13 Author-Activists To Follow On Twitter Right Now

Over the past week, people around the US, UK, Canada, and more have gathered to condemn police brutality and systematic racism and demand justice, largely as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. People all over the world have been protesting since a police officer killed George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed Black man. Police brutality is something Black people disproportionately face, as racist underpinnings led cops to, time and time again, view unarmed Black people as threats. There have been protests in the past, but this time these protests have overlapped with an almost unprecedented era of political discord, unemployment, and, of course, a global pandemic. Now, as protests ring in cities like Minneapolis--the place of George Floyd’s murder--Washington, D.C, Berlin, Germany, and Auckland, New Zealand, multiple crises still burn as potential fuel, in addition to the Black Lives Matter movement. In the U.S., there is now a convergence of an economic crisis, political crisis, health crisis, mental health crisis, human rights crisis, and this month (June) is Pride month, where we remember the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, led, in large part, by intersectional activists like Marsha P. Johnson. This month also marks pride month, meaning that many pride events are going to be held during this month to recognize the impact LGBT people have had in the world. Today intersectional activism seems more important than ever, and so, we’re highlighting 12 author-activists who use their platform on Twitter to speak out. There are various ways to help causes like BLM and Pride, and staying informed and sharing information is a great way to contribute. Whether you decide to go out and protest, or stay at home and share information, you should follow these incredible authors who have decided to use the power of their words to speak out against injustices and ignorance:

1. Roxane Gay @rgay

Jay Grabiec / Via fortune.com

A guggenheim awardee, Roxane Gay rose to activism fame through her writing, particularly Bad Feminist (2014). She is most famous for her work on intersectional feminism and Black feminism.

Her recent projects include the comics Black Panther: World of Wakanda for Marvel. She’s an expert at representing her community and political perspective through her writing. She is using her platform on Twitter to share her opinions and information about ways in which people can contribute to intersectional feminism and how to stay informed.

2. Angie Thomas @angiecthomas

Imani Khayyam / Via angiethomas.com

Thomas holds a BFA in Creative Writing from Belhaven University and an unofficial degree in Hip Hop. Her award-winning, heavily acclaimed debut novel, The Hate U Give, which explores police brutality, is a #1 New York Times bestseller and major motion picture from Fox 2000.

Thomas’ novels explore racism and sexism, and many schools across the country have started requiring them as reading in their curricula. Thomas puts the Black woman's voice on display, both on her Twitter and in her fiction.

3. Shoilee Banerjee @Shoileebanerjee

Shoilee Banerjee / Via Twitter: @shoileebanerjee

As a teen author of color, Banerjee seeks to represent South Asian characters in her fiction and speak up about the specific stigmas faced by the South Asian community around mental health. Her first novel, Something, is a young adult contemporary focused on representation and mental health.

The power of her words has led her to work with influential people such as the Prime Minister Modi of India and former presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard!

4. Janet Mock @janetmock

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Janet Mock is one of the most famous trans-rights activists. Formerly a journalist, she is now the best-selling author of two memoirs, Redefining Realness and Surpassing Certainty. She is also a writer, director, & EP of the series Pose on FX.

Right now, she is using her social media platforms to keep everyone informed about the Black Lives Matters movement and the protests taking place across the country.

5. Reni Eddo-Lodge @renireni

Reni Eddo-Lodge / Via Twitter: @renireni

Reni is an award-winning journalist, author, and podcaster who focuses on exploring structural racism and feminism.

Her debut non-fiction book, Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, was published in June 2017 to critical acclaim. She has been interviewed by people like actress-activist Emma Watson and Anita Sethi of The Guardian.

Outside of writing, she fights to keep everyone informed in ways in which they could help.

6. Sinéad Burke @TheSineadBurke

Wikipedia / Via en.wikipedia.org

Since she was young, Burke has understood the power of education and its value as a catalyst for combating ignorance and a tool to challenge the status quo and give agency and opportunity to the most vulnerable. That is why today Sinead is an advocate of Little People and a disability activist.

As an educator and an advocate, she created Break the Mould, a picture book for children that focuses on inclusion.

7. Cara Davis @partlycara

Cara Davis / Via caradavisaraux.com

Cara Davis-Araux writes horror and fantasy for young readers. They founded #WritingWhile and, co-founded margins box with Adrianne Russell, in 2019. They recently signed with Inkyard Press for their YA astrology-based romance anthology, All Signs Point to Yes.

They are recognized for being a queer and autistic, gender non-conforming activist who focuses on intersectional activism, like lgbt+ rights, disability, and Black Lives Matter.

8. Karen Blumenthal @KarenBlu

Publishers Weekly / Via publishersweekly.com

Karen Blumenthal was a journalist, author, and self-proclaimed “dog-scratcher.” You can find her latest book, Jane Against The World, a “legal thriller” where she explained the legal fight about reproductive rights.

As a long-time journalist, Karen wrote nonfiction for young people with the belief that nonfiction brings context to a complicated world. She was particularly fascinated by social change--how it happens, and why.

9. Rin Chupeco @RinChupeco

Rin Chupeco / Via goodreads.com

Chupeco is a Filipina author who writes exciting fantasy inspired by her experiences. Recently, she has spoken up about dismantling systemic racism in the publishing industry. She is perhaps best famous for her Bone Witch Trilogy.

In the past, she has been a technical writer and travel blogger, but now writes books and creates stories for a living.

10. Rosiee Thor @RosieeThor

Roisee Thor / Via Twitter: @RosieeThor

Rosiee Thor began her career as a storyteller by demanding to tell her mother bedtime stories instead of the other way around. She spent her childhood reading by flashlight in the closet until she came out as queer.

She is an lgbt+ activist whose Twitter feeds often discusses asexual (“ace”) and aromantic (“aro”) inclusion in fiction. She can also be found posting about her 2019 #ownvoices science fiction novel, Tarnished are the Stars.

11. Rachel Sharp @WrrrdNrrrdGrrrl

PRLOG / Via prlog.org

Rachel Sharp is an author fighting for disability and lgbt+ rights. After a decade of touring the country, she is hiding out in Vermont with several plants and her questionable sense of humor. At the time of writing, she is working on entirely too many projects.

Rachel also likes animals, gardening, & ukuleles. Read her apocalyptic novel, The Big Book of Post-Collapse Fun.

12. Paola Mendoza @paolamendoza

Paola Mendoza / Via Twitter: @paolamendoza

Paola is a film director-turned-activist. In an interview she had with Estee Lauder she said, “As an artist, your duty is, to tell the truth, and my truth is very different from what I saw portrayed—about women, about Latinas, about the immigrant experience."

She works hard to shift cultural definitions and change the narrative. As an intersectional feminist, she is fighting for immigration reform. Her book, Together We Rise, explores behind-the-scenes of protests, which seems apt in the current climate.

13. Gabrielle McMaster @GabbyMcMaster07

Gabrielle McMaster / Via Twitter: @GabbyMcMaster07

After being bullied for writing, Gabrielle McMaster went on to sign a two-book publication deal while still in college. The Northern Irish writer focuses on mental health representation and advocacy in her YA novels, touching on the far-ranging impacts of depression and anxiety, which she herself has experienced before.

Her debut novel is Not Always Blu Skyes.