Culture commentator Marlon Palmer & activist Syrus Marcus Ware reminisce about viral moments from Black Twitter history, and discuss how it became a juggernaut for change.explores how the lively online community transformed pop culture as we know it.
Culture commentator Marlon Palmer & activist Syrus Marcus Ware join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to reminisce about viral moments from Black Twitter history, and discuss how the social media niche became a juggernaut for change.: Marlon, I guess when people think about Twitter, they go, "Well, how different could it be? Because I understand the mechanics of Twitter. You post a thing, and repost a thing.
Plus, when we talk about Twitter, you're talking about a lot of people who throughout their childhood went unheard — let's be very real. We want to get our thoughts out, and who's more unheard than Black people? That's why we have so much to say on the platform and we share so much — because we want to relate. We want to find people who share our experiences.
I want to talk a little bit about how this space was really funny, Marlon — way funnier than people give it credit for. Do you want to talk a little bit about some of your most memorable hashtags or viral moments?: I feel like any time an award show is on, those are the greatest. Like when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock? That was a MOMENT on Black Twitter.: All of Twitter was joining in, but specifically Black Twitter if you were in that community at that time, the jokes were flying.