Skip to content
1981
Migrations, Diasporas and Media
  • ISSN: 2632-5853
  • E-ISSN: 2632-5861

Abstract

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests during the summer of 2020 provide an opportunity to reassess the relations between African Americans, Caribbean and African immigrants. I argue that while the social justice protests galvanized the Black community to fight against police brutality and systemic racism, the process began earlier and was significantly impacted by the advent of social media. Using Stuart Hall’s work as a framework, I argue that in today’s digital environment, celebrity influencers such as Barack Obama, Beyonce, Trevor Noah and Rihanna have used their formidable social media platforms to upend racially divisive media messaging about cultural identities of African Americans, Caribbean and African immigrants. I also explore broadening the concept of cultural intermediaries to recognize these influencers who bypass traditional intermediaries and connect directly with their followers to bridge the cultural identity divide.

© 2023 Intellect Ltd
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/gdm_00032_1
2023-07-13
2026-04-12

Metrics

Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Adichie, C. N.. ( 2013;), ‘ Americanah author explains “learning to be Black in the U.S.”. ’, Authors’ Interviews NPR , 27 June, https://www.npr.org/transcripts/195598496. Accessed 9 June 2021.
  2. Anon. ( 2015;), ‘ Immigration: Building AfroAmerica. ’, The Economist, 11 July, https://www.economist.com/united-states/2015/07/09/building-afromerica. Accessed 9 June 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Anon. ( 2020a;), ‘ Diasporas: Definition. ’, Migration Data Portal. , 9 June, https://www.migrationdataportal.org/themes/diasporas. Accessed 12 May 2021.
  4. Anon. ( 2020b;), ‘ History of Caribbean Carnival. ’, Caribbean Views , 14 December, https://www.cariviews.com/blog/history-of-caribbean-carnival. Accessed 9 June 2021.
  5. Arthur, J.. ( 2009;), ‘ Immigrants and the American system of justice. ’, in I. Okpewho, and N. Nzegwo. (eds), The New African Diaspora, Bloomington, IN:: Indiana University Press;, pp. 215–35.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Bacon, K.. ( 2000;), ‘ An African voice. ’, The Atlantic, 2 August, https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2000/08/an-african-voice/306020/. Accessed 9 June 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Beckles, H., and Russell, H.. ( 2015), Rihanna: Barbados World-Gurl in Global Popular Culture, Kingston:: University of the West Indies;.
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Bourdieu, P.. ( 1984), Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste, Cambridge, MA:: Harvard University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Coogler, R.. ( 2018), Black Panther, USA:: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures;.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Coogler, R.. ( 2022), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, USA:: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures;.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Dahl, M.. ( 2008;), ‘ Youth vote may have been key in Obama’s win. ’, NBC News , 5 November, https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna27525497. Accessed 6 March 2021.
  12. Davis, C.. ( 2021;), ‘ From colorism to conjurings: Tracing the dust in Beyonce’s Lemonade. ’, in C. Baade, and K. McGee. (eds), Beyonce in the World: Making Meaning with Queen Bey in Troubled Times, Middletown, CT:: Wesleyan University Press;, pp. 65–85.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Durrer, V., and Miles, S.. ( 2009;), ‘ New perspectives on the role of cultural intermediaries in social inclusion in the U.K.. ’, Consumption Markets & Culture, 12:3, pp. 225–41, https://doi.org/10.1080/10253860903063238.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Dyson, M. E.. ( 2017), The Black Presidency: Barack Obama and the Politics of Race in America, New York:: Mariner Books;.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Eilperin, J.. ( 2015;), ‘ Here’s how the first president of the social media age has chosen to connect with Americans. ’, The Washington Post, 26 May, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2015/05/26/heres-how-the-first-president-of-the-social-media-age-has-chosen-to-connect-with-americans/. Accessed 12 May 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Entman, R. M., and Rojecki, A.. ( 2000;), ‘ The black image in the white mind: Media and race in America (book review). ’, Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 77:4, p. 921.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Foner, N.. ( 2016;), ‘ Black immigrants and the realities of racism: Comments and questions. ’, Journal of American Ethnic History, 36:1, pp. 63–69.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Freking, K.. ( 2017;), ‘ Obama makes his mark as first “social media” president. ’, The Associated Press , 6 January, https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/obama-makes-his-mark-as-first-social-media-president/. Accessed 12 May 2021.
  19. Garcia, S. E.. ( 2019;), ‘ Rihanna on race. ’, New York Times Style Magazine, 20 May, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/20/t-magazine/rihanna-race-black-women.html. Accessed 10 April 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Gates Jr., H. L.. ( 1999;), ‘ Wonders of the African World. ’, PBS , http://www.pbs.org/wonders/. Accessed 12 May 2021.
  21. Gillin, P.. ( 2016;), ‘ New media, new influencers and implications for the public relations profession. ’, Journal of New Communications Research, 11:2, pp. 1–10.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Gosa, T.. ( 2013;), ‘ Crank Dat Barack Obama! Social media and the 2008 presidential election. ’, in R. A. Lind. (ed.), Race, Gender, Class, Media 3.0: Considering Diversity across Audiences, Content and Producers, , 3rd ed.., Boston, MA:: Pearson;, pp. 101–06.
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Greenidge, K.. ( 2021;), ‘ The once-and-future Beyonce. ’, Harper’s Bazaar, , 2021 Icon ed.., September, pp. 184–90.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Greer, C. M.. ( 2013), Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream, New York:: Oxford University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Hadero, H.. ( 2020;), ‘ Black immigrants find camaraderie, divide amid protests. ’, A.P. News , 17 October, https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-ghana-police-police-brutality-racial-injustice-641a5eeb2f47668c6f810e1f77317651. Accessed 12 March 2021.
  26. Hall, S.. ( 1994;), ‘ Cultural identity and diaspora. ’, in P. Williams, and L. Chrisman. (eds), Colonial Discourse and Post-Colonial Theory: A Reader, London:: Routledge;, pp. 392–403.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Hall, S.. (ed.) ( 2001;), ‘ The spectacle of the other. ’, Representation: Cultural Representation and Signifying Practices, London:: Sage Publications;, pp. 223–79.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Hall, S., and Du Gay, P.. (eds) ( 1996), Questions of Cultural Identity, London:: Sage Publications;.
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Halter, M., and Showers Johnson, V.. ( 2014), African & American: West Africans in Post-Civil Rights America, New York:: New York University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Harris, J.. ( 2019;), ‘ In conversation: Rihanna. ’, New York Times Style Magazine, 19 May, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/20/t-magazine/rihanna-fenty-louis-vuitton.html. Accessed 15 January 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Holmes, S.. ( 2015;), ‘ NPR’s WIW 2015: Trevor Noah (The Daily Show). ’, YouTube , 30 March, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT8tw2CXGDc. Accessed 7 September 2019.
  32. hooks, b.. ( 2008), Belonging: A Culture of Place, New York:: Routledge;.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. hooks, b.. ( 2016;), ‘ Beyoncé’s Lemonade is capitalist money-making at its best. ’, The Guardian, 11 May, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/may/11/capitalism-of-beyonce-lemonade-album. Accessed 13 February 2022.
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Ifeanyi, N., and Ngumbi, E.. ( 2020;), ‘ Opinion: We are Africans: Here’s our view of Beyonce’s Black Is King. ’, NPR , 7 August, https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/08/07/899421948/opinion-we-are-africans-heres-our-view-of-beyonc-s-black-is-king. Accessed 13 February 2021.
  35. Jackson, R. O.. ( 2010;), ‘ Black immigrants and the rhetoric of social distancing. ’, Sociological Compass, 4:3, pp. 193–206.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. Jenkins, A.. ( 2007;), ‘ Bridging the Black-immigrant divide: A media and public opinion scan and analysis. ’, The Opportunity Agenda , https://opportunityagenda.org/messaging_reports/bridging-the-black-immigrant-divide/. Accessed 11 January 2021.
  37. Kacungira, N.. ( 2017;), ‘ Barack Obama: How will Africa remember him?. ’, BBC News , 18 January, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38649362. Accessed 13 February 2023.
  38. Knowles-Carter, B.. ( 2016), Lemonade, USA:: Parkwood and Columbia;.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Knowles-Carter, B.,, Adjei, E.,, Ake, I.,, Bazawule, B.,, Debusschere, P.,, Nava, J.,, Nkiru, J.,, Rimmasch, D., and Kissi, J.. ( 2020), Black Is King, USA:: Parkwood and Disney+;.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. LaVoulle, C., and Lewis, E. T.. ( 2018;), ‘ The Bad Bitch Barbie craze and Beyoncé African American women’s bodies as commodities in hip-hop culture, images, and media. ’, Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education, 16:2, https://doi.org/10.31390/taboo.16.2.07.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Leonardo, M. D.. ( 2012;), ‘ Grown folks radio: US election politics and a “hidden” black counterpublic. ’, American Ethnologist, 39:4, pp. 661–72.
     [Google Scholar]
  42. Leslie, G. J., and Sears, D. O.. ( 2022;), ‘ The heaviest drop of blood: Black exceptionalism among multiracials. ’, Political Psychology, 43:6, pp. 1123–45.
     [Google Scholar]
  43. Lewis, H. R.. ( 2018;), ‘ Damn, I love the strippers!. ’, Journal of Black Sexuality and Relationships, 4:1 pp. 47–59.
     [Google Scholar]
  44. Li, S.. ( 2017;), ‘ Who is Beyonce?. ’, Black Camera, 9:1, pp. 106–13.
     [Google Scholar]
  45. Maguire, J. S., and Matthews, J.. ( 2012;), ‘ Are we all cultural intermediaries now? An introduction to cultural intermediaries in context. ’, European Journal of Cultural Studies, 15:5, pp. 551–62, https://doi.org/10.1177/1367549412445762.
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Maguire, J. S., and Matthews, J.. ( 2014), The Cultural Intermediaries Reader, London:: Sage Publications;.
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Manning, P.. ( 2009;), ‘ The African diaspora: A history through culture. ’, Columbia Studies in International and Global History, New York:: Columbia University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  48. McDonald, S. N.. ( 2014;), ‘ Black Twitter: A virtual community ready to hashtag out a response to cultural issues. ’, The Washington Post, 20 January, https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/black-twitter-a-virtual-community-ready-to-hashtag-out-a-response-to-cultural-issues/2014/01/20/41ddacf6-7ec5-11e3-9556-4a4bf7bcbd84_story.html. Accessed 12 May 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  49. McWorther, J.. ( 2016;), ‘ Obama is culturally Black because he wants to be. ’, Time , 24 February, https://time.com/4234360/obama-culturally-black/. Accessed 12 May 2021.
  50. Morley, D.. ( 2000), Home Territories: Media, Mobility and Identity, London:: Routledge;.
     [Google Scholar]
  51. Nelson, A.. ( 2016;), ‘ Alex Haley and the roots effect. ’, Beacon Broadside: A Project of Beacon Press , 17 August, https://www.beaconbroadside.com/broadside/2016/08/alex-haley-and-the-roots-effect.html. Accessed 12 May 2021.
  52. New York Times ( 2017;), ‘ Trevor Noah talks race and identity in America | Get with the times. ’, YouTube , 16 October, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31k4Lg794Pk&t=136. Accessed 15 April 2021.
  53. Okonofua, B. A.. ( 2013;), ‘ I am blacker than you. ’, SAGE Open, 3:3, pp. 1–14, https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244013499162.
     [Google Scholar]
  54. Paulson, S.. ( 2019;), ‘ Meet Rihanna, the Shy Gal. ’, Interview Magazine, 10 June, https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/meet-rihanna-the-shy-gal. Accessed 25 January 2022.
     [Google Scholar]
  55. PBS ( 2021;), ‘ Ava DuVernay reacts to family history in finding your roots: Finding your roots: Ancestry. ’, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncle9eRBzxM. Accessed 12 September 2022.
  56. Peele, J.. ( 2017), Get Out, USA:: Universal Pictures;.
     [Google Scholar]
  57. Pew Research Center ( 2021a;), ‘ Changing face of America helps assure Obama victory. ’, 7 November, https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2012/11/07/changing-face-of-america-helps-assure-obama-victory/. Accessed 12 September 2022.
  58. Pew Research Center ( 2021b;), ‘ News consumption across social media in 2021: More than half of Twitter user get news on the site regularly. ’, 20 September, https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2021/09/20/news-consumption-across-social-media-in-2021/. Accessed 12 September 2022.
  59. Pierre, J.. ( 2010;), ‘ Racial Americanization: Conceptualizing African immigrants in the U.S.. ’, Letters, the Semiannual Newsletter of the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities, 18:2, pp. 1–4.
     [Google Scholar]
  60. Roberts, K., and Davis, K.. ( 2016;). ‘ What Beyoncé teaches us about the African diaspora in “Lemonade”. ’, PBS NewsHour , 29 April, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/what-beyonce-teaches-us-about-the-african-diaspora-in-lemonade. Accessed 10 April 2021.
  61. Roots ( 1977, USA:: American Broadcasting Corporation;).
  62. Rutenberg, J.. ( 2008;), ‘ Black radio on Obama is left’s answer to Limbaugh. ’, New York Times, 27 July, https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/us/politics/27radio.html?. Accessed 10 November 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  63. Samovar, L. A.,, Porter, R. E.,, McDaniel, E. R., and Roy, C.. ( 2015), Intercultural Communication: A Reader, , 14th ed.., Mason, OH:: Cengage;.
     [Google Scholar]
  64. Sheehan, R. J.. ( 2021;), ‘ “She made me understand”: How Lemonade raised the intersectional consciousness of Beyonce’s international fans. ’, in C. Baade, and K. McGee. (eds), Beyonce in the World: Making Meaning with Queen Bey in Troubled Times, Middletown, CT:: Wesleyan University Press;, pp. 165–87.
     [Google Scholar]
  65. Tamir, C.. ( 2022;), ‘ Key findings about Black immigrants in the U.S.. ’, Pew Research Center , 27 January, https://pewrsr.ch/3u1VIxT. Accessed 18 June 2022.
  66. Tamir, C., and Andersen, M.. ( 2022;), ‘ One-in-ten Black people living in the U.S. are immigrants. ’, Pew Research , 20 January, https://www.pewresearch.org/race-ethnicity/2022/01/20/one-in-ten-black-people-living-in-the-u-s-are-immigrants/. Accessed 28 February 2022.
  67. Thornton, M. C.,, Taylor, R. J.,, Chatters, L. M., and Forsythe-Brown, I.. ( 2017;), ‘ African America and Black Caribbean feelings of closeness to Africans. ’, Identities (Yverdon), 24:4, pp. 493–512.
     [Google Scholar]
  68. Uzoezie, C.. ( 2020;), ‘ Racism against African Americans: Does the world give a hoot?. ’, The Africa Report, 17 June, https://www.theafricareport.com/. Accessed 15 May 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  69. Valela, Z.. ( 2019;), ‘ Beyonce divides and unites with her “Love letter to Africa”. ’, New Frame , 24 July, https://www.newframe.com/beyonce-divides-and-unites-with-her-love-letter-to-africa. Accessed 15 May 2021.
  70. Wall Street Journal ( 2018;), ‘ Trevor Noah reflects on his path to The Daily Show. ’, YouTube , 17 September, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5rITp4MsXo&list=WL&index=8&t=2s. Accessed 15 April 2021.
  71. Ward, M.. ( 2021;), ‘ Rihanna’s billionaire success is a testament to unbridled inclusivity: And a case study for CEOs. ’, Business Insider , 12 August, https://www.businessinsider.com/?r=US&IR=T. Accessed 15 April 2021.
  72. Waters, M. C.. ( 1994;), ‘ Ethnic and racial identities of second-generation black immigrants in New York City. ’, International Migration Review, 28:4, pp. 795–820, https://doi.org/10.2307/2547158.
     [Google Scholar]
  73. Waters, M. C.. ( 2014;), ‘ Immigrants and African Americans. ’, Annual Review of Sociology, 40, pp. 369–90, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-071811-145449.
     [Google Scholar]
  74. Welang, N.. ( 2021;), ‘ The death and resurrection of Oshun in Beyoncé’s Lemonade: Subverting the institutionalized borders of western Christian thought in American popular culture. ’, Journal of Popular Culture, 54:4, pp. 750–770, https://doi.org/10.1111/jpcu.13050.
     [Google Scholar]
  75. Wilson, C.,, Gutierrez, F., and Chao, L. M.. ( 2013), Racism, Sexism and the Media: Multicultural Issues into the New Communication Age, New York:: Sage Publications;.
     [Google Scholar]
  76. Yannakakis, Y.. ( 2008), The Art of Being In-Between: Native Intermediaries, Indian Identity, and Local Rule in Colonial Oaxaca, Durham, NC:: Duke University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  77. Yashere, G.. ( 2008), Gina Yashere: Skinny B*tch (TV Special), DVD, Amazon;, UK:, https://www.amazon.com/Gina-Yashere-Skinny-Bitch/dp/B001CMV1IK. Accessed 12 June 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  78. Young, C.. ( 2020;), ‘ Beyoncé’s “Black Is King” is a sumptuous search for divine identity. ’, NPR , 4 August, https://www.npr.org/2020/08/04/898881279/beyonce-black-is-king-review-searches. Accessed 12 May 2021.
  79. Zeleza, P. T.. ( 2009;), ‘ Diaspora dialogues: Engagements between Africa and its diasporas. ’, in I. Okpewho, and N. Nzegwo. (eds), The New African Diaspora, Bloomington, IN:: Indiana University Press;, pp. 31–58.
     [Google Scholar]
  80. Zimmerman, M. A., and Rappaport, J.. ( 1988;), ‘ Citizen participation, perceived control, and psychological empowerment. ’, American Journal of Community Psychology, 16:5, pp. 725–50.
     [Google Scholar]
  81. Oshin-Martin, Moronke. ( 2023;), ‘ Conflict, crisis and the media: Cultural intermediaries bridging the identity divide between Black immigrants and African Americans. ’, Journal of Global Diaspora & Media, Special Section: ‘Migrations, Diasporas and Media’, 4:1, pp. 25–43, https://doi.org/10.1386/gdm_00032_1
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1386/gdm_00032_1
Loading
  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): Beyonce; Black ethnic identity; Black media; BLM; cultural identity; Noah; Obama; Rihanna

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test