Topics Exploration #TheBlackout

 1. #TheBlackout was a social media movement started in March of 2015. The protest started on the social media site Tumblr, and it had a simple goal. To “blackout” the website, with selfies, pictures and post made by and about specifically black people and those of mixed race who identify as black. The creators wanted to protest the lack of representation of black people in media and celebrate black lives and black creators.  2015 was a volatile year for those in the black community and this protest could be considered an offset of the blacklivesmatter movement.

2. The black identity is tied to the protest in a significant way because it was start as a celebration of that identity. The creator, T’Von, went as far to say that if you were mixed race, but did not openly identify as black in everyday settings, then this protest was not for you. This tie is significant for both the members in the protest, as it helps create a bond between members of the black community, but also to those excluded from the protest. By excluding non-black people from this protest, the creators show people what it’s like to only ever see white faces in the media, which highlights the importance of representation of black lives in media.  By excluding non-black, it also shows a different kind of beauty standard which calls to question the standards set up in the beauty industry.

3. I am looking at members of the black community who use social media as a platform for protest. They participated by creating the protest and spreading it. Additionally I am looking at the members of the black community who actively post during the protest.


4. When thinking about this project I am mostly worried about finding enough sources. While I think this protest is a really good candidate for the paper, it happened so recently that not a whole lot has been written about it. I think that my identity is easily and clearly tied to my protest so I’m not terribly concerned on that front.

5. As far as I can tell, my protest isn’t too similar to anybody else’s.

Research Question

Research Question

How did the creators of the #Blackout Day utilize technology as a platform for protest and was it successful? 

#BlackoutDay

#BlackoutDay

Who: #TheBlackout

What:  #TheBlackout or Blackout Day is an ongoing social media movement that encourages posting of primarily selfies but also photos and other content created by black people.

When:  March 6, 2015 and ongoing

Where: Started on the social media platform, Tumblr, but has spread to Twitter

Why: Creator T’Von Green noticed a distinct lack of black representation of black people on social media, especially on Tumblr, a platform that has come to be a unifying point of many marginalized groups. The goal of the event was to create a 24 hour period where the majority of post on Tumblr and other social media sites, would be created by, and feature black people. The hope was the overwhelming amount of positive post featuring black people would break stereotypes and encourage self-love and empowerment in the black community. The movement comes with a set of guidelines that help underline the goals of the movement.

·         If you identify as Black, either from Africa or from within the African Diaspora, mixed (or part) Black, you can post a picture of yourself for others to admire and re-blog/re-tweet/re-post

·         You’ll tag or mention #Blackoutday or #TheBlackout for it to count

·         You’ll scroll through the tag and re-blog, re-tweet or re-post other photos within that tag to help support

·         If you are not Black/non-Black or White, you’re just re-blogging what’s in the tags to show your support

·         Look for people with low notes and show them some love as well.

·         Official hashtags used are #TheBlackout and #BlackoutDay

Identity: The identity is very specifically black and mixed race individuals who are members of the black community. The creator, T’Von, has gone as far as to say if you are mixed race, but don’t openly and proudly define yourself as a member of the black community, then this event is probably not for you. The movement could be considered a part of the larger BlackLivesMatter movement. 

Topic Exploration

What was the protest? If it was part of a larger movement, where are you drawing the boundaries (geographical, chronological, legislative, etc.) around your project?

-MLK, African-American Civil Rights Movement. I am drawing the boundaries right when it ended in 1968 or more when Blacks were officially free to do as everyone else did in the US.

Why do you believe that this identity is tied to this protest in a significant way? For whom is this tie significant?

-I believe MLK's identity is tied to this protest because without Him, I don't think we would have any civil rights/free will today to do anything in the US. Racism and discrimination would still be as raw as it used to be back then. MLK revolutionized the civil rights movement and served as a voice and an image for everyone who was racially discriminated, specifically african americans. This ties significantly to african americans but overall, to whomever faces racial injustice can relate. MLK is an icon of the civil rights movement. His life and work symbolize the quest for equality and nondiscrimination that lies at the heart of the American and human dream.

How did the group you’re looking at participate in the protest?

-This individual participated in numerous non-violent protests and even led the majority of them.

When you think about this project, what are you worried or concerned about? Do your worries have anything to do specifically with whether you can tie your identity to the protest clearly? Are there questions that you think it will be hard to answer? Do you have methodological concerns? What part of this project do you think will be the most difficult for you?

-Yes, I am a little bit worried/concerned that I will be able to tie my identity to the protest clearly and then back it up with so much evidence. I feel this part will probably be the most difficult for me because I do not know how to tie it in and make it sound good. The research part I can do such as finding evidence, backing up statements, etc. It is the bringing it all together part that kind of gets me. Obviously we all know MLK was huge and he revolutionized the civil rights movement, but how do I tie an identity to him and to the protest? Shouldn't be too hard for me, once I get the ball rolling, I'll be able to successfully get the job done.

Research Question

Who were primarily affected by the apartheid movement and how did this form a communal identity of oppressed, native, South Africans willing to fight for change?

Research Question

What role did the Black Panthers play in the civil rights movement? What type of a protest were they overall?

Research Question

How have seemingly minuscule demonstrations over the past 19 years spread awareness of the endangerment of the Cantonese language in country with high media censorship?

Research Question

What was MLK's role in the Civil Rights Movement? How did he serve as an "identity" for African Americans back then and even today?

Martin Luther King Jr.

Who: MLK Jr.

What: Civil Rights Activist/Baptist minster who non-violently fought for freedom and equality amongst all, especially African Americans. Known his "major" role in revolutionizing civil rights.

When: December, 1955 until April 4, 1968.

Where: Born in Atlanta, but basically went everywhere to get his message through. His famous "I Have A Dream" speech was delivered in Washington, D.C.

Why: Social injustice and inequality. MLK helped "advance" the civil rights movements and propelled everything forward. He wanted everyone to be treated equally and fairly, just like many others do.

Identity: Everyone who has faced some type of inequality or unfairness towards them. Any party/group/society/crew who has been oppressed can relate heavily. Anyone with a good head on their shoulders and has a sense of morals, knows that racism and injustice towards anybody is obviously not good and should be stopped immediately and indefinitely.

research questions

How did the five year long Delano grape strike set in motion other strikes, weather within or without the agricultural industry, which still live on today.

Peacful Protest, Indian independence movement - Research Question

How was Gandhi's (and Gandhi's followers) identity of peaceful civil disobedience effective in the movement for Indian independence, and what effects has it had on society today?

Research Question

Have the unsuccessful results of past animal-rights activists (and subsequent increase in industrial farming over the generations) prompted activists to become more provocative in their displays to get their point across?

Research Question: Desegregation Busig

What impact did segregation have on the 1970's? Is that the reason for the uproar in the desegregation movement?

Topic Exploration

What was the protest? Where are you drawing the boundaries?

The protest was about majority ( whites) who believed that forcing integrated busing alongside changing schools was an inconvenience as well as a project that they did not want their children to be included in for racial and educational purposes. The protest was in the form of violence. Whites took out to the streets and threw rocks at the windows of school buses passing by with minority on them. When the bus arrived at the school of its destination, they continued to throw objects, spit and hurl insults at the children. Although the protest is pretty straightforward, I do not want to get caught up in the history of segregation because it is a broad topic that has a long life span. Instead, I want to pick specific instances in history that cater to the topic and identity of my research paper. The main identity of my paper will be to highlight that although segregation is no more. The mindset of Americans still remain segregated.

Why do you believe that this identity is tied to this protest in a significant way? For whom is this tie significant?
I believe that this identity is tied to this protest because that is what the protest is all about. The protest revolves around those who do not want to send their kids to a school where they are forced to have a class with another racial group. Also, I think that partially, the mind of some are still stuck in the early 1900's. This means, being so new to desegregation in schools ( which only happened in the year of 1954, 18 years before this movement started) people are still not used to mixing races together and could possibly still believe in the old values. This is significant to mostly blacks and whites.

How did the group you are looking at participate in the protest?

The group I am looking at was the most aggravated by the desegregation movement. So, when protesting the movement, they ignited  their problem with the new system and built on it. This means, they started to violently protest. This group of people wanted their voices to be heard and a change to occur immediately.

When you think about this project, what are you worried or concerned about? Do your worries have anything to do specifically with whether you can tie your identity to the protest clearly? Are there questions that you think it will be hard to answer? Do you have methodological concerns? What part of this project do you think will be the most difficult for you?

When I think about this project I am very concerned about not having enough evidence to support writing a paper that is 15 pages long. I also worry about my identity not being strong enough. This mean, by limiting the main part of my identity to a specific racial group (whites), it means that I will have to incorporate or wrap my whole paper around that identity.With that being said, I am not sure whether there are enough evidence for me to make this topic into a paper. My questions are, are there interviews that took place during this movement that would be able to support my ideas? I think the most difficult of the project for me will be the initial stages; starting my paper. Finding a strong topic and knowing exactly what evidence I will be using to build a strong foundation on my paper.

Research Question

Lance Reidenbach

ENGL 306

10.17.2016

The Line

2?

In this paper I will answer the question if the KKK's moves, motives and protests are effective by their results.

What effect did the KKK in the twentieth century have on Civil rights in America? 

Cochlear implants and audism research question

How did the introduction of Cochlear Implant technology affect identity within deaf community?

Or "What was the effect of CIs on deaf identity?"

Research Paper Entry-LGBTQ Rights

Through the LGBTQ rights movement, how did the AIDS crisis affect the movement? What changed, and what led to advancements within the movement?

Research Question: Anti-Vietnam War Protest

How did the music that was produced during the time of the Vietnam War influence the anti-war protests? 

Topic Exploration: Anti-Vietnam War Protest

1. The protest that I am focusing on in my research paper is the Anti-War protests of the Vietnam War. These protests included individuals that were strongly against the war, especially the draft, which caused more and more Americans to go to war and come back in body bags. The Vietnam War caused so many people to die, and therefore large amount of people was strongly against it. Men burned their draft cards in protest, and there were also physical protests against the war. For my paper, I am mainly going to be focusing on the music that was produced during this time period in protest of the Vietnam War, and it’s strong influence on the protest movement.

2. The identity that will be explored through the paper is American people who were affected by the war. This includes those who were directly affected by the increased draft rate, and the draft in general. This identity was directly tied to the anti-Vietnam War protest because those influenced by the war, and especially the draft, desperately wanted for the United States to remove themselves from Vietnam. Since the anti-war protests wanted to removal of the United States form the Vietnam War, the identify that I have chosen was directly involved in the protest, and was actually created as a result of the war in Vietnam.

3. There was variety of ways that individuals participated in this protest movement. Men who were subject to the draft burnt their draft cards in protest, an act that was an seriously unlawful offense. Others physically participated in protests that were against the Vietnam War, holding signs reading messages like, “Get out of Vietnam” and “Resist the Draft, Don’t Register.” Many musicians also protested, creating songs that explicitly spoke out against the war movement.  

4. The one thing that I am concerned about for this research paper is being able to find enough evidence and information to make it a good essay. I’m worried that I’m not going to be able to find enough information to convey the points that I want to make, and so I wont be able to create an essay that reaches the 15 page minimum for this assignment. I am also concerned about my ability to write an essay this long without making it boring and tedious. I think that part of this project that will be most difficult for me is simply the research.

Erika is also doing a similar essay to mine surrounding the Vietnam War. However, she is focusing on the SDS' involvement with the protests, while I will primarily to focusing on the music that was produced during the time and its influence on the protest movement. 

Research Question: Abolitionist Movement

Research Question:
What were some texts of interest that rhetorically changed the conversation of the Abolitionist movement in the 1840's and 50's and led to its increased strength and prevalence over the next decade. How did these texts change the ongoing discussion about slavery and lead to the eventual abolishing of slavery in 1865