This has been a year for the books in terms of unexpected, and especially tragic events. One thing that has been prevalent for the past decade or so is the media’s coverage of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Starting in 2009 with the killing of Trayvon Martin, the movement has been in the media ever so often.
This year, we have seen how the media differentiates between the coverage of the deaths of Black men and Black women. When George Floyd was murdered, there was justice served a lot sooner than say, Breonna Taylor, who has yet to receive any sort of justice. The riots that were shown on news outlets highlighted only the death of George Floyd. News articles saying “Protestors gather in response to the death of George Floyd”, while showing signs that clearly are for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. There were even discussions on Twitter as to why there was more coverage for one than the other. What we did see, was the use of Breonna Taylor’s death to make memes and gain social media “clout”.
No one is saying that one death was more important or more tragic, but that both were equally as tragic and important. My personal belief as to why there was less coverage for Breonna was because of what Malcolm X said all those years ago. “The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman.”
#MCOMCLASS
