Activists as Martyrs
The movement uses cases and examples of black mistreatment in the media to further their movement, and to create the foundation of which the movement is based on. One additional tactic within the activist culture is the ability to use the sacrifices of activists and members of the movement to back the cause. Activists who deal time and again with the weight of being a voice for the movement, and are often painted as martyrs to the cause. Members of the movement use the sacrifices of activists to show the continuing toll the movement has, as well as adds to the list of those who have fallen victim to black discrimination in North America. Certain media tactics are used when discussing activists who have died, if they are showing them in a sacrificial light. These include showing photos where the individual is smiling or wearing nice clothing and often emphasize their youth.
Connections to Historical Movements
The Black Lives Matter movement has taken a page from the books of many historical civil rights movements, and has adapted their tactics and learned from the mistakes of their predecessors to make a modernized and successful movement. Activists of today’s movement used media accounts, video and records to study the civil rights movement of the 1960s. These media accounts and documentation helped Black Lives Matter activists determine what forms of activism would work in a modern society, and what elements should be left behind. The activists of today have rejected the “charismatic leadership model” as they determined it was glorifying of old-patriarchal leaders. This allowed the general public to lead the motion to create a united front and allowing the faces of the movement to be the people that are killed by the police. The “faces” of the movement are the black lives that matter, rather than an outdated political figurehead. Living in a culture highly motivated by media, current activists use historical reccords attempt to mirror certain civil rights photos and situations, such as current-day activists raising their right hands in the traditional “clenched fist” of black power. Frequent images and media comparisons also detail how Martin Luther King’s march-oriented peaceful protests can also be seen today. Media has a much larger role in this revolution, especially in sharing the message, emphasizing the collective over the individual and creating calls to action across the nation.
Activist Culture
The Black Lives Matter movement and protests have awakened a culture of black activists that support the cause. One large difference between the activists of the BLM Movement and those of other social justice movements is that the activists for BLM are the general public. The activists can vary from a student to a housewife to a businessman, all with the common desire to rally around the unjust treatment of black people. These activists refuse to stand by the racial and systemic discriminations that black individuals face as well as call notices to the brutalities and injustices of powerful bodies.
Below, go beyond the rallies and look at the ways activists gain support for the cause by making BLM at the mind's forefront in daily society.
Holding institutions accountable
Many procedurals and television dramas that take ideas from current events and news stories are now using Black Lives Matter and the events of Ferguson to represent in their television shows. The activists behind these shows use thir television platforms not only to bring the events of the movement into the primetime hours and into the minds of the audiences, but also use the shows at a platform for speaking their opinions about the issues. These platforms allow for a personal, though dramatized, face on the story and interact with audeinces that are more willing to watch sometihing that is created for entertainment, rather than news.
Film and TV as a method of Activism
Because of the attention of the movment as of late, activists have the ear of important officials in many insitutions, such as governments, and the police force. Knowing full well that many polititians must have a stance on the issues of Black Lives Matter in their debates for political candidacy, activists use the opportunity to reach out to political leaders in order to more fully explore and describe the issues and demands of the movement. Activists use these discussions to hold the important bodies accountable and to call for change in a very public manner.
BLM Activist MarShawn McCarrel was used by media as a martyr to cause. McCarrel’s activist nature was described extensively in the media, connecting his suicide to the stresses and tolls that being a fighter for a cause can have. McCarrel used his death - and the media coverage that he knew would follow - as a statement, killing himself on statement, killing himself on statehouse steps, knowing that the press surrounding his death would mention this fact.
Black Lives Matter activists use political elections and the issues surrounding their movement to hold politicians accountable. Black Lives Matter activists met with Hillary Clinton to discuss their list of requests and to have a detailed conversation regarding the issues and her platform points to solve them.
Episode 14 of season 4 of Shonda Rhimes’ Scandal uses the issues of Ferguson to inspire a storyline that breaks down some of the struggles of black individuals. The episode tackles racism, activism and police brutality, as well as the sense of community surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement.
Black Lives Matter movement protests often are reminiscent of Martin Luther Kings’ leadership style in the Civil Rights Movement. In both movements, marches and peaceful protests were key in creating a united body of people working towards the cause. Unlike with MLK, the Black Lives Matter movement has moved away from the concept of the “movement leader” who is the face of the movement, and has become a more “we-the-people” oriented movement.
Black Lives Matter movement protests use iconography of the Civil Rights Movement in their use of the Black Power fist, which can often be seen in their marches and demonstrations.
