In a disturbing incident, a group of online trolls attempted to sabotage a NASA competition to prevent a team of Black girls from advancing. NASA was forced to suspend public voting for its esteemed Optimus Prime Spinoff Promotion and Research Challenge after discovering that these trolls were actively encouraging votes against the only all-Black female team.
As reported by the Washington Post, the team, consisting of juniors from Washington D.C.’s Benjamin Banneker Academic High School—Aaliyah Johnson, Maya Thompson, and Zuri Carter—had achieved finalist status for their innovative water filtration system designed to purify lead-contaminated drinking water. However, their success sparked a backlash from users of the notorious online forum 4chan, where racist and misogynistic behavior is rampant.
These trolls expressed their outrage at the girls’ progress, attributing their success to “reverse racism” and “feminism.” They rallied others within the forum to vote for competing teams instead. One participant even suggested employing computer programs to hack the voting system, as reported by NBC.
In light of this troubling behavior, NASA announced it would end the public voting period prematurely. “Unfortunately, we became aware that some individuals utilized social media not to uplift students and promote STEM but to target a specific team based on their race, encouraging disruptions to the contest and vote manipulation,” the agency stated.
As the competition winners are set to be announced later this month, it’s crucial to recognize the existence of such hatred and to stand against it. Efforts to undermine individuals based on their race or gender are reprehensible and highlight the small-mindedness of those who engage in such actions. The three young women, who also participate in cheerleading at their school, remain focused on their education and future, aspiring to pursue careers in the STEM field.
Success is rewarding and should be celebrated, regardless of the obstacles faced. For those interested in family planning, you can explore more about at-home insemination options, such as the BabyMaker at Home Insemination Kit.
In summary, while the actions of these trolls are disheartening, the resilience of young women like Aaliyah, Maya, and Zuri serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. For comprehensive insights on insemination processes, check out this excellent resource on intrauterine insemination, or visit Modern Family Blog for more related articles.