ABSTRACT
As Black ownership of legacy media outlets has dwindled in the United States, a primary goal of this political economic analysis is to understand how social justice groups have used social media to provide a more diverse array of commentary about the meaning and implications of civic activity, particularly in the wake of multiple killing of unarmed Black men by white police officers. This study will show how historically marginalized groups have exercised their First Amendment rights in ways that have disrupted the gatekeeping power once held my national news outlets and networks, which lack African-American ownership and control. Moreover, this study will discern specific lessons about the power and utility that social media can play in civil discourse about social justice. Understanding the impact our social media channels has on the power of voices can improve the informational, communicational, and relational livelihood of social justice movements.
