I’ve long made a habit of following some of the emerging voices on social media in Camden. Part of that was because during my research in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, those voices famously emerged. Ashley Morris and his famous (not safe for work) FYYFF post was later memorialized on David Simon’s Tremé (also not safe for work). My friend Karen Gadbois’ reporting was so fantastic that it later morphed into The Lens, a non-profit news source that’s made a big name for itself in the city. In Camden, online voices are constantly emerging, morphing, and disappearing. We’ve written here about the Facebook Page I am Camden. I wrote last week about Vida’s emerging following on Facebook. There are many others. April Saul’s fantastic Camden NJ: A Spirit Invincible site detailing her photography here in the city. Artists like Anthony Dillard and activists like Gary Frazier Jr. have active followings on Facebook. Each of these sites create an amazing amount of comment on policy issues, ranging from schools to violence, development to local jobs. In many ways, these sites are becoming civic spaces. But I’m left trying to understand what they mean. 

For the first two years of this blog, I’ve run a series called Camden Chatter — largely written by students — that attempts to get at what’s bubbling up among social media chatter in the city. The premise was that such information is critical and can catch news before it bubbles up to the media. At times that’s proven true; issues of aggressive arrests by the new Metro Police were bubbling on social media long before “excessive force” complaints were being highlighted by the ACLU. The followings of Anthony, Gary, Vida and others is more evidence that what is being said on social media is resonating with Camden residents. 

But what does it all mean? As quickly as social media has become a part of the Camden civic space, it has been maligned. Speakers (sometimes the same ones with the social media followings) lay into people for being quick to “like” controversial statements on Facebook, and slow to do much more about them. It’s a line of criticism that I’m not particularly fond of — if we truly believe there is a deficit in civic engagement by our youth, it doesn’t seem (to me) that we should critique them as they first dip their toes in the water — but I do often ask myself a related question, which is, what will all this engagement lead to?

The traditionalist in me wants to evaluate this in terms of electoral politics. There is a narrative in some parts of Camden that, as the South Jersey Democratic Party continues to veer towards the center, or even the right (examples: busting unions, Congressman Norcross’ vote for the Keystone Pipeline, investment in corporations not infrastructure etc etc), the base of minority residents in Camden slowly become alienated. This could, theoretically, lead to a situation in which Camden residents revolt from the party, something made possible because of the low turnout in non-presidential election years. It wouldn’t take that many people to see an entirely new slate of politicians here. But I doubt it happens soon, and those who have tried to turn social media followings into electoral success have so-far struggled. Gary Frazier has run for office numerous times, but has yet to make an incumbent worry about the seat. Anthony Dilliard briefly held an online campaign for mayor, which he abandoned after a few months. There are numerous city council challengers (including MoNeke Ragsdale, Cornell Garnett and Namibia El Burke) but I haven’t seen any media coverage or sign that these campaigns are raising money. In short, even if the opportunity for electoral success is there, and social media followings are relevant, no one has jumped the chasm separating them without falling into the abyss. 

None of which is to say that such social media follows aren’t leading to something. Last week’s Camden One Love event saw hundreds come to the park, and was a fascinating link of a figure known for her online following (April Saul) and Tawanda Jones, whose Camden Sophisticated Sisters is a community icon. As I wrote after the event, it was the beginning of the longer and much harder work of organizing for change. 

I read an article recently (which, sadly, I cannot find) that argued that young adults are turning their attention away from electoral politics into places that they find more productive. I wonder if we’re seeing a version of the same phenomena in Camden. I wonder if the stranglehold on electoral politics is so tight that people are looking for other ways to get involved. If that’s the case, the activity and following of leaders on social media may serve as critical hubs for that to happen. It may be that electoral changes can come only after these social media followings translate into on-the-ground credibility. Then again, it may not. That’s what makes it all so fascinating. 

Photo via VERONIQUE DUPONT, Agence France-Presse