The past week has been filled with tragedy after tragedy. People’s lives were lost, some because of their skin color and some because of their occupation, and throughout it all we’ve had the opportunity to see everything first hand through videos on social media sites. Videos are being posted, reposted and live streamed and have become the focus of our news feeds. While staying up to date and educated on our community is important, sometimes it gets to be too much. Sometimes, despite the importance of the issues, we need a break, and this is where hashtags will be our saviors. This weekend #carefreeblackkids2k16 was trending and created a beautiful, loving attitude across my news feed. Between the videos of black men being shot and peaceful protesters being arrested, a beautiful, carefree black child was smiling up at me. Every time I saw posts featuring this hashtag, I smiled and laughed at the kids and their antics. It was a nice mental break for me. Times like this those little breaks are exactly what everyone needs at one point or another. So let’s all help provide those breaks -- let’s all contribute to a hashtag to help each other. Here are a few examples of tags we should try to bring back into the rotation and get trending.
#CarefreeBlackKids2k16
This one is all about the unfiltered joy of being a child. So next time you catch your little cousin giggling at a snapchat filter share it with the rest of the world, we want to laugh too.
Thank you to everyone who made this happiness trend 🙏 We need it! #CarefreeBlackKids2K16 pic.twitter.com/mq4SsoSt61
— i am OTHER (@i_am_OTHER) July">https://twitter.com/i_am_OTHER/status/751555877249... 8, 2016
#BlackGirlsBreakTheInternet
If Kim K can do it, black girls most certainly can. Post that gorgeous selfie and don’t forget the hashtag! Let the world see that in the face of tragedy black girls still got the juice.
Can I get in on this? #BlackGirlsBreakTheInternet pic.twitter.com/YqXOVldC15
— Yara shahidi (@YaraShahidi) June">https://twitter.com/YaraShahidi/status/74183298369... 12, 201
#BlackGirlMagic
This hashtag is reserved for major achievements by black women. Sure you could throw a selfie in there too, but what we really want to see is the scholarship you got for school, or the award you received for your excellence in the community. Spot lighting black celebrities is also deemed acceptable.
Congrats @serenawilliams and @Venuseswilliams on your 6th #Wimbledon doubles title! #BlackGirlMagic (via @giphy) pic.twitter.com/133jhynFHh
— BET (@BET) July">https://twitter.com/BET/status/751882890884112384"... 9, 2016
#BlackBoysBreakTheInternet
Let’s not forget about our brown skinned brothers, bring forth your golden selfies and bless us all. We all need a little pick me up during the day and your pictures are providing that.
Only because #BlackBoysBreakTheInternet is a Real Hashtag 🤔... pic.twitter.com/5p1I3PiEhG
— [$] (@DREWD0LLASIGN) June">https://twitter.com/DREWD0LLASIGN/status/741768282... 11, 2016
#BeyonceAlwaysOnBeat
I don’t care if you don’t like her music, you still have to admit that Beyoncé is a major figure in the black community. Not only is she a highly successful black woman, but she’s also always on beat.
#BeyoncéAlwaysOnBeat Part 1 https://t.co/OIGyu3P2Ya
— ❄️Slay Z❄️ (@Mascotmy_tweets) May">https://twitter.com/Mascotmy_tweets/status/6023257... 24, 2015
#GrowingUpBlack
This last one is just for laughs, we all can relate to this hashtag. Let’s take a minute to laugh and remember a time that was easier for all of us.
#GrowingUpBlack if you hear old school music blasting when you wake up.... Get ready to clean the whole house 😩😂💀
— ➰Pocahhhhh➰ (@Pocahhhhh) July">https://twitter.com/Pocahhhhh/status/7496226619117... 3, 2016
The revolution will not be televised, but over the upcoming months it will be live streamed, tweeted and posted so let’s keep some hashtags in rotation to provide us all with a much needed break every once in a while.