Fatou Ndiaye, the influencer who fights against online abuse after suffering racism in an elite school in Rio

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Fatou Ndiaye became an online activist after experiencing racism at school – and now inspires other young black people to do the same, offering tips on how to deal with conflicts on social media. Fatou Ndiaye, the influencer who fights online abuse after suffering racism at an elite school in Rio Stephanie Vilchez/via BBC In May 2020, Fatou Ndiaye became known for an unwanted reason: the black teenager found herself at the center of a racism scandal at a renowned private school in Rio de Janeiro. Nearly three years later, the daughter of Senegalese migrants has established herself as a young activist, inspiring a national debate about race relations. On the eve of International Safer Internet Day, celebrated on February 7, she spoke to the BBC about the abuse she suffered on social media – and how it motivated her to react. The 18-year-old has a busy schedule. Fatou is busy planning her university study in the US, juggling a series of lectures on racism at schools and companies across Brazil through the Afrika Academy — the diversity consultancy she created — and managing her Instagram and Twitter accounts. (both with over 100,000 followers). But the activist is even more remembered for being a victim of racism at Colégio Franco Brasileiro, in Laranjeiras, in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro. Some of her classmates posted racist messages on a school WhatsApp group in May 2020. While the content of the messages is undeniable, a lengthy court case is still ongoing, and Fatou’s parents have opted to transfer her to another school. . The episode gained prominence in the press because Fatou not only reported the incident to the police, but also spoke openly about the issue on social media as a way to encourage discussion about race relations in the country. She also inspired other young black Brazilians to do the same. “Through social media and my speaking engagements, I am in constant contact with people who want to join the debate and start questioning things,” Fatou tells the BBC. For people preparing to enter this debate, she suggests two things right off the bat: “The first is to be authentic and be responsible about what you post online, as there is already a lot of fake news out there.” The second thing, explains Fatou, is to prepare for a lot of trolling. “A big problem with the internet for me is that people can’t differentiate negative comments from what is actually a hate crime. People feel free to say what they want without realizing that many of their points are racist, xenophobic or slanderous.” Fatou reconciles its online presence with lectures at schools and companies Stephanie Vilchez Self-moderation More than 180 countries around the world celebrated International Safer Internet Day on February 7, and the theme chosen for 2023 is “Want to talk about it? online life”. While Fatou believes social media companies need to step up their moderation practices and curb hate speech, she also sees a much more urgent need for user self-restraint. “You have the right to disagree with someone, but not to attack someone. Until people understand that, we won’t have a safe space online.” That said, Fatou emphasizes to fellow — and potential — activists that it’s important to be callous. She points out that criticism and disagreements are part of the debate and should not be taken personally. “You must be prepared to be questioned and deal with opposing views. In fact, I think this is fundamental for a person’s growth”, she says. “Yes, some people will attack you, but you shouldn’t be afraid of them.” That doesn’t mean, however, that these situations are pleasant – Fatou admits that her activity on social media is capable of triggering such strong retaliation that she often avoids reading the comments on her posts – something she calls a “defense mechanism “. “I have several black friends who are content creators and ended up closing their social media accounts because they couldn’t stand the hate,” she recalls. “You have to somehow learn to protect yourself a little.” ‘Every person who stops posting is a defeat for us’ Fatou says creating an “awareness network” to encourage people to report hate speech is an important step towards achieving some peace of mind, but she insists that giving shrugging is also a defensive strategy. “Haters want conflict and it usually comes from sexism, racism and sheer ignorance of the issues they are questioning other people about. Crimes should be taken seriously, don’t get me wrong, but violent reactions say more about the people who attack me than about what I post.” The activist highlights the importance of being resilient in the face of abuse and not letting it keep you away from social media. “Each person who stops posting because of haters means a defeat for causes like the fight against racism. If we stop talking about sensitive topics, that’s exactly what the haters want.” Initial plugin text Opportunities – and threats – online Fatou is optimistic about the potential of online communities to increase activism and engage people. She points out that she managed to mobilize support on social media after being a victim of racism in 2020, well before the story hit the headlines. “Virtual spaces are gaining more and more importance in our lives. We can use this to raise awareness about racism and human rights, as well as publicize experiences that sometimes don’t necessarily reach you through the press,” she believes. “In my case, for example, people got to know what it’s like to be a young black woman and the daughter of African immigrants in Brazil.” But Fatou also cautions against letting the online world take over. She recalls that popularity came with too much exposure when she was just 15 — and admits that she felt overwhelmed. “I was just a little girl, but suddenly there were people accusing me of neglecting [um determinado] theme or person. I had classes to attend,” she laughs. “For me, posting content should be something you want to do — not something you have to do. You don’t owe these people anything.” This text was originally published in Watch: ‘Excludes access to land’, author of Torto Arado explains land racism Country people: Quilombo Cafundó has been fighting for land for 150 years and keeps the tradition alive Country people: from farmer to producer , Ivan’s life was transformed by special coffee

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