Exactly. #CelebrateStarWarsVII https://t.co/pQ2XAvsYdY
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) October 19, 2015
To combat the negativity at the root of the #BoycottStarWarsVII hashtag, Selma director Ava DuVernay coined a new hashtag, one that celebrates the great things about The Force Awakens: #CelebrateStarWarsVII.
As Tor Haugan points out, it’s the negativity around #BoycottStarWarsVII that’s making it trend. Indeed, according to a few reports and tweets, it may very well have been a troll campaign started to get people mad. But regardless of its origins, more than a few homegrown white supremacists jumped onto the bandwagon and, well, the rest is right on the sidebar of Twitter for you to see.
There are still many beautiful things to celebrate about The Force Awakens. It’s important that today be a day where we both recognize the kind of ridiculous, hate-filled swill that crops up around our favorite media as well as celebrate the positive, inspirational, and encouraging things that remind us why we love them in the first place.
After all, there has to be some balance to the Force, right? That’s where the #CelebrateStarWarsVII hashtag comes in.
There are women & POC in a galaxy far, far away AND women & POC in this galaxy too. #celebratestarwarsVII
— Cameron Esposito (@cameronesposito) October 19, 2015
I #CelebrateStarWarsVII because the world will finally witness the awesomeness that is @JohnBoyega pic.twitter.com/GM6emoNObp
— ReBecca Theodore (@FilmFatale_NYC) October 19, 2015
I wish I saw this multicultural Star Wars growing up. Let’s foster young p.o.c creativity and imagination #CelebrateStarWarsVII
— ruun+rooney (@pettydraper) October 19, 2015
Good stuff. #CelebrateStarWarsVII https://t.co/aGdqHfI4jU
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) October 19, 2015
My little bro who is OBSESSED w/ Star Wars now gets to see a more diverse cast on screen. #CelebrateStarWarsVII pic.twitter.com/kEHRwUF0BA
— ur new step dad (@afroeccentrix) October 19, 2015
This one might not have the #CelebrateStarWarsVII tag, but it’s relevant all the same:
Since #BoycottStarWarsVII is trending, might as well take advantage of promoting this new comic book. pic.twitter.com/cek4vMt4II
— BlackGirlNerds (@BlackGirlNerds) October 19, 2015
Finally, a request that we’d like to echo:
Can @AVAETC please direct a @starwars film? She clearly gets it better than some “fanboys”!!! #CelebrateStarWarsVII
— Clone Corridor (@CloneCorridor) October 19, 2015
It’s not too late in the day–perhaps we can get #CelebrateStarWarsVII trending above #BoycottStarWarsVII. We can do it. We’re all of our own only hopes.
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