Black Voices
A LONG NOTE TO YOU, THE READER I remember the first time I heard about “black Twitter”; I had so many questions. Wait--what’s black Twitter? Where does it exist--is it within the familiar blue-bird-logo Twitter (‘regular’ Twitter”) or on a different site? How do I look at it? And most importantly, what does one find on black Twitter? Years later, through a series of strategic follows, I’ve come closer to answering my original questions. Black Twitter B
is not a place, per se, but a reference to the conversations, media, and voices l engaging within a multitude of digital black communities. At any given moment a within the threads of Black Twitter, people are talking about any range of topics c k (many of them “intersectional”); they may be connected to local, national, or global
conversations on politics, art, media, education, health, science, technology, H identity, disability, or any combination of these. Personally, I began following i diverse, black voices because I wanted to open my eyes, ears, and heart to other s viewpoints, many of which push against things I thought I knew or believed without t o question. F E r B
y Living in a diverse world requires work, more than what we receive in our K-12 or R
U even our college educations. It’s not enough to “have black friends,” as we often M A
surround ourselves with friends who, at the end of the day, believe the things we R o do. Moreover, it’s not up to our black friends or colleagues to educate us on race Y
n and culture. We all have to do more of the heavy cognitive lifting. While this won’t 2 0 t
be true for everyone, Twitter worked for me because I was already there reading 1 h about news and culture each day. What happened when I was more mindful and 9
intentional about who I followed, was that I began discovering my own blind spots. A news story that seemed so ripe for a single, obvious interpretation would receive different treatment from the range of different voices in my feed. My gut reactions were being challenged in real-time, and I began to discover my own hidden biases. This is the value of that platform to me. Of course, Twitter being Twitter, one also has to be ready to overlook the trolls, bots, and bullies, that also use the platform; this is the reality of any social media platform. Each user will use the platform
differently; many people do not post at all, preferring instead to read and share a E post privately with friends. There is no one way to use social media, but if you treat it as a tool, as so many advocacy groups and social leaders do, it’s power is expansive.
So what about this list? The list that follows includes a truly diverse range of voices S from broad disciplinary, experiential, professional, and social spheres. Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate more than the icons of the past; it is an opportunity to listen to the voices and conversations happening right now in real time. It includes artists, influencers, activists, civic leaders, scientists, writers, journalists, educators, non-profit groups, and cultural changemakers. Each of these L voices speaks for themselves and those for whom they advocate; these are not the opinions of any one person or institution, and their presence on this list should certainly not be interpreted as an endorsement by ESLA, or as representing the voice of ESLA. It is a list that is intended to increase one’s exposure to black voices, black culture, and black excellence, to connect those who are curious about black A culture to conversations and perspectives they may not otherwise have access to. If Twitter is not for you, no problem, we've got an Instagram list as well.
BHM Committee Member Black Voices
SOCIAL MEDIA: TWITTER
5’7” BLACK MALE @ABSURDISTWORDS B
I try to facilitate discussion on those sensitive subjects that divide us.. l a c k
ACLU @ACLU H
The ACLU is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, legal and advocacy 501(c)(4) i s
organization. Visit our site for more about us and our affiliated org, t o
the ACLU Foundation. F E r B y R
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ANGELA RYE @ANGELA_RYE A R o
#TruthBringer in Chief, @CNN Political Commentator, CEO of Y
n @IMPACTStrategies, and Empowermenteur! #workWOKE 2 0 t
1 h 9
APRIL D RYAN @APRILDRYAN Author, Mother, White House Correspondent & Washington Bureau Chief- American Urban Radio Networks, CNN Political Analyst
BAKARI SELLERS @BAKARI_SELLERS E Former SC House of Rep '06 - '14. Democratic nominee for Lt. Gov. '14
BLACK CONTEMPORARY ART @BLACKCONTEMPART S A safe place for art about and by artists of the diaspora. | Tweets by @museummammy L BERENICE KING @BERNICEKING Bernice A. King is a connector, communicator, community builder, CEO of @TheKingCenter, and child of legendary global influencers A
BISHOP TALBERT SWAN @TALBERTSWAN Pastor l Prelate l Activist l Author l Talk Show Host l Chaplain ΙΦΘ l #COGIC l @SpringofHope413 l @naacpspfld l FB/IG @talbertswan Black Voices
SOCIAL MEDIA: TWITTER
BLACK DISABILITY COLLECTIVE @BLACKDISABILITY B
Here to uplift black disabled lives. Allies are welcome to follow. If l you’re black and disabled join our fb group. Ran by @ohheyteigh a c k
BLACK LIVES MATTER @BLKLIVESMATTER H i
BLM is an affirmation & embrace of the resistance & resilience of s t
Black people. Founded by @osopepatrisse @opalayo@aliciagarza o F E [email protected] r B y R
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BLACK WOMEN’S DEFENSE LEAGUE @BWDLEAGUE Y
n Black Women’s Defense League is a coalition of women of color from 2 0 t 1 all walks of life on the path to total liberation. h 9
BLACK GIRLS CODE @BLACKGIRLSCODE Our goal is to empower young women of color ages 7-17 to embrace the current tech marketplace as builders + creators. http://bit.ly/blackgirlsarethefuture E
BRITTANY PACKNETT @MSPACKYETTI learning in public so that the truth I teach moves people to action. | love & power. | former @HarvardIOP fellow. | ferguson forever. | real S bio on my site.
CHARLES M. BLOW @CHARLESMBLOW L NYT columnist. Author of #FireShutUpInMyBones A CHRISTOPHER EMDIN @CHRISEMDIN Prof at TC, Columbia U. Author of For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood ... Behind the magic that is #HipHopEd & #sciencegenius Black Voices
SOCIAL MEDIA: TWITTER
CLAUDIA L GORDON @CLAUDIALGORDON B
Disability Rights Advocate–Obama Adm Alumni–Mentor–Motivational l Speaker–Jamaica WI via SoBronx–Dog Owner–Fashionista–Tweets/pix a c
are my own ≠ endorsement k
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CLINT SMITH @CLINTSMITHIII s t o
Writer. Teacher. PhD Candidate @Harvard studying incarceration, F E education, & inequality. Author of Counting Descent. r B y R
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CLAUDIA L GORDON @CLAUDIALGORDON 2 0 t 1
Disability Rights Advocate–Obama Adm Alumni–Mentor–Motivational h 9
Speaker–Jamaica WI via SoBronx–Dog Owner–Fashionista–Tweets/pix
are my own ≠ endorsement
COLOROFCHANGE.ORG @COLOROFCHANGE We design campaigns powerful enough to end practices that unfairly hold Black people back, & champion solutions that move us all E forward. #UntilJusticeIsReal.
CRUTCHES&SPICE @IMANIBARBARIN S Black girl magic, disabled pride & feminism | MA Global Comms | thoughts mine | Creator #DisTheOscars + #VoteForDisabledLives | inquiries imani.barbarin gmail L
DERAY MCKESSON @DERAY I will never betray my heart. Activist. Organizer. Educator.
@PodSaveThePpl. Author, On The Other Side of Freedom. IG: iamderay A ([email protected]) Black Voices
SOCIAL MEDIA: TWITTER
ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS @REPCUMMINGS B
U.S. Representative from Maryland's 7th District, dedicated to serving l and empowering the people I’m sworn to represent. RT's and Follows a c
are not endorsements. k
ERICKA HART @IHEARTERICKA H i
Sexuality Educator|Speaker|Breast Cancer Survivor|Popcorn s t
Monster| Pronouns: She/They |Email: [email protected]] o F E r B y R
HEATHER C. MCGHEE @HMCGHEE U M
Distinguished Senior Fellow at @Demos_org & @DemosAction, A R o
@NBCNews Analyst. Views are my own. Y
n 2 0 t 1 ISMAIL MUHAMMAD @TRAPMOTIVES h 9
reviews editor @believermag. writer @The_Millions. contributing editor @zyzzyvamag. words @parisreview@Slate @thenation etc. board member @bookcritics
JELANI COBB @JELANI9 Harlem Resident, Staff Writer @NewYorker. Professor E @Columbiajourn, Foxhole Atheist. Skeptical citizen. Rooting for (almost) everybody black.
JEMELE HILL @JEMELEHILL S Staff writer for The ATLANTIC. Born and raised by Detroit. Grew up at Michigan State. L JOY REID @JOYANNREID “Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.” - James Baldwin #AMJoy #reiders A
KAMALA HARRIS @KAMALAHARRIS U.S. Senator and candidate for president. Wife, Momala, Auntie. Fighting for the people. No corporate PACs, just people like you. Text JOIN to 70785 to join us. Black Voices
SOCIAL MEDIA: TWITTER
KEITH BOYKIN @KEITHBOYKIN B
@CNN commentator. Previously on CNBC. New York Times bestselling l author. Dartmouth. Harvard Law. Columbia IRAAS. Former White a c
House aide. http://keithboykin.com k
H i
KRISTEN CLARKE @KRISTENCLARKEJD s t
Pres & Exec Dir., national Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under o F E Law (@LawyersComm). We lead @866OURVOTE. r B y R
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LAUREN UNDERWOOD @LAURENUNDERWOOD o Y
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Registered Nurse. Congresswoman representing the IL-14 district. Find 2 0 me on Facebook at UnderwoodForCongress and on IG at t 1 h
laurenaunderwood 9
MARC LAMONT HILL @MARCLAMONTHILL Temple University Professor. Host of BET News. Owner of Uncle Bobbie’s. Author. Activist. Father. Sixers Fanatic. Philly Born. ΚΑΨ MADE E
MAXINE WATERS @REPMAXINEWATERS Proudly serving the people of California's 43rd District in Congress.
Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee (@FSCDems) S
MICHELLE SINGLETARY @SINGLETARYM L "If debt were a person, I'd slap it!" Believer in the "debt dash" method Washington Post Personal Finance Columnist. Author, "The 21 Day Financial Fast" A NAACP @NAACP Founded 1909, the NAACP is the nation's first and largest grassroots– based civil rights organization. Over 2,000 volunteer-run branches nationwide. Black Voices
SOCIAL MEDIA: TWITTER
NABSE_ORG @NABSE_ORG B
The National Alliance of Black School Educators(NABSE) is devoted to l furthering the success of the nation's children, particularly those of a c
African descent. k
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NAT’L URBAN LEAGUE @NATURBANLEAGUE s t o
The National Urban League is the nation's largest historic civil rights F E + urban advocacy org., devoted to empowering communities + r B y
changing lives since 1910. R
U M A R o NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL @NEWYORKSTATEAG Y
n 2 0 Official Twitter account of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ t 1 h
Office 9
RASHAD ROBINSON @RASHADROBINSON President @ColorOfChange, foodie and hat aficionado. Changing the written and unwritten rules in media, tech, business & gov't. Views my own. E
REP FREDERICA WILSON @REPWILSON Former educator & state legislator; founder & chair of FL Ports Caucus; founder of 5000 Role Models Project; #WHEREARETHEGIRLS? S
RON CLARK ACADEMY @RONCLARKEACADEMY L Official Twitter handle for the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta • Instagram: @ronclarkacademy // #RCAinspired#ronclarkacademy A SAFIYA UMOJA NOBLE PHD @SAFIYANOBLE New book, Algorithms of Oppression at http://bit.ly/AlgorithmsOpp | Researcher, author, media go-to on race, gender and technology Black Voices
SOCIAL MEDIA: TWITTER
SANDRA (CHAP)CHAPMAN @SKCHAP B
Afro-Latina, Lesbian, Educator, Partner, Mámi of three. Committed to l enriching her life with a diverse village of people who will share their a c
stories. Dr. Sandra (Chap) Chapman, Director of Equity and k
Community at The Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School. H i s t o
SASHA CENTER @SASHACENTER1 F E r B
SASHA CENTER is a sexual assault service, prevention and educational y R
agency which is designed to address rape from an African American U M
perspective. A R o Y
n 2 0 SHAUN WOODLY, PHD @SHAUNWOODLY t 1 h Educator | Speaker | Best-Selling Author #MoveTheClass | 9
Professional Development Expert #TeachHustleInspire Host
SHERRILYN IFILL @SIFILL_LDF President & Director-Counsel of LDF (NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund), the nation's premier civil rights law organization. E Tweets are my own.
SHELDON EAKINS @SHELDONEAKINS S Director of Special Education Shoshone-Bannock School District│Father│Husband│ Host for #LeadingEquity Podcast│AΦA L SHONDA RHIMES @SHONDARHIMES "What will you do instead?" "WHATEVER I WANT." TED Talk: http://go.ted.com/C7HN , checkout http://shondaland.com A
SOUL @SOULPHOODIE soulPhoodie celebrates the contributions and creativity of black food culture#soulfood #foodie Black Voices
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SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER @SPLCENTER B
The Southern Poverty Law Center combats hate, intolerance, and l discrimination through education and litigation. Founded in 1971. a c
Cover: AP Photo/Matt Rourke k
H STACEY ABRAMS @STACEYABRAMS i Founder of FAIR FIGHT GEORGIA. Author of “Minority Leader” & co- s t o
founder @NowAccount @TheFamilyRoom1. AKA Selena Montgomery. F E r B y R
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SYMONE D. SANDERS @SYMONEDSANDERS M A
Spokesperson for the culture. Strategist. on @CNN & often R o w/@PrioritiesUSA. Contributor @CrookedMedia. Spr19 @USCPolFuture Y
n Fellow. [email protected] 2 0 t 1 h 9
TA-NEHISI COATES @TANEHISICOATS Writer
TARANA BURKE @TARANABURKE Servant Leader. [Not found in bio: She is also the founder of the #MeToo movement and Survivor Stories.] E
THE ROOT @THEROOT The Root is a digital magazine that provides thought-provoking commentary and news from a variety of black perspectives. S
TROY KEMP @TKEMP68 L Colgate '90. Executive Director of the National Center for the Development of Boys (@Center4Boys) and Head Lacrosse Coach at McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN A ZELLIE @ZELLIEIMANI All Black Everything. Teacher. Blogger. Activist. Brother. Son. Contact: [email protected]