#DangerousBlackKids

About

#DangerousBlackKids is a Twitter hashtag used to protest the mistrial verdict in the trial of Michael Dunn, a Florida resident who was charged with murder after fatally shooting a black teenager named Jordan Davis in November 2012.

Origin

On February 15th, 2014, after nearly two weeks of arguments and deliberation in the trial of Michael Dunn, the jury found him guilty^[1] of three charges of attempted murder and one count of shooting into a vehicle, however, they failed to reach a verdict on the charge of first-degree murder in the death of Davis, leading Judge Russell L. Healey to declare a mistrial. On the day after the announcement of the mistrial, many took their reactions to the jury’s verdict on Twitter, including @thewayoftheid^[2], who used the hashtag #DangerousBlackKids for the first time to address the mistrial verdict and implications about racial stereotypes surrounding black youths and teenagers.

Here’s potential future threat to society walking into the living room. #dangerousblackkids pic.twitter.com/JAmLnNFBpW>
— J.N.G. (@thewayoftheid) February 16th, 2014

Spread

Within 24 hours of @thewayoftheid’s tweet, the hashtag #DangerousBlackKids was used on Twitter more than 16,000 times. On February 16th, several websites reported on the hashtag campaign and compiled some of the most popular examples, including The Huffington Post,^[4] Buzzfeed,^[5] and Complex.^[6] Also on February 16th, @TheObamaDiary^[7], a Twitter account about Obamacare, tweeted the hashtag with childhood photos of President Obama and the First Lady.
Within a day the hashtag had been used on Twitter over 16,000 times. On February 16th, several websites reported on the hashtag and compiled some of the most popular examples including The Huffington Post,^[4] Buzzfeed,^[5] and Complex.^[6] Also on February 16th, @TheObamaDiary^[7], a Twitter account about Obamacare, tweeted the hashtag with childhood photos of President Obama and the first lady.

Some #DangerousBlackKids grow up to help Americans get health insurance & inspire a whole generation. Terrifying. pic.twitter.com/NupdvsLXRP>
— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) February 16th, 2014

Notable Examples

His street name’s Baby Lou. Like most #DangerousBlackKids he’s wearing his baggy clothes, and an intimidating hoodie pic.twitter.com/m51Uugpiy4>
— Met. Rhonda A. Lee (@Rhonda_A_Lee) February 17th, 2014

My nephews are clearly #DangerousBlackKids theyre all wearing suits as toddlers-must be up to no good @Dreamdefenders pic.twitter.com/ECzeYQL1TE>
— Victoria Diane Kirby (@VictoriaDKirby) February 17th, 2014

He fits the description. baggy pants, hat and was last seen throwing up a gang sign #dangerousblackkids #shoottokill pic.twitter.com/HFlc0KYvxo>
— Ian J. Humphrey (@Beianspired) February 17th, 2014