Can Twitter Improve Sisterhood Among Black Women?

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The age of social networking has provided millions people with the ability to connect with others like never before. Twitter is one of the most popular social media sites in the world with over 500 million registered users. Out of all social media outlets, twitter is especially popular among black people. The black twitter world is always booming with gossip, feuds, breaking news, and so much more.

Black women in particular occupy a unique space on twitter. Almost every week, there is a new beef between black women on twitter. It is disheartening to continuously see black women tear each other down in such a public forum. Every day we are faced with the outside world telling us we are not good enough, yet now we are seeing black women openly tear each other down.

Whether it's Azealia Banks (who is infamous on twitter for beefing with everyone from Kreayshawn to Perez Hilton) taking shots at fellow black female rappers such as Lil Kim, Angel Haze, and Dominique Young Unique, or Keyshia Cole’s recent diss towards Michelle Williams, there always seems to be instances of black women behaving badly toward each other on twitter in the media.

While it is common to see beef between black women manifest itself on twitter, there are also countless examples of black women celebrating, encouraging, and standing up for each other on the micro-blogging site.

Kerry Washington tweeted a simple tweet to Meagan Good encouraging and supporting her in her new role on the TV show deception.

Jennifer Hudson sent out a tweet expressing her love and admiration for Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, Alicia Keys, and Michelle Williams after each lady was featured performing at the Super bowl.

Thousands of black women (along with men and people from other races) stood united in grief over the senseless death of Hadiya Pendleton, the 15 year old girl who performed at inauguration and was shot dead in Chicago.

Thousands of black women (along with men and women of different races) also banned together in disbelief at the tweet @TheOnion sent out, disrespecting nine year old Quvenzhané Wallis, who is youngest actress ever to receive a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress, causing the CEO of the publication to send out a public apology.

There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of examples of black women supporting each other on Twitter. While the beefs we see may be juicier and more interesting to talk about than the small moments of encouragement and coming together, these moments of support are of great importance. Twitter may be viewed as a simple and fun social media outlet, it can also be use as a tool to unite and empower black women. I encourage all black women to continue supporting and uplifting each other on Twitter. I encourage black women to continue focusing on the positive aspects of other black women (and people in general) rather than tweeting about their negative qualities. If we do this, Twitter can be a tool that furthers and enhances sisterhood among black women.

Related:

Unbreakable Bonds: Black Women's Sisterhood is Alive and Well
Kerry Washington Demonstrates the Meaning of Sisterhood
Black Girl Hate: Struggling For Sisterhood


Alexis Jackson is a student studying Creative Writing and Fine Arts at Vanderbilt University. You can reach her at alexis@forharriet.com and follow her @_alexisjacks.

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