So our Black Lives Matter campaign organized a silent march last week. Black students walked silently through campus. The only sound they made was shuffling of feet because the march was silent. Nothing else happened. A small group of students silently walked across campus. Some onlookers stopped and took photos. This was the extent of the event.
On the next day, the local newspaper came out with the photos of the black students during the march under the title, “Student march creates commotion.” Of course, there was no “commotion” or anything that could pass for one but we are very thankful that words like “thug” and “riot” didn’t make an appearance.
The thing that gives me pause is that if I hadn’t been there and witnessed an absolute lack of anything resembling a commotion (defined in the dictionary as “violent or tumultuous motion; agitation; noisy disturbance”), I might have believed the newspaper headline. This is how negative images are created and propagated.
I would have never believed it if I hadn’t seen it.
Clarissa's Blog 
You might not want to use the word “shuffling” with respect to black people walking.
I’m pretty sure it was perceived as insulting a few decades ago (times may have changed, but better safe….)
LikeLike
Wow. Is that the literal headline of the newspaper? Did they really use the word “commotion?” The racism runs so deep in this country. It’s so institutionally embedded that sometimes it seems like it can’t be defeated. Sigh.
LikeLike
“Did they really use the word “commotion?” ”
LikeLike
Sadly, this sort of stuff happens any time you know more than a little bit about something reported in the newspaper. It isn’t always tinged with racism, but I don’t think I’ve ever read an accurate news account of an event that I personally witnessed.
LikeLike
Was it just photos with a caption or did they actually have an article?
“Commotion” is absolutely a trivializing word.
LikeLike