Twitter as a Tool: Public Perception of Race and the Status of Social Movements after the Police-Involved Shooting Death of Stephon Clark

The purpose of this thesis is to understand Twitter users’ reactions and their discussions on race after the shooting death of Stephon Clark. The study examines the #BlackLivesMatter, #BlueLivesMatter, and #StephonClark hashtags in the six weeks following the killing of Clark. The data yielded 513 tweets that included a variation of all three hashtags, while only 29 tweets were found including the #BlueLivesMatter hashtag. Taking a grounded theory approach, the study utilizes content analysis to code the Twitter data. The results of the data were reflective of the Black Lives Matter movement’s narrative to stop anti-Black racism and end the police-involved killings of unarmed Black men and women. Through the examination of the hashtags, the study demonstrates how Twitter may be a powerful tool used by social movements in their fight to address social issues.

Author

• Galstyan, Shushan

Language

• en

Date created

• 2020

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Sociology

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• Kelso, Michelle

Committee Member(s)

• Maratea, R.J.

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/gm80hw111