News
x
Joe Vesey-Byrne
1492091100

Picture:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
#SayHerName
The failure to refer to a dead judge by her name, and insteadreferringto thename of the river she was found in, has sparked a debate about identity and the media.
On Wednesday night, the body of Sheila Abdus-Salaam was found dead in the Hudson River.
Abdus-Salaam was a judge on the New York Court of Appeals.
She was the first black woman and Muslim to be confirmed to the circuit.
The nominating governor, Andrew Cuomo of New York said in a statement:
Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all,
As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the state’s Court of Appeals, she was a pioneer. Through her writings, her wisdom and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come.
Tributes have poured in from friends, family, those who knew her, and social media.
However, Abdus-Salaam name did not trend on social media.
#HudsonRiver did.
Why is Hudson River STILL trending and not Sheila Abdus-Salaam? #SheilaAbdusSalaam #SayHerName— #PrisonStrike2022 (@#PrisonStrike2022) 1492088859
Why is Hudson River trending but Sheila Abdas-Salaam is not? A black muslim judge found dead in the river is not a coincidence #SayHerName— Kiamarie (@Kiamarie) 1492047094
In response to this organic phenomenon, click activists responded with a coordinated attempt to get her name more widely shared, and replace #HudsonRiver.
She was BLACK, MUSLIM, & A WOMAN. Her name ISN'T Hudson River. Her name is Sheila Abdus-Salaam.… https://t.co/CJ3B0xw63P— Rana Begum (@Rana Begum) 1492074874
#SayHerName was their cry.
Though some were spelling her surname 'Adbas' and some 'Abdus', (the correct form is 'Abdus')
Regardless, the effort appears to have had some effect. #SheilaAbdusSalaam has been trending alongside #sayhername for at least 11 hours.
her name was JUDGE #SheilaAbdusSalaam #sayhername— Niq (@Niq) 1492091204
Sheila Abdus-Salaam #sayhername https://t.co/SYPVq89usG— Ben Dover, Otter Esq. (@Ben Dover, Otter Esq.) 1492090950
Her name was "SHEILA ABDUS-SALAAM" not "Hudson River" #SAYHERNAME #ShielaAbdusSalaam https://t.co/boXI9F6OEQ— Blue Wave 864511320 (@Blue Wave 864511320) 1492077306
Curious: Why is the death of Judge #ShielaAbdusSalaam trending under the place where she was found and NOT under he… https://t.co/uU96HgHwQS— Cee Cee 🇺🇸 (@Cee Cee 🇺🇸) 1492091789
The cause of Justice Abdus-Salaam's death has not yet to be ascertained.
HT Independent
Keep reading...Show less
Top 100
The Conversation (0)