Race, solidarity and dissent in the Trayvon Martin case: a critical analysis. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yartey, Franklin Nii Amankwah
• Is Part Of: Visual studies. Volume 31:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 50
• Page End: 62
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Visual perception -- Periodicals; Visual anthropology -- Periodicals; Visual sociology -- Periodicals; 301
• DOI: 10.1080/1472586X.2015.1128846
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-586X

Abstract

Abstract : Discourse surrounding the Trayvon Martin case spilled over to social media platforms with heated visual and textual exchanges. While supporters for Mr. Martin cried racial profiling, arguing for civil rights violation, others averred that Mr. Zimmerman's killing of Trayvon was justified because he shot him in self-defence. Many people have shared similar sentiments across the United States. Social curation site Pinterest displays thousands of images reflecting some of the national feelings on the State of Florida v. George Zimmerman. Using Lisa Nakamura's Race in Cyberspace theoretical framework, and drawing in part from semiotics, the present study critically examines some of the images of race, solidarity and dissent on Pinterest. Two themes emerged, performing white privilege and presenting a counter-discourse.