After Protest, #BlackBrunchNYC Hashtag Blows Up: What Does It Say About Racism?
After a protest was carried out in diners and restaurants, #BlackBrunchNYC has trended on Twitter. There are some tweets from attendees, but most of the tweets are responses from those who oppose the movement. A few tweets express annoyance at lunch being disrupted, but more center around racially charged jokes about food stamps, job applications, and iPhones.
Here’s a sampling, beginning with the organizers, then moving onto responses.
#BlackBrunch #NYC is about to begin. Follow for updates as the day continues.
— BlackBrunchNYC (@BlackBrunchNYC) January 4, 2015
First stop on #BlackBrunch was a success. A few folks stood up during their meals for #BlackLivesMatter
— Whose Streets? (@CaliLov3_) January 4, 2015
#blackbrunchnyc at Penelope. Some stood, some grabbed arms and screamed in our faces. We know which side you're on. pic.twitter.com/tA9BTRJCqi
— Reuben Telushkin (@telushk) January 4, 2015
RT @Zxmurray last time black folks was this black n proud on Park Ave= when the Jeffersons moved in #blackbrunch #NYC pic.twitter.com/5ho0pYHySs
— BlackBrunchNYC (@BlackBrunchNYC) January 4, 2015
The protesters wouldn't be mad about brunch if the restaurants just took EBT. #blackbrunchnyc
— AdolfJoeBiden™ (@Bidenshairplugs) January 4, 2015
"What did you do in the race war grandpa?"
"I made some white folk uncomfortable at brunch." #blackbrunchnyc
— Brandt (@UrbanAchievr) January 4, 2015
So is #blackbrunchnyc going to stop people from committing crimes so that they have less of a chance of getting killed by cops?
— MrsLibertas (@Bloviate_Barbie) January 4, 2015
Idiots. Morons. Imbeciles. Thugs. Essentially useless and inconsequential human beings. #blackbrunchnyc
— Neal Boortz (@Talkmaster) January 4, 2015
Protesters are taking pictures with their iPhones while complaining about "privilege". Liberal logic. #BlackBrunchNYC
— Kenzie Freed (@raisedwrong) January 4, 2015
If you want to scare the #blackbrunchnyc mob away, offer them job applications.
— Laura Freed (@heyLauraFreed) January 4, 2015
I noticed no #BlackBrunchNYC protesters were filling out job applications at the places they were disrupting.
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) January 4, 2015
if #BlackBrunchNYC actually wanted to protest the real killers of black people they would be disrupting last call at the hip-hop club
— Duck Enlightenment (@jokeocracy) January 4, 2015
#BlackBrunchNYC served hot and daily at Ossining, Rikers Island and Sing-Sing pic.twitter.com/nybgtwkGpk
— Bill (@DefendWallSt) January 4, 2015
All this silly protest showed was how TOLERANT AND PATIENT WHITE PEOPLE ARE!! Thanks!! #blackbrunchnyc
— Jacqueline Croasdale (@jakaroo65) January 4, 2015
It’s clear that the intent behind #BlackBrunchNYC was much the same as protests throughout time: to disrupt “business as usual” and make sure the people hear the message. It’s also clear that the protest was successful in being disruptive, and apparently successfully heard, so much so that many of the very people they were trying to reach are talking about it.
The real question, though, after the end of the protest, is what the messages attached to the #BlackBrunchNYC hashtag say about where racial relations stand in America in 2015.
[Photo: BlackBrunchNYC Twitter]
