Historical Analysis of the 'Outside Agitator' Trope in Ferguson Protests

The 'outside agitator' trope used during the 2014 protests in Ferguson to shift blame onto non-local individuals has a deep-rooted historical context. This trope has been historically employed to defend white supremacy by either portraying white innocence or delegitimizing black protestors as 'inauthentic.' The tensions between local and external activists are not new, dating back to the Civil Rights Movement era where organizations like SNCC aimed to empower local leaders, unlike the SCLC led by Martin Luther King Jr., which sometimes intervened without local consent. This historical context explains the frustration felt by Ferguson's local organizers towards external figures becoming the face of the movement. The enduring issue highlights the complexities of integrating external support while valuing local leadership and needs in protests.