Which 'Black Lives Matter' Twitter accounts should you follow?
The tragic killing of George Floyd on 25th May 2020 reignited the Black Lives Matter movement around the world. Twitter has always shown itself to be the best social media platform for learning about news, opinion, social movements, and can help anyone get involved in activism.
At the Southern African Herald, we have compiled a list of our favourite Twitter accounts which are speaking about Black Lives Matter to keep you up to date on everything you need to know:
1. Lisa Adams @real_lisa_adams
Lisa describes herself in her bio as ‘an accidental journalist writing a book on vaginas’. As witty and self-deprecating as she is, Lisa is also a computer programmer and is the founder of CodeLikeHer.
She is also a strong presence on Twitter, sharing information on how to get involved with the movement in Cape Town.
2. Danai Gurira @DanaiGurira
The Walking Dead and Black Panther star, Danai Gurira, has always tried to use her platform to promote causes close to her heart. She is a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and uses her Twitter regularly to promote women’s rights issues around the world, and in her parents’ native Zimbabwe.
After the killing of George Floyd in the US, however, her Twitter is full of useful information to help #BLM and educate her 803.7k followers on the African American experience.
3. Sisonke Msimang @Sisonkemsimang
Sisonke is the acclaimed author of Always Another Country: A memoir of exile and home, a book which honestly explores her experiences growing up in Southern Africa and then later moving to America and back again.
Her writing unpacks race and gender in both spheres of the world, and on Twitter, she deals with both issues in her characteristic humorous and insightful style.
4. Trevor Noah @Trevornoah
No list of influential South Africans would be complete without Trevor Noah, the comedian who has taken America by storm. His late-night show The Daily Show is wildly successful as he addresses race issues predominately in America with the satirical wit of the African eye.
Trevor’s staggering 10.7 million Twitter followers have seen his moving and pertinent reaction to George Floyd’s killing and been treated to clips from his Daily Show. He and @TheDailyShow are a must!
5. Opal Tometi @opalayo
As one of the original three co-founders of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, Opal is the real deal. Born in Arizona to Nigerian parents, Opal is the brains behind the largest civil rights movement of the 21st Century and consistently features in ‘Most Influential People’ lists around the world.
She keeps her 63.5k Twitter followers up to date on the latest news and always offers advice on how to get involved.
6. Toyin Saraki @ToyinSaraki
In the league of wildly impressive black female activists, Toyin Saraki cannot be beaten. As the founder of The Wellbeing Foundation and the Global Goodwill Ambassador for The International Confederation of Midwives, Toyin is at the forefront of improving female sexual health and childbirth practices for Nigerian women and black women internationally.
To show your support for #BLM, join her 80.5k followers, and help improve black female health.
Photo: PA
Left to Right (Twitter Profiles): Danai Gurira, Lisa Adams, Sisonke Msimang, Trevor Noah, Opal Tometi, Toyin Saraki.
