Suchergebnisse

Every year Nike releases a series of products and advertisements for Black History Month (BHM). In 2019 nine commercials were released. Each commercial depicts a Black athletic role model. This study is concerned with how Black athletic role models are framed in Nike's BHM commercials and the implications of those frames. In comparison to the vast majority of corporations, Nike is one of the few to actively support BHM. Because these commercials are one of the only forms of media that incorporates BHM to the public, it is important to understand what themes are present within them. The goal of this study was to examine the stories that these athletes communicate about blackness and leadership responsibilities. The findings showed that athletic role models described a complex relationship with athletics. Athletics served as both an escape from social realities and a means to change them. Additionally, sports dominated discussions about community engagement. Other channels of societal change such as academia and politics were absent from discussion. As a result, Nike's BHM commercials frame a narrow experience of Black Americans. Faculty Mentor: Kalyani Thurairajah Department: Sociology

Beginning in 2018, youth across the globe participated in protest activities aimed at encouraging government action on climate change. This activism was initiated and led by Swedish teenager, Greta Thunberg. Like other contemporary movements, the School Strike 4 Climate used social media. For this article, we use Twitter trace data to examine the global dynamics of the student strike on March 15, 2019. We offer a nuanced analysis of 993 tweets, employing a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis. Like other movements, the primary function of these tweets was to share information, but we highlight a unique type of information shared in these tweets—documentation of local events across the globe. We also examine opinions shared about youth, the tactic (protest/strike), and climate change, as well as the assignment of blame on government and other institutions for their inaction and compliance in the climate crisis. This global climate strike reflects a trend in international protest events, which are connected through social media and other digital media tools. More broadly, it allows us to rethink how social media platforms are transforming political engagement by offering actors—especially the younger generation—agency through the ability to voice their concerns to a global audience.

Beginning in 2018, youth across the globe participated in protest activities aimed at encouraging government action on climate change. This activism was initiated and led by Swedish teenager, Greta Thunberg. Like other contemporary movements, the School Strike 4 Climate used social media. For this article, we use Twitter trace data to examine the global dynamics of the student strike on March 15, 2019. We offer a nuanced analysis of 993 tweets, employing a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis. Like other movements, the primary function of these tweets was to share information, but we highlight a unique type of information shared in these tweets - documentation of local events across the globe. We also examine opinions shared about youth, the tactic (protest/strike), and climate change, as well as the assignment of blame on government and other institutions for their inaction and compliance in the climate crisis. This global climate strike reflects a trend in international protest events, which are connected through social media and other digital media tools. More broadly, it allows us to rethink how social media platforms are transforming political engagement by offering actors - especially the younger generation - agency through the ability to voice their concerns to a global audience.