Shafiqah Hudson was job hunting in early June 2014, scrolling through Twitter and email, when she noticed a strange hashtag on the rise: #EndFathersDay. The users behind it claimed to be Black feminists, but their usernames were comical and their statements about abolishing Father’s Day seemed absurd. She realized they were likely fake accounts, parodying Black women with ridiculous ideas. Despite this, the hashtag gained traction, causing turmoil on Twitter and drawing attention from conservative media outlets, who used it as an example of feminism gone awry.
Ms. Hudson decided to fight back against what she saw as a coordinated troll attack. She created her own hashtag, #YourSlipIsShowing, to call out those who were trying to deceive others. She gathered the troll posts under this hashtag and urged others to do the same, while also blocking the fake accounts. This effort, supported by her Twitter community and other Black feminists like I’Nasah Crockett, helped to silence #EndFathersDay within a few weeks. Despite this, fake accounts continued to surface, but Ms. Hudson remained vigilant in calling them out.
Little did she know, #EndFathersDay was not just a joke, but a deliberate disinformation campaign orchestrated as a test for future more serious actions. This insight, shared by digital activist Bridget Todd, highlighted the importance of early actions like Ms. Hudson’s in safeguarding democracy. However, the impact of her work was not fully recognized during her lifetime.
Tragically, Shafiqah Hudson passed away on February 15, 2024, in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 46. She had battled health issues, including Crohn’s disease, respiratory problems, and later a cancer diagnosis. Despite her struggles, she continued her Twitter activism until the end. Her death left her community mourning the loss of a tireless advocate who had never received proper recognition or compensation for her efforts.
In reflecting on her life, colleagues and friends spoke of the debt owed to Fiqah and the need to ensure that activists like her are supported and remembered. Shafiqah Amatullah Hudson, born on January 10, 1978, leaves behind a legacy of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Her impact on social media activism and her fight against disinformation will not be forgotten.
