Intersectional activism on social media: Anti-racist and feminist strategies in the digital space

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the last decade, digital platforms have assumed an increasingly central role in social movement strategies and in political engagement, both as media of communication and information and as tools for establishing global connections. In Italy, social media are increasingly used by Black Italian women writers, activists, and artivists to draw attention to issues traditionally under-represented in mainstream communication, such as racism, citizenship, sexism, and intersectional discrimination. Digital narratives and debate initiatives on social media allow for the creation of transnational solidarity networks and strengthen the forms of offline anti-racist and feminist activism. Analyzing the digital content produced by Espérance Hakuzwimana Ripanti, Djarah Kan, and Oiza Queens Day Obasuyi – such as the Facebook Live format “Non me nero accorta”, and Facebook and Instagram posts – this article examines how social media are reconfiguring social and cultural activism by creating a space where intersectional and decolonial epistemologies are produced.