A group of celebrity ladies are rallying under the hashtag #WomenBoycottTwitter to amplify women’s concerns. But while The Roots instrumentalist Questlove was among those supporting the movement with Kerry Washington and Gabrielle Union, he also wanted users to remember Jemele Hill.
aight….in addition to supporting the #WomenBoycottTwitter movement i ask you all remember that @JemeleHill is catching hell as well. out.
— 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 (@questlove) October 13, 2017
The “SC6” host has been suspended by ESPN for two weeks after she tweeted that NFL fans can make a difference by boycotting advertisers. It’s a different case than what led #WomenBoycottTwitter to take place (actress Rose McGowan was suspended for 12 hours for violating Twitter’s Terms of Service after amplifying her accusations against Harvey Weinstein). However, Hill’s Twitter use cost her job — at least temporarily.
Several vowed not to leave Hill’s plight behind.
I will not. WOC been having their accounts suspended for BEING attacked….but NOW it’s time to boycott? Pfft.
— Lena Jones 🇺🇸 (@Nobdcome2CuOtis) October 13, 2017
— 🤘Schuylerocks😼 (@schuylerocks) October 13, 2017
Time to end the many #DoubleStandards that hurt women, women of color and people of color. I support you, @jemelehill.
— Diana Moller (@DianaEMoller) October 13, 2017
Black Women Speak for Themselves
Nicki Minaj Says Fashion Designers Appropriate Hip-Hop Culture And Exclude Black People
Serena Williams Urges Black Women to ‘Be Fearless’ and Fight for Equal Pay
Black Women in Hollywood are Ready to Take Control of Their Image: Will the Industry Let Them?
A few small debates also emerged over the way McGowan garnered widespread support, but not Hill.
#McGowan was sexually assaulted #JemeleHill had a job to talk sports & didn't do her job. Who sounds privileged in that situation? Wow
— JustKim (@kimcarswell74) October 13, 2017
#facts Where was all this when Jemele was catching hell from ESPN and the White House for speaking out?
— Marc Jones (@Jonesy718) October 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/KichwaTemb0/status/918738569367293952
Others felt it was a lost cause.
They don’t give a shit. Women boycott Twitter is a white woman movement. Much like feminism it has nothing to do with us. Ijs
— Elle-HearSay Mag (@Elle_Sweetest) October 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/thehippyhippie/status/918719479823024128
Still, Questlove isn’t the only person who wants to put a bullhorn to non-white women’s causes. Ava DuVernay did so in her own way.
Calling white women allies to recognize conflict of #WomenBoycottTwitter for women of color who haven't received support on similar issues.
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) October 13, 2017
Along with Rewire senior legal analyst Imani Gandy.
A lot of WoC are not participating in #WomenBoycottTwitter and are instead amplifying WoC voices. I have a list! https://t.co/MSyivNoJ0l
— Imani Gandy ☄️🌏🔥 (@AngryBlackLady) October 13, 2017
And many other women felt unsure about supporting #WomenBoycottTwitter at all.
Intersectionality = when you really want to support #WomenBoycottTwitter but you're conflicted bec Black women never get the same support. 😞
— Kimberly Bryant (@6Gems) October 13, 2017
Hey black women, are we doing the #womenboycottTwitter? Bc I’m not sure where we fall bc white feminists don’t come through for us enough.
— Aja Barber (@AjaSaysHello) October 13, 2017
