[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] two things we can all relate to that’s
two things we can all relate to that’s
two things we can all relate to that’s powerful performances and social media
powerful performances and social media
powerful performances and social media many of us remember feeling mesmerized
many of us remember feeling mesmerized
many of us remember feeling mesmerized when Cynthia Revo blew us out of the
when Cynthia Revo blew us out of the
when Cynthia Revo blew us out of the water with her rendition of I’m here in
water with her rendition of I’m here in
water with her rendition of I’m here in the color purple with each note
the color purple with each note
the color purple with each note articulating the pain and power of black
articulating the pain and power of black
articulating the pain and power of black women and then we subsequently spent
women and then we subsequently spent
women and then we subsequently spent hours trying to hit those high notes
hours trying to hit those high notes
hours trying to hit those high notes or maybe that was just me and then
or maybe that was just me and then
or maybe that was just me and then there’s Viola Davis who made me want to
there’s Viola Davis who made me want to
there’s Viola Davis who made me want to stand in the same spot with her for the
stand in the same spot with her for the
stand in the same spot with her for the next 18 years as tears and snot running
next 18 years as tears and snot running
next 18 years as tears and snot running down her face and then there’s Laverne
down her face and then there’s Laverne
down her face and then there’s Laverne Cox who and her groundbreaking roles
Cox who and her groundbreaking roles
Cox who and her groundbreaking roles remind us all that trans women’s rights
remind us all that trans women’s rights
remind us all that trans women’s rights are women’s rights you think the beauty
are women’s rights you think the beauty
are women’s rights you think the beauty about social media is that it showcases
about social media is that it showcases
about social media is that it showcases our multiple selves our complexity and
our multiple selves our complexity and
our multiple selves our complexity and indifference but these stories enough
indifference but these stories enough
indifference but these stories enough the sense of humanity and us something
the sense of humanity and us something
the sense of humanity and us something that we can connect to and well tweet
that we can connect to and well tweet
that we can connect to and well tweet about and then there’s social media and
about and then there’s social media and
about and then there’s social media and the beauty of social media is that it
the beauty of social media is that it
the beauty of social media is that it brings forth these new ideas new ways of
brings forth these new ideas new ways of
brings forth these new ideas new ways of thinking there’s these performances that
thinking there’s these performances that
thinking there’s these performances that happen on social media that we’re not
happen on social media that we’re not
happen on social media that we’re not always prepared for so remember when
always prepared for so remember when
always prepared for so remember when your cousin made you scroll through
your cousin made you scroll through
your cousin made you scroll through those 50 pictures of her amazing trip to
those 50 pictures of her amazing trip to
those 50 pictures of her amazing trip to Italy social media found you and then
Italy social media found you and then
Italy social media found you and then when you were tagged in that Facebook
when you were tagged in that Facebook
when you were tagged in that Facebook live video when you were at that party
live video when you were at that party
live video when you were at that party in Bushwick yeah that one and then your
in Bushwick yeah that one and then your
in Bushwick yeah that one and then your grandma calls you up and says baby don’t
grandma calls you up and says baby don’t
grandma calls you up and says baby don’t put those videos of yourself with those
put those videos of yourself with those
put those videos of yourself with those red cups on the book face
red cups on the book face
red cups on the book face social media found you again you think
social media found you again you think
social media found you again you think I’ve gotten up close and personal with
I’ve gotten up close and personal with
I’ve gotten up close and personal with this issue I’m a social worker and a
this issue I’m a social worker and a
this issue I’m a social worker and a digital qualitative researcher and what
digital qualitative researcher and what
digital qualitative researcher and what that means is that I deeply value social
that means is that I deeply value social
that means is that I deeply value social justice and I work alongside with
justice and I work alongside with
justice and I work alongside with communities marginalized communities to
communities marginalized communities to
communities marginalized communities to impact change I use social media to
impact change I use social media to
impact change I use social media to learn more about those communities and
learn more about those communities and
learn more about those communities and to answer questions like how can we
to answer questions like how can we
to answer questions like how can we prevent more murders or how can we
prevent more murders or how can we
prevent more murders or how can we intervene in trauma and ways in healthy
intervene in trauma and ways in healthy
intervene in trauma and ways in healthy ways using social media you say I’ve
ways using social media you say I’ve
ways using social media you say I’ve been interested in gang violence for all
been interested in gang violence for all
been interested in gang violence for all of our academic career but I didn’t
of our academic career but I didn’t
of our academic career but I didn’t start there I went to graduate school at
start there I went to graduate school at
start there I went to graduate school at the University of Chicago to study urban
the University of Chicago to study urban
the University of Chicago to study urban education and I was having these amazing
education and I was having these amazing
education and I was having these amazing conversations with young black and
conversations with young black and
conversations with young black and Latino youth about high school but then
Latino youth about high school but then
Latino youth about high school but then some of them wouldn’t come to school and
some of them wouldn’t come to school and
some of them wouldn’t come to school and then I found that well they were afraid
then I found that well they were afraid
then I found that well they were afraid to cross the gang line or their sister
to cross the gang line or their sister
to cross the gang line or their sister brother cousin had been shot or killed
brother cousin had been shot or killed
brother cousin had been shot or killed the day before how could they focus on
the day before how could they focus on
the day before how could they focus on school test scores and grades when they
school test scores and grades when they
school test scores and grades when they were consumed with surviving and so I
were consumed with surviving and so I
were consumed with surviving and so I took a moment to realize that the
took a moment to realize that the
took a moment to realize that the stories that I heard about them
stories that I heard about them
stories that I heard about them we’re not the stories I was reading
we’re not the stories I was reading
we’re not the stories I was reading about in the news I do a lot of work in
about in the news I do a lot of work in
about in the news I do a lot of work in Chicago and many of you are probably
Chicago and many of you are probably
Chicago and many of you are probably familiar with what’s happening in
familiar with what’s happening in
familiar with what’s happening in Chicago because it’s always in the news
Chicago because it’s always in the news
Chicago because it’s always in the news now there’s some good stuff remember
now there’s some good stuff remember
now there’s some good stuff remember when Oprah ended her award-winning show
when Oprah ended her award-winning show
when Oprah ended her award-winning show after 25 years of success or perhaps
after 25 years of success or perhaps
after 25 years of success or perhaps when former President Barack Obama
when former President Barack Obama
when former President Barack Obama accepted the presidency in Grant Park
accepted the presidency in Grant Park
accepted the presidency in Grant Park that was an amazing night and then
that was an amazing night and then
that was an amazing night and then there’s the movie chiraq which showcases
there’s the movie chiraq which showcases
there’s the movie chiraq which showcases gang members and ironclad doors and
gang members and ironclad doors and
gang members and ironclad doors and single mothers and kids dodging bullets
single mothers and kids dodging bullets
single mothers and kids dodging bullets just to get to school but newspapers
just to get to school but newspapers
just to get to school but newspapers reduce these stories to a bunch of body
reduce these stories to a bunch of body
reduce these stories to a bunch of body right telling you a bunch of numbers of
right telling you a bunch of numbers of
right telling you a bunch of numbers of individuals that are killed or shot over
individuals that are killed or shot over
individuals that are killed or shot over the course of a week or week an or month
the course of a week or week an or month
the course of a week or week an or month or year but these numbers don’t tell the
or year but these numbers don’t tell the
or year but these numbers don’t tell the whole story and then we can learn a lot
whole story and then we can learn a lot
whole story and then we can learn a lot about Chicago’s violence via social
about Chicago’s violence via social
about Chicago’s violence via social media or we think we can recently
media or we think we can recently
media or we think we can recently President Trump like in Chicago’s
President Trump like in Chicago’s
President Trump like in Chicago’s violence to carnage that’s the need of
violence to carnage that’s the need of
violence to carnage that’s the need of federal intervention but what’s the
federal intervention but what’s the
federal intervention but what’s the narrative in this tweet is this tweet
narrative in this tweet is this tweet
narrative in this tweet is this tweet about ending gun violence or is it
about ending gun violence or is it
about ending gun violence or is it simply a political strategy who benefits
simply a political strategy who benefits
simply a political strategy who benefits from this narrative of Chicago well as
from this narrative of Chicago well as
from this narrative of Chicago well as an eager young academic I will seek it
an eager young academic I will seek it
an eager young academic I will seek it to do that next big research study and I
to do that next big research study and I
to do that next big research study and I was so compelled to do something that
was so compelled to do something that
was so compelled to do something that really got a root causes of violence and
really got a root causes of violence and
really got a root causes of violence and so I was sitting in my office in my
so I was sitting in my office in my
so I was sitting in my office in my first academic position at the
first academic position at the
first academic position at the University of Michigan and this headline
University of Michigan and this headline
University of Michigan and this headline came flashing across my screen and it
came flashing across my screen and it
came flashing across my screen and it said Chicago’s gun-toting gang girl
said Chicago’s gun-toting gang girl
said Chicago’s gun-toting gang girl little snoop now of course like many of
little snoop now of course like many of
little snoop now of course like many of you I was rather dismayed and confused
you I was rather dismayed and confused
you I was rather dismayed and confused by the sensational title but then I
by the sensational title but then I
by the sensational title but then I thought this might be the ticket to my
thought this might be the ticket to my
thought this might be the ticket to my next research study so I dug a little
next research study so I dug a little
next research study so I dug a little deeper and there was this quote that
deeper and there was this quote that
deeper and there was this quote that really stuck with me and it read she
really stuck with me and it read she
really stuck with me and it read she became kind of a mythic figure on social
became kind of a mythic figure on social
became kind of a mythic figure on social media a diminutive gap-toothed girl who
media a diminutive gap-toothed girl who
media a diminutive gap-toothed girl who was nobody’s bitch she was purported to
was nobody’s bitch she was purported to
was nobody’s bitch she was purported to have killed at least twice avenging
have killed at least twice avenging
have killed at least twice avenging murdered friends the first time when she
murdered friends the first time when she
murdered friends the first time when she was just 14 and I thought to myself what
was just 14 and I thought to myself what
was just 14 and I thought to myself what if I did a study that really looked at
if I did a study that really looked at
if I did a study that really looked at social media communication and his
social media communication and his
social media communication and his impact on violence and so I ran to the
impact on violence and so I ran to the
impact on violence and so I ran to the academic literature seeking for answers
academic literature seeking for answers
academic literature seeking for answers and there was very little information on
and there was very little information on
and there was very little information on this new phenomenon and so with
this new phenomenon and so with
this new phenomenon and so with colleagues together we sought to carve
colleagues together we sought to carve
colleagues together we sought to carve out a new federal study which examines
out a new federal study which examines
out a new federal study which examines the
the
the election between social media
election between social media
election between social media communication and gang violence now in
communication and gang violence now in
communication and gang violence now in order to do this well we really needed
order to do this well we really needed
order to do this well we really needed to understand the language right and we
to understand the language right and we
to understand the language right and we needed a case study that really was
needed a case study that really was
needed a case study that really was emblematic of what was happening on
emblematic of what was happening on
emblematic of what was happening on social media and the gang violence that
social media and the gang violence that
social media and the gang violence that was taking place in Chicago so we
was taking place in Chicago so we
was taking place in Chicago so we focused on Jakara Barnes a deceased 17
focused on Jakara Barnes a deceased 17
focused on Jakara Barnes a deceased 17 year old woman that was known as a
year old woman that was known as a
year old woman that was known as a shooter or a hitter in her gang which is
shooter or a hitter in her gang which is
shooter or a hitter in her gang which is a position that’s really occupied by
a position that’s really occupied by
a position that’s really occupied by young women and she also had a really
young women and she also had a really
young women and she also had a really amazing Twitter following she’s quite
amazing Twitter following she’s quite
amazing Twitter following she’s quite active on Twitter and so in all of my
active on Twitter and so in all of my
active on Twitter and so in all of my eagerness I dug into her tweets like an
eagerness I dug into her tweets like an
eagerness I dug into her tweets like an archaeologist searching for bones
archaeologist searching for bones
archaeologist searching for bones looking for those tweets that I thought
looking for those tweets that I thought
looking for those tweets that I thought would be aggressive or threatening and
would be aggressive or threatening and
would be aggressive or threatening and well I found plenty then I found bodies
well I found plenty then I found bodies
well I found plenty then I found bodies you see I came across a set of tweets
you see I came across a set of tweets
you see I came across a set of tweets from the gun-toting gang girl that I
from the gun-toting gang girl that I
from the gun-toting gang girl that I wasn’t expecting
wasn’t expecting
wasn’t expecting on March 29 2014 her good friend bhishan
on March 29 2014 her good friend bhishan
on March 29 2014 her good friend bhishan little B Shaw was shot and killed by the
little B Shaw was shot and killed by the
little B Shaw was shot and killed by the Chicago police and on that day Shakira
Chicago police and on that day Shakira
Chicago police and on that day Shakira took to Twitter to express grief and
took to Twitter to express grief and
took to Twitter to express grief and pain and trauma she said things like the
pain and trauma she said things like the
pain and trauma she said things like the pain is unbearable my pain ain’t never
pain is unbearable my pain ain’t never
pain is unbearable my pain ain’t never been told why the police have to kill my
been told why the police have to kill my
been told why the police have to kill my broski you see I missed these tweets
broski you see I missed these tweets
broski you see I missed these tweets because I wasn’t looking for them
because I wasn’t looking for them
because I wasn’t looking for them I had internalized a single narrative
I had internalized a single narrative
I had internalized a single narrative about jakirah because of what I read
about jakirah because of what I read
about jakirah because of what I read about her because of what I read about
about her because of what I read about
about her because of what I read about Chicago and it fundamentally changed how
Chicago and it fundamentally changed how
Chicago and it fundamentally changed how I approached my research and so I
I approached my research and so I
I approached my research and so I finally woke up and realized that if I
finally woke up and realized that if I
finally woke up and realized that if I was gonna do this research well I needed
was gonna do this research well I needed
was gonna do this research well I needed a holistic process that centers the
a holistic process that centers the
a holistic process that centers the voices of youth and if I wouldn’t have a
voices of youth and if I wouldn’t have a
voices of youth and if I wouldn’t have a larger impact well I needed to be able
larger impact well I needed to be able
larger impact well I needed to be able to look at a lot of data quickly and so
to look at a lot of data quickly and so
to look at a lot of data quickly and so I could
I could
I could into the safe lab which is a research
into the safe lab which is a research
into the safe lab which is a research initiative that brings together voices
initiative that brings together voices
initiative that brings together voices and expertise from youth social workers
and expertise from youth social workers
and expertise from youth social workers and computer scientists and together we
and computer scientists and together we
and computer scientists and together we are creating tools that can prevent and
are creating tools that can prevent and
are creating tools that can prevent and detect violence that starts on social
detect violence that starts on social
detect violence that starts on social media and so in our research process we
media and so in our research process we
media and so in our research process we always start with youth who are
always start with youth who are
always start with youth who are community experts they translate our
community experts they translate our
community experts they translate our data and tell us the story within a
data and tell us the story within a
data and tell us the story within a story so for example we learned that a
story so for example we learned that a
story so for example we learned that a gun emoji a devil face and a man running
gun emoji a devil face and a man running
gun emoji a devil face and a man running is a prime example of a potential threat
is a prime example of a potential threat
is a prime example of a potential threat that we should pay attention to then
that we should pay attention to then
that we should pay attention to then with all those insights from young
with all those insights from young
with all those insights from young people our social workers look for clear
people our social workers look for clear
people our social workers look for clear and discernible patterns in the data
and discernible patterns in the data
and discernible patterns in the data one thing that we found is that
one thing that we found is that
one thing that we found is that expressions of grief and loss oftentimes
expressions of grief and loss oftentimes
expressions of grief and loss oftentimes come before a more aggressive and
come before a more aggressive and
come before a more aggressive and threatening tweet perfect time for an
threatening tweet perfect time for an
threatening tweet perfect time for an intervention and then our computer
intervention and then our computer
intervention and then our computer scientists take all of those important
scientists take all of those important
scientists take all of those important ideas those deep insights from youth and
ideas those deep insights from youth and
ideas those deep insights from youth and social workers and then use machine
social workers and then use machine
social workers and then use machine learning or artificial intelligence to
learning or artificial intelligence to
learning or artificial intelligence to detect and predict these instances on
detect and predict these instances on
detect and predict these instances on social media that then allows us to work
social media that then allows us to work
social media that then allows us to work with community-based organizations that
with community-based organizations that
with community-based organizations that are on the ground doing this good
are on the ground doing this good
are on the ground doing this good violence work we can support their
violence work we can support their
violence work we can support their efforts but we’re constantly told the
efforts but we’re constantly told the
efforts but we’re constantly told the story about Jakara and people like her
story about Jakara and people like her
story about Jakara and people like her that reduced her to a bloodthirsty
that reduced her to a bloodthirsty
that reduced her to a bloodthirsty killer that felt no pain but what I
killer that felt no pain but what I
killer that felt no pain but what I learned from her social media is that
learned from her social media is that
learned from her social media is that violence is complex and that there are
violence is complex and that there are
violence is complex and that there are multiple opportunities to intervene now
multiple opportunities to intervene now
multiple opportunities to intervene now this isn’t to negate the fact that she
this isn’t to negate the fact that she
this isn’t to negate the fact that she did commit some crime and their families
did commit some crime and their families
did commit some crime and their families still grieving but there are multiple
still grieving but there are multiple
still grieving but there are multiple opportunities to intervene when Jakara
opportunities to intervene when Jakara
opportunities to intervene when Jakara told us that the pain was unbearable we
told us that the pain was unbearable we
told us that the pain was unbearable we could have asked why when she told us no
could have asked why when she told us no
could have asked why when she told us no one understands her pain we could have
one understands her pain we could have
one understands her pain we could have asked her about our friends and when she
asked her about our friends and when she
asked her about our friends and when she said the police killed her free
said the police killed her free
said the police killed her free and well we can all challenge those
and well we can all challenge those
and well we can all challenge those policing strategies when will we start
policing strategies when will we start
policing strategies when will we start to see the humanity and kids like
to see the humanity and kids like
to see the humanity and kids like jakirah
jakirah
jakirah when will we see young black and Latino
when will we see young black and Latino
when will we see young black and Latino youth as children and not as Public
youth as children and not as Public
youth as children and not as Public Safety risks we can use social media to
Safety risks we can use social media to
Safety risks we can use social media to get a more complete story to see nuance
get a more complete story to see nuance
get a more complete story to see nuance in language and behavior that is hard to
in language and behavior that is hard to
in language and behavior that is hard to understand things to face interactions
understand things to face interactions
understand things to face interactions and so I want to invite you all today
and so I want to invite you all today
and so I want to invite you all today and joining me to tell more complete
and joining me to tell more complete
and joining me to tell more complete stories we can use our diverse lenses to
stories we can use our diverse lenses to
stories we can use our diverse lenses to retell power of near powerful narratives
retell power of near powerful narratives
retell power of near powerful narratives about marginalized communities we saw
about marginalized communities we saw
about marginalized communities we saw this happen in moonlight in hidden
this happen in moonlight in hidden
this happen in moonlight in hidden figures in fences and so in borrowing
figures in fences and so in borrowing
figures in fences and so in borrowing from Viola Davis let’s continue to
from Viola Davis let’s continue to
from Viola Davis let’s continue to exhume those bodies and we tell our
exhume those bodies and we tell our
exhume those bodies and we tell our stories
stories
stories [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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