A hashtag that has become popular on Twitter calls attention to how the media often portrays slain black men like Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, the Missouri teenager who was killed in a police shooting this past weekend.
People tweeting with the hashtag #IfTheyGunnedMeDown have been posting photos illustrating how easily someone's image can be manipulated by the media.
The tweets typically include two photos — one that shows the person looking innocent and another that, taken out of context, could be used to demonize them.
The juxtaposition of the photos is powerful:
In the case of slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, several photos appeared online and in the media showing him allegedly blowing smoke, holding a gun, and looking tough while wearing gold grills. Other photos showing Martin looking more innocent and child-like also circulated online.
Michael Brown, who was 18 years old when he was shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri, is getting a similar treatment.
One photo shows him assuming a tough-looking stance:
And another shows him looking like a normal kid:
As Business Insider's Nicholas Carlson pointed out in 2012 when photos of Martin looking tough were circulating online, these photos provide little to no context about a person's true character.
Teenagers in particular often post photos of themselves trying to look "cool" or "tough" online. See: "white chicks and gang signs":
It's easy for people to seize on certain images in the midst of a controversial event like this, but it's important to keep in mind that select photos rarely tell the full story.
(h/t Mic, The Root)