Vermont-based ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s tweeted its support of the Black Lives Matter movement yesterday (October 6) and shared a lengthy post that asks readers “to join us in not being complicit” in the devaluation of the lives of Black people.
Black Lives Matter. Choosing to be silent in the face of such injustice is not an option. https://t.co/6Vy0KHJeKU #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/pK96teLRhd
— Ben & Jerry’s (@benandjerrys) October 6, 2016
The reaction was huge, with some reportedly threatening a boycott and others expressing their love for the brand, which has long positioned itself as socially conscious. But the best reaction came in the form of the hashtag #BenAndJerrysNewFlavor. The trolls are out (as well as the folks who have no idea why the hashtag is trending), but many people are using it as an opportunity to both align the brand with aspects of Black culture and amplify the message that a structural racism is literally killing people of color. Here are our must-see tweets.
He Was Unarmed Dough #BenAndJerrysNewFlavor
— NUFF$AID (@nuffsaidNY) October 7, 2016
#BenAndJerrysNewFlavor Shea Butter pecan
— Trav NEVER Chills (@SKTV_) October 7, 2016
#BenAndJerrysNewFlavor Go Shawty It’s Sherbet Day
— Kar L. Stine (@karyewest) October 7, 2016
Cherry-it Tubman #BenAndJerrysNewFlavor
— lina (@frankisgone_) October 7, 2016
POP, LOCK AND CHOCOLATE #BenAndJerrysNewFlavor pic.twitter.com/SC8kquacqV
— thanks ugly god (@itsmikailii) October 7, 2016
#BenAndJerrysNewFlavor Underground Rocky Railroad
— janet (@itsJANAEduhhh) October 7, 2016
Snickers With Attitude #BenAndJerrysNewFlavor
— unpforgettable pfire (@firefire100) October 7, 2016
#BenAndJerrysNewFlavor Rainbow Coalition
— Tracey Cooper (@TraceyCooperNJ) October 7, 2016
Cookies & C.R.E.A.M. #BenAndJerrysNewFlavor
— unpforgettable pfire (@firefire100) October 7, 2016
#BenAndJerrysNewFlavor No Justice, No Peach
— Eric. just Eric. (@EricTheWriter) October 7, 2016