeDown what picture would they use pic.twitter.com/lJ3k3tT63n
— King Ghidorah (@__TrillClinton) August 11, 2014
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