A People’s History of Black Twitter

An oral history of one of the most influential communities on the internet.

  1. Part I: Coming Together (2000-2012)

    From #UKnowUrBlackWhen to #BlackLivesMatter, how a loose online network became a pop culture juggernaut, an engine of social justice, and a lens into the future.

  2. Part II: Rising Up (2012–2016)

    No longer just an online movement, Black Twitter takes to the streets—and finds its voice.

  3. Part III: Getting Through (2016-present)

    Joy and pain, harmony and discord, organization and chaos—there’s no single way to define Black Twitter’s complex, ongoing legacy.

Voices from Chernobyl

“'You have to understand: This is not your husband anymore, not a beloved person, but a radioactive object with a strong density of poisoning. You’re not suicidal. Get a hold of yourself.' And I was like someone who’d lost her mind: 'But I love him! I love him!' He’s sleeping, and I’m whispering: 'I love you!' Walking in the hospital courtyard, 'I love you.' Carrying his sanitary tray, 'I love you.'”

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Excerpted from Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster.