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Black Lives Matter Movement

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History of Black Lives Matter

The official Black Lives Matter statement This link opens in a new window:

#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives (Black Lives Matter, n.d.).

Learn More:

Infographic: Americans Recognize Systemic Policing Issues | Statista

"All Lives Matter" Arguments

There are analogies you can use to explain why "All Lives Matter" misses the big picture surrounding the BLM movement. The "All Lives Matter" argument isn't inclusive or helpful:

  • It's similar to arguing "All Cancers Matter" to someone taking part in a run to end breast cancer.
  • It's similar to arguing that "All Sea Creatures Should Be Saved" to someone holding a "Save the Manatees" sign. 

A comic strip with 12 frames. A protester holds a Black Lives Matter sign. He is approached by another person who says Umm actually? All lives matter. The protester sighs and explains that of course all lives matter, but the point of the phrase is that black lives are being treated as expendable by the policy and the government that employs them. He asks the man if someone says save the rainforest you don't actually respond actually save ALL forests do you? Just because we need to save the rainforest doesn't mean other forests have no value. It's just one needs our focus right now because the situation has gotten out of control. The second man responds that they never thought of it that way, but asks the protestor if he changes his mind wouldn't that make him a hypocrite. The protestor says no that instead it means that they are growing as a person. The strip ends with the protester holding his Black Lives Matter sign and the second person holding a sigh that says YEAH.

 

Goals of Black Lives Matter

From the BLM website:

We affirm the lives of Black queer and trans folks, disabled folks, undocumented folks, folks with records, women, and all Black lives along the gender spectrum. Our network centers those who have been marginalized within Black liberation movements.

We are working for a world where Black lives are no longer systematically targeted for demise (Black Lives Matter, n.d.)

 

References

Black Lives Matter. (n.d.). About. https://blacklivesmatter.com/ This link opens in a new window