Image via Complex Original
As an active member of Negroes on the 'Net, aka Black Twitter, I've been asked to write about the all-stars of Black Twitter considering the incredible amount of attention mainstream media gave the subculture of the popular social media service. I've tried to offer a nice variety, but like all things Black Twitter related, some people will think I don't know what the hell I'm talking about, that I ruined Black Twitter, and offended the ancestors or something with this list. Feel free to call me whatever name you'd like—except Don Lemon II. That'd just be hurtful and wrong. Either way, see y'all in 2014 (notably when Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta returns).
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Michael Arceneaux (@youngsinick) is a writer, but some days when he looks at his student loan debt, wishes he worked at The Players Club. For more of his work, check out The Cynical Ones.
Corporate Barbie
Username: @CorporateBarbie
Followers: 12,000 +
I appreciate anyone who can be a damn fool and smart as hell at the same damn time. If you didn't read that in Future's voice, you've failed me and yourself. And when you get a moment, check her Twitter background. She does that all the time—though she still owes me an image of my face over Birdman's body on an old Big Tymers album cover. Just saying.
Alex Hardy
Username: @chrisalexander_
Followers: 2,100 +
His recent blog post roasting the writer who claimed Miley Cyrus influenced Beyoncé on her new album went viral and earned a co-sign from Solange. Even better, Alex Hardy has been roasting Our Lady of the Off Beat, her confused cheerleaders, and the double standards surrounding Miley all year long. Clap for him.
The XD Experience
Username: @TheXDExperience
Followers: 11,200 +
Not all our skinfolk are kinfolk and thankfully there are some willing to call out which ones that can't sit with us. Follow Xavier for an equal dose of humor and shade. It's good for the soul, trust.
Kid Fury
Username: @KidFury
Followers: 75,900 +
The blogger and YouTube personality turned popular podcast co-host is shifting the mediums in which he delivers his biting commentary, but the tweets remain hilariously funny—especially if you're also new to New York and find yourself usually bewildered by what you see at any given time in the city.
Kimberly Foster
Username: @KimberlyNFoster
Followers: 4,000 +
The For Harriet founder offers a lot of wit in her critiques of race, gender, and reality TV, but I especially appreciate her coming for the necks of the fancier blacks who are way too "respectable" to twerk or watch anything on VH1 for fear of ruining the race. Cue the side-eye.
Mychal Denzel Smith
Username: @mychalsmith
Followers: 9,000 +
Mychal Denzel Smith is known for his writings on race and gender for The Nation, which makes him a target of many white people who take it upon themselves to explain to him how racism really works. Hour after hour. Every. Single. Day. At least he handles his hecklers with humor.
J Dan
Username: @NFLGoodwitch
Followers: 4,000 +
Although I usually don't trust people who dislike Beyoncé, I trust this Twitter user to tell it like it is on most other things non-Beyoncé related—particularly with a boldness that most couldn't get away with.
Crissle West
Username: @crissles
Followers: 30,000 +
I've been laughing at Crissles since she was "smashedthehomie" on Twitter. If you're listening to The Read, her hilarious podcast with Kid Fury, you know this sample tweet is standard commentary. And...correct.
Bomani Jones
Username: @Bomani_Jones
Followers: 138,000 +
These days, Bomani Jones is best known as the co-host of ESPN 2's Highly Questionable with Dan Le Batard, but for those who know his work, he was best known for critical commentary revolving around sports, race and music. Thankfully, Bomani keeps that going on his feed.
Jamilah Lemieux
Username: @JamilahLemieux
Followers: 20,000 +
"Sister Toldja" been telling y'all about your misogyny for years now, and based on some of the sexiest responses her thoughts often yield, may she never stop. You'd be wise to listen up.
Miss Jia
Username: @MissJia
Followers: 34,500 +
Black people who know the evils of the "bae," "WYD," "hru," "hmu" and other eyesores that come from the youth have to stick together. Plus, Miss Jia is good for the joke, and even better for calling out the folks on Al Gore's Internet doing the most.
Blair LM Kelley
Username: @profblmkelley
Followers: 16,200 +
I appreciate a historian who can educate me and then flip into a discussion about The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Love & Hip Hop with ease. Coolest professor ever. Kelley is also, along with MSNBC's Melissa Harris-Perry, academia's answer to Oprah & Gayle.
Gene Demby
Username: @GeeDee215
Followers: 8,600 +
As expected, the lead blogger of NPR's Code Switch offers lots of tweets on race, pop culture, and media, but stay tune for the routine "What in the hell is wrong with you, Tyler Perry?" commentary. Always necessary.
Desus
Username: @Desusnice
Followers: 13,000 +
Fact: Desus tweets what you're thinking but are too timid to say. He's popularized the phrase "Gotta hear both sides" and is funnier than 87 percent of Twitter. Dude keeps it real 24/7, and we are all better for it.
Fresh
Username: @Freshalina
Followers: 24,000 +
The Crunk + Disorderly HBIC (Head Blogger In Charge) is equally as funny in 140 characters or less. All hail the original Queen of Internet Shade.
Hamburger Helper
Username: @Helper
Followers: 8,800 +
I don't know whose cousin is running the hilarious Hamburger Helper Twitter account, but between the use of "bae," citing Trey Songz lyrics, and a bunch of other black signifiers, there's a person of color running this and I'm here for it. And if he or she isn't, I'm willing to bet this is a cool person who knows the ways of the black youth that Miley Cyrus failed miserably trying to impersonate.
