We Will Not Be Silent

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made his famous “I Have a Dream” speech 60 years ago during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Throughout his life, he consistently pursued his vision for the Beloved Community. He urged everyone to be a part of the solutions to the problems, and not be just uncommitted bystanders. Silence and inaction are enemies in the fight to overcome injustice.

On Monday, August 28, 2023, Ending Racism USA held a virtual town hall to address some of the concerns related to how Twitter, now X, has become recognized as a promoter of hate speech and abuses its power for financial gain. Ending Racism USA made the decision to quit Twitter as an act of resistance to their policies and practices which contribute to racism in social media. We believe it is important to make people aware of how X works and identify ways to challenge any social media activity that is working against our democracy.

Ending Racism USA is committed to working to end systemic racism. The Town Hall presenters acknowledged that all social media can be used for positive or negative engagement. Whether you are looking to shop, discuss issues, build community with like-minded individuals, find employees, find a husband or wife, or make any other kind of connections, social media has become an undeniable resource for immediate engagement.

Our rationale for leaving Twitter and sharing information about their flawed and inequitable business model compelled us to invite others into conversations about alternatives to using Twitter. We want to heighten the awareness that Twitter uses algorithms to control information and profits by selling our data. Twitter has drawn attention to its techniques of promoting fake news and granting access to bad actors who abuse the commitment to freedom of speech. We are committed to serving as anti-racism agents by speaking up, calling out hate speech whenever we see or hear it, and creating an awareness among others of the dangers of silence.

Dr. Ken Bedell, president of Ending Racism USA, presented a historical perspective of the use of technology with a bold reminder of the dangers of limiting access to those who have economic power. John Girton Jr., innovation and technology expert, and executive vice president and chief of staff at Martin University, discussed the potential for using various social media platforms in our current context. Ease of use and speed are among the key driving forces for the popularity of various social media. Cam Howard, web and IT administrator and support for Ending Racism USA identified some of the best practices for developing a social media style, strategy, and presence. View the videos on the Twitter Town Hall page.

Sometimes individuals are hesitant to participate in actions for social change because the problems are overwhelming. Dr. King’s legacy encourages us to do what we can from wherever we are. He encourages us to stand up and to speak out for justice. We are complicit when we see injustice and do nothing about it. He said:

• “There comes a time when silence is betrayal.” 
• “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” 
• “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

Ending Racism USA invites you to join us in our efforts to help end systemic racism. If you are already engaged in anti-racism work, we would welcome the opportunity to include your work in our resource guide. Please do not hesitate to contact us to share your stories and to explore opportunities to collaborate. Let’s take a stand and speak out together.