Well, That Escalated Quickly: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist by Franchesca Ramsey
Well, That Escalated Quickly: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist by Franchesca Ramsey
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: May 22, 2018
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publisher’s Description:
In this sharp, funny, and timely collection of personal essays, veteran video blogger and star of MTV’s Decoded Franchesca Ramsey explores race, identity, online activism, and the downfall of real communication in the age of social media rants, trolls, and call-out wars.
Franchesca Ramsey didn’t set out to be an activist. Or a comedian. Or a commentator on identity, race, and culture, really. But then her YouTube video “What White Girls Say . . . to Black Girls” went viral. Twelve million views viral. Faced with an avalanche of media requests, fan letters, and hate mail, she had two choices: Jump in and make her voice heard or step back and let others frame the conversation. After a crash course in social justice and more than a few foot-in-mouth moments, she realized she had a unique talent and passion for breaking down injustice in America in ways that could make people listen and engage.
In her first book, Ramsey uses her own experiences as an accidental activist to explore the many ways we communicate with each other–from the highs of bridging gaps and making connections to the many pitfalls that accompany talking about race, power, sexuality, and gender in an unpredictable public space…the internet.
WELL, THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY includes Ramsey’s advice on dealing with internet trolls and low-key racists, confessions about being a former online hater herself, and her personal hits and misses in activist debates with everyone from bigoted Facebook friends and misguided relatives to mainstream celebrities and YouTube influencers. With sharp humor and her trademark candor, Ramsey shows readers we can have tough conversations that move the dialogue forward, rather than backward, if we just approach them in the right way.
Franchesca Ramsey worked as a graphic designer and had a YouTube channel with a small following on the side. Remember when the YouTube video What Girls Say went viral? Franchesca decided to make a response video called What White Girls Say…to Black Girls. Her video was edgier than What Girls Say because the things white girls say to black girls can actually be pretty racist. The truth of the video made it literally an overnight viral sensation. Franchesca found herself suddenly thrust into the position of being a spokesperson for black people on the subject of race and racism – something she didn’t bargain for when she posted her video and not something she originally wanted to be.
However, she plunged in headfirst and took that role on. She quickly learned that she couldn’t engage with every person and troll who contacted her via social media and set some boundaries for herself. That’s what most of the book is about – mistakes she made while engaging with people online and the lessons she learned from them.
Eventually, she landed the role of the host of MTV’s Decoded, an online show with episodes such as Will Multicultural Kids End Racism and Do All Muslim Women Wear a Hijab? I’ve watched several Decoded episodes and have found them enlightening and informative.
Franchesca takes her position as an online activist very seriously. However, I feel like she’s a little too worried about hurting someone’s feelings and can be too apologetic at times. (And this criticism is coming from a bleeding heart liberal.) Overall, I liked the book, especially her section on calling someone out vs. calling someone in. I appreciated her brutal honesty. She is not afraid to share her missteps and owns them all. This is a great book for people engaged in social media of all types. Recommended.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book for review.)
