Have you ever seen a hashtag, gif, or meme paired with a perfectly crafted tweet? If so, it probably came from the realm of “Black Twitter.” Out of Twitter’s various subcultures, “Black Twitter” has been the social app’s most popular one, standing at the forefront for years without recognition.
Hulu’s new docuseries finally gives that voice a face. The Knockturnal had the special privilege of attending a private screening to view the first episode of, ‘Black Twitter: A People’s History.’
The event took place last Thursday at the Midnight Theatre in Manhattan with a step-and-repeat planted outside for attendees to take photos, or in Twitter terms, show off their #fitcheck. Actor and singer, Trevor Jackson, was one of the familiar faces who made an appearance to show off his style as well, before heading to the pre-screening event with the rest of the crowd.
The theaters stairs led everyone to its bar with floor-to-ceiling windows and sitting areas all around. Upon entering, you are quickly engulfed in the swaying vibes of music coming from the DJ booth with smooth dance moves coming from the DJ herself. Servers with the most welcoming smiles walked around with platters of appetizers and trays of cocktails. The bar was open to receive any preferred drinks, free of charge, but their themed cocktails: “#HOTTAKE,” “AND I OOP,” and “#IYKYK,” were a crowd favorite.
Towards the back was a section dedicated to capturing more moments of the evening with a photo booth station that printed out and emailed photos of you. It didn’t take long for the room to get crowded with the cast and crew of the series, celebrities, and influencers alike.
To our surprise, even the queen of Genovia, Anne Hathaway, was present! Everyone either knew each other, knew of each other, or met for the first time. No matter what your relationship was like with the person next to you, the environment felt familiar, as if you had known the person for ages. One moment, people were found mingling, then dancing filled the dance floors the next. If this pre-screening event didn’t perfectly replicate the culture of Black Twitter itself, then we’re not sure what does.
An hour later, everyone was ushered into the screening room with drinks in hand while popcorn and snacks waited to be grabbed upon entry. Projectors shined on all four walls, showing transitions of numerous hashtags from notable moments of history, where its discourse went viral throughout the app. Below everyone’s seats were envelopes that housed gift cards for Hulu’s streaming service for attendees to take home.
Moments later, the crowd was greeted by the show’s executive producer and director, Prentice Penny, who gave his token of appreciation to those who came out, as well as, those who assisted in the development of the series. Penny emphasized his gratitude towards black culture itself, expressing how the world tries to deny such culture having any doing in the creation of current and lasting trends. He uses this perspective to further explain why sharing history is vital, for “the things that are here today, might be gone tomorrow.” This was the case for the social media company, “Twitter,” or as it is now known to be called, “X.”
Businessman and investor, Elon Musk, bought the company in October of 2022 and made a plethora of changes to what users knew the platform to be. The most notable differences include its famous name and logo of a blue bird to that of a black “X,” letter. While X looks like the old Twitter, Musk demolished its core features that made the app enjoyable. The Washington Post reported that “the service has seen a 30% decline in the number of people actively tweeting.” What was once a source to find out what occurs in the world, is now the home to hate speech and misinformation. While its name and elements may have been changed, its history, however, cannot be erased.
Hulu’s three-part docuseries was influenced by Jason Parham’s WIRED article, “A People’s History of Black Twitter.” The streaming service states that this new show, “charts the rise, the movements, the voices, and the memes that made Black Twitter an influential and dominant force in nearly every aspect of American political and cultural life.” Even in the show’s development, Penny reveals how X contacted his team to put out a correction to change the documentary’s name of “Black Twitter,” to “Black X.” This fact is what made its first episode, “Chapter One,” important to create as it details the origins of a culture that Musk is still trying to abolish.
Parham tracked down the beginnings of Black Twitter to around 2009, as it was created by a community of Black Twitter users. “Black millennials were looking for a place to communicate,” Parhamn states. “We just want to connect online. Twitter was the place to do that. It felt like one giant group chat.” Black people have used the social media platform as an extension to hold space for and relate to those who look like them. In that space could the Black community vent, laugh, and/or cry about the ridiculousness of everyday life. The first episode highlights the excitement of the culture’s beginnings, celebrating the journalists, hashtag originators, scholars, and comedians, who helped create Black Twitter’s voice. It also reminded its viewers of iconic moments that went viral during the Black discussion such as the Rihanna and Ciara beef in 2011. It included a range of how far Black voices can go that it can even create movie plots off a simple Twitter thread, like user, Zola, and her story. The film, Zola, received positive reviews from critics and had Twitter users amazed.
This reach allowed the episode to lead into another narrative of how Black voices, thanks to the advancement of technology, used the platform to create entertainment but also political movements. It pushed agendas such as the #BlackLivesMatter and #OscarsSoWhite campaigns. It also spread word to gather people together in support of unjust situations, such as the Travon Martin and George Floyd cases. The docuseries showcases several comedians, scholars, journalists, and notable social media influencers including Amanda Seales, Jemele Hill, Sam Jay, and more, to confirm what their community knew Twitter to be. In reality, there is no more “Black Twitter,” because Twitter no longer exists. Even though users still call it by its’ old name, Musk has changed the dynamics of the platform to where users no longer find it enjoyable.
A panel with Prentice Penny, Joie Jacoby, Jason Parham, God-Is Rivera, and J Wortham, was set up after the screening. Moderator, Roy Wood Jr., asked the crew numerous questions about the development of the film and what would be next for “Black Twitter”. They explained how they aren’t worried about what the future holds for they make wherever they go, their own space. The second and third episodes include the social changes that took place because of the app’s influence, Trump’s era, the pandemic, and Musk’s current control.
These episodes can be streamed only on Hulu where viewers can watch now! Watch the first 5 minutes below!
