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ANTI-BLACK RACISM
Why You Will Get Banned For Posting a Swastika But Not a Confederate Flag
Elon Musk's Twitter is full of contradictions that perpetuate a racial hierarchy
Hate speech is on the rise on Elon Musk's Twitter. But, if we're honest with ourselves, we'd confess that bigotry had a comfy home on the platform all along. Musk's takeover simply emboldened bigots; his free-speech policies were like hot tea and crumpets on a frigid morning. Researchers showed that the use of the n-word has tripped, and antisemitic content has increased under Musk's leadership. Yet, whether or not people should be able to use hate speech remains a hotly debated topic.
On the one hand, Milena Marin, senior advisor for tactical research at Amnesty International, suggested hate speech and bullying can have the negative impact of "silencing of already marginalized voices." Hate speech can make some marginalized groups post less, interact with others less frequently, or disengage from a platform altogether. On the other hand, free-speech purists believe that people should have the right to say or post anything. For them, people feeling offended is a small price to pay for "free speech." Initially, Musk aligned himself with the latter, welcoming former President Donald Trump, Kanye West, and other…
