There are less than two weeks until the most powerful person in the free world is elected, and in the lead-up to the 2024 election, disinformation aimed at Black men has emerged as a significant concern. To address this issue, Jason “J” Carter, founder of ONE Musicfest, teamed up with Esosa Osa, founder, and CEO of Onyx Impact, to host a crucial panel discussion titled “FACT CHECK THE BULLSHIT & VOTE!: Why Black Men Are Being Targeted with Disinformation?” held on Oct. 23, at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta.
The event brought together a group of leaders to raise awareness about the harmful narratives targeting Black male voters and discuss strategies for resisting these tactics.
“Disinformation is as old as white supremacy. The tools and tactics may have evolved, but the goal has always been the same: to deter, deny, and disempower Black communities,” Osa said.
Onyx Impact is a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating harmful information ecosystems.
The panel was a high-profile gathering featuring speakers, including former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Grammy award-winning rapper Michael “Killer Mike” Render, Ryan Wilson, co-founder and CEO of The Gathering Spot (TGS), and Dr. Zackory Kirk. The event opened with remarks from Mo Ivory, Commissioner-Elect of Fulton County, who introduced the panelists featured in the dialogue.
Throughout the discussion, Osa provided a detailed breakdown of three types of harmful information that have been used against Black communities: misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. She explained, “Misinformation is simply incorrect information, like giving out the wrong polling hours. Disinformation is a lie spread with intent, such as deliberately providing wrong polling information to Black communities. Malinformation, however, is based in truth but is spread with the intent to harm.”
Osa warned that all three forms are particularly dangerous during election cycles, where they are often amplified through social media to sow confusion and reduce voter turnout.
The panel also explored these tactics’ emotional and psychological impact on Black men. The goal, as the panelists discussed, is to weaken voter confidence and create feelings of disillusionment. Wilson spoke candidly about why this conversation was urgently needed, explaining that the idea for the event originated from the passionate and community-focused individuals at ONE Musicfest. “When there are a lot of things at stake, you’ve got to put those things on the table and have a real conversation about it,” Wilson said. He further emphasized the importance of understanding how disinformation undermines democratic participation.
“We have to get people out to vote. And the only way you do that is you work with people already organizing,” Killer Mike told the attending audience.
Wilson also tackled concerns about Black men’s voting habits and participation in the upcoming election. He was optimistic about Black men’s involvement, highlighting that they have historically been the second-largest voting bloc for Democrats, following Black women. “We’re going to show up, and we’re ultimately going to win this election,” Wilson stated.
Closing out, each panelist stressed the urgency of recognizing and resisting disinformation, especially in an election cycle where false narratives are amplified through social media and other platforms. “The reason disinformation works is because the more times we hear something, the more likely we are to believe it’s true—and that’s why this recurring social media environment is so dangerous,” said Osa.
The event aims to equip attendees with the tools to fact-check false narratives and ensure that Black men are informed, empowered, and ready to vote in the 2024 election.
