Earlier this week, Fast Company magazine released a list called “25 of the Smartest Women on Twitter” compiled by contributor, and CEO of BRANDfog, Ann Charles. One small detail—there was not one Black woman listed. The news sent Black Twitter into an uproar that morphed into the trending topic #SmartBlackWomenOfTwitter. Users began to use the hashtag to point out all the Black women who they felt were deserving of the title. Here are a few that caught our eye:
I just saw @FastCompany‘s list of “25 Smart women on Twitter” and it’s so white that I had to decrease my MacBook’s screen light. (-_-)
— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) August 27, 2013
Discovering so many new smart folks to follow makes me *almost* glad this BS happened http://t.co/HWYrLcCVCz #SmartBlackWomenofTwitter
— Lori Adelman (@lori_adelman) August 27, 2013
@FastCompany is paying att. The acct just fav’d one on my tweets about their list. This is good. (I think). #SmartBlackWomenofTwitter
— Demetria Lucas (@abelleinbk) August 27, 2013
Best hashtag ever – Check out #SmartBlackWomenOfTwitter
— London Writers CA (@LondonWritersCA) August 27, 2013
I find the follow up article just as lazy. I checked my email and saw no reach out and no tweets to me from anyone there at @Fastcompany
— Feminista Jones (@FeministaJones) August 27, 2013
Black Twitter’s efforts did not go unnoticed by Fast Company who released a response to the criticism today, including an extended list that contained some of those most suggested on Twitter. New additions include notables such as Soledad O’Brien (@Soledad_Obrien), Janet Monk (@JanetMock), Danyel Smith (@danamo), and our very own Vanessa K. Bush (@Vanessa_KBush).
Who’s on your list of #SmartBlackWomenOfTwitter?