#morethanhashtags

#bringbackourgirls has garnered a great deal of media attention for the abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls in Nigeria. While this can be deemed a success, they are still missing and there is a need for more tangible support outside of retweeting. Whether it is this timely issue or the next, in some cases, like this one, a hashtag is not enough. While there is no simple answer as to how to get these young women back to safety, here are three ways #blacktwitter can do more for #bringbackourgirls and other current events that require more than a hashtag without leaving your computer.  

  1) Educate Yourself on the Topic:

  While everyone is not an expert on foreign policy, there should be an effort to be knowledgeable about what is happening outside of what your Twitter timeline or Facebook Newsfeed reports. It is important to get a handle on what the issue is and how your hashtag will actually impact the cause. If #bringbackourgirls is a topic of great enough concern to you, take some time to dig deeper with regard to the many issues of abduction, violence and general political challenges that have been ongoing in Nigeria and that will likely continue after this hashtag has fallen from Twitter relevance.

  Additionally, following individuals that have made this topic their life’s work will give the concerned hashtag participant a better idea of what is happening on the ground and where this public attention falls into play. As Jumoke Balogun of @compareafrique rightfully suggested, following the appropriate thought leaders and activists on the topic gives further insight as to whether or not the action being taken will bring actual benefits for the situation or indirectly cause more harm.

  2) Support Organizations Working on the Topic Year Round

  Another way to step beyond the hashtag is to get in contact with organizations that are working on the topic and learn of ways you can support their efforts year-round. Education rights for women and girls in Nigeria and throughout the continent of Africa have been an ongoing initiative that started long before #bringbackourgirls became a trending topic. Identifying and supporting the organizations that are committed to this work is one of the best ways to make a tangible impact. While I am sure a donation would be great, it is not the only way to support.  A mention or like for the organization would be a step in letting your network know of the organization’s work. While you should always scrutinize which organizations you choose to support, you can always start with the major organizations such as Save The Children and UNICEF or follow individuals that are well positioned to advise on what organizations are doing good work on the particular topic.

  3) Know Your Congressperson’s Contact Info

  For all the tweeting and liking that social media affords, these actions are taken to ultimately get the government to take action. In order to start the domino effect, after the hashtag, directly contact your congressperson’s office to enquire what they are doing on the matter via phone, email or directly connecting to their twitter handle. Many of them are inundated with issues, so they need your voice to ensure that they stay well connected to the topics relevant to their constituents. As of early May, twenty (20) female US Senators joined forces to write a letter to garner greater attention around these lost girls from the White House as a result of the online attention. Now that the government has been held accountable, we’ve seen more action regarding sending resources, specialists and even getting the First Lady involved in the social media campaign. While retweets and hashtags get the ball rolling, direct contact can assist in shortening the time between government inaction and action on the topic.