Lessons From a Racist Instagram and the Teens It Hurt
Aug 31, 2023
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Guest Dashka Slater, award-winning journalist, discusses her book about a racist Instagram account that caused hurt, protests, and a community-wide conversation about complicity. The hosts also discuss parenting ups and downs, adapting to a new culture, and addressing the aftermath of a racist incident in a school community.
The discovery of a racist Instagram account led to a community-wide conversation about justice and complicity.
Punishment alone does not lead to accountability; teaching empathy and providing support are essential in addressing racism online.
Deep dives
The Discovery of a Racist Social Media Account
In 2017, a private Instagram account containing racist posts targeting black classmates was discovered by a group of friends. The account had shocking images, including a picture of a black girl with a noose around her neck. The girls decide to speak up and tell other black students about the account, leading to widespread outrage and investigation.
The Complexities of Friendship and Humor
The boys involved in creating and following the racist account were friends with the girls they targeted. They engaged in edgy humor online, believing it to be transgressive and understood as jokes. However, the girls felt deeply hurt and betrayed, questioning the true intentions of their friends. This incident sparked a retrospective examination of previous instances of racism and bullying that were previously dismissed or overlooked.
Consequences versus Accountability
The response to the racist account involved calls for harsh punishment and expulsion. However, the author stresses that punishment does not necessarily lead to accountability and behavioral change. Instead, the focus should be on teaching empathy, having ongoing conversations about morality and humor online, and providing support for the victims of such incidents.
Promoting Dialogue and Taking Action
To prevent future incidents, it is crucial to have open conversations about racism, hatred, and online responsibility. Empowering students to interrupt problematic behavior and providing support for victims are essential steps towards creating a more inclusive and empathetic community.
On this episode: Award-winning journalist Dashka Slater joins to talk about her new book, Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed. It’s a story of a teen sharing extremely racist memes and photos of classmates on a private instagram and what happened when the account was discovered. It led to even more hurt, protests, botched mediation, and a community-wide conversation about justice and what it means to be complicit.
Besides the interview, hosts Jamilah Lemieux, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Zak Rosen share their parenting ups and downs of the week—including a late night before the first day of kindergarten and big-kid summer camp. Then, on Slate Plus: we share lots of listener letters ranging from two player games to suggestions for handling the great bathroom conundrum of 2023.
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Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.