User:JohnnyWilliams1914/sandbox

Parallels exist between BLM and the Arab spring. Both social movements use information communication technologies such as Facebook and snapchat in framing the injustices that affected both groups such as the police brutality that affected Eric Garner or the self-immolation of (Mohamed Bouazizi.) .The use of information communication technologies such as social media facilitated accelerated pluralism and this tactic allowed the participants to congregate safely in the virtual public sphere, spread a message and call for action through different repertories of contention such as protests or hashtags. Another thing to note is that information communications are important for creating new rhetoric and challenging ideological control. Black Lives Matter used the medium of twitter garner support and many protests of solidarity took place as a result accelerated pluralism facilitated by twitter.

Accelerated pluralism is a form of mobilization used in formation of social movements that is facilitated by the use of information communication technologies. This form of group formation is unique because through the use of the internet people congregate in the virtual public sphere and decide which form of action to take. According to the Center for Democracy and Technology’s Daniel Weitnzer the internet facilitates a “one-to-one interaction…between citizens and government” something that is missing in today's politics. . Accelerated pluralism played a major role in the mobilization efforts of the the Arab Spring, Occupy and Black Lives Matter social movements by allowing the participants to mobilize cheaply and quickly.

Information communication technologies play a role in facilitating accelerated pluralism in new social movements today. The internet according to Bruce Bimber is "accelerating the process of issue group formation and action" and coined the term accelerated pluralism to explain this new phenomena. ICTs are tools for "enabling social movement leaders and empowering dictators" in effect promoting societal change. ICTs can be used to garner grassroots support for a cause due to the internet allowing for political discourse and direct interventions with state policy as well as change the way complaints from the populace are handled by governments.

The belief of the influence of the illuminati can be considered a conspiracy theory, a form of engaging in collective behavior. Value Added Theory, a term coined by Neil Smelser, can be used to explain the prevalence of the illuminati in rap lyrics. Structural conduciveness, which is established by the shared culture of hip hop provides the first step for a rumor to occur. The vehicle of hip hop being used to spread conspiracy theories is not new due to the history of mistrust that is present between the black community and the government. Structural Strain is provided by the economic disparities that exist between the black community and the rest of America. The theory of the illuminati influencing hip hop is then used as a way to explain why some make it out of the 'hood and some do not. Accelerated pluralism through the use of information communication technologies spreads the generalized belief that the illuminati influence hip hop. The belief of the illuminati influencing hip hop is so engrained in pop culture society that rappers such as Meek Mill have to say "I don't have to join the illuminati just to get a new Bugatti" just to prove to those who engage in belief of this theory that he is free from external masonic influences.

It is important to note that music is an important repertoire of contention for the black lives matter movement. Rappers such as Kendrick Lamar have used music to promote structural conduciveness necessary for a social movement to maintain momentum according to value added theory. Songs such as "Alright" have been used as a rallying call against the police injustices that have affected black youth such as Tamir Rice or Trayvon Martin. Kendrick Lamar is not the only artist who uses their work to speak out against police brutality. Beyonce's most recent production lemonade featured Mike Brown and Trayvon Martin's mothers crying while holding the last images they have of their sons, in effect propelling the issue of police brutality to a national stage.

Memes are also important in garnering support for and against the Black Lives Matter new social movement. Information communication technologies such as Facebook and Twitter spread memes and are important tools for garnering web support in hopes of producing a spillover effect into the offline world. The use of ICTs facilitate the spread of the message "All Lives Matter" as a response to the Black Lives Matter hashtag as well as the "Blue Lives Matter" hashtag as a response to Beyonce's halftime performance speaking out against Police Brutality. This push back from authority is something that should be noted within the context of value added theory and could be interpreted as a sign of a social movement being effective.