Revealing whiteness: how one group used social media to uncover and challenge white supremacy operating in municipal political online messages

This study examined how a local advocacy group in Abbotsford, BC used social media to identify and challenge white supremacy in municipal online texts. Research studying social justice advocacy groups operating via social media has shown that to achieve profound change, information needs to reach traditional news outlets before attention from those in power will take notice. Further research notes that people of colour experience higher rates of online abuse as opposed to white people. A case study was used to conduct semi-structured interviews of six participants of different racial and gender identities who belonged to a local advocacy group. Qualitative analysis of the interviews, employing theories such as Bourdieu’s field theory and concept of capital to examine power, was used to reveal that attention from elites was higher when social media messages reached traditional news media sources and that participants of colour experienced more violent reactions from those in positions of power politically, academically, and from the media than white people. This study provides valuable knowledge for others wishing to challenge dominate systems of oppression online and contributes to the ongoing body of research surrounding social justice movements using social media.

Author dc:creator

• Tracey, Kelly

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jaigris Hodson

Identifier URI

http://dx.doi.org/10.25316/IR-19137

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.viurrspace.ca/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Anull%3A10613%2F27453