Black Lives Matter: The Vietnam War

Black people as a whole living in a world where they are trouble, no more no less. Goldberg states, “...unlike ‘all lives’...black lives are too often not to matter” (1). When political officers used the statement, “All Lives Matter,” black people once again felt as if they did not matter. Which is why the “Black Lives Matter” movement started. To bring awareness to the dehumanization of black people. People are white, were informed from a young age, they are superior. People who were not white were taught they were inferior. Everyone was to believe and understand white was a symbol for purity. Although times are better than the Civil Rights movement and slavery, America still needs improvement in their

For decades black Americans have been treated as animals, looked at as if they are monsters, and killed like bugs. Actions like Police brutality and racism is what caused Black Lives Matter. The creation of the Black Lives Matter was a response by the black community to give a voice to black Americans affected by the increase of wrongful deaths due to the law enforcements and vigilantes across the country. This has been going on for so long that it seems like we are stuck in the past. For years, even decades black Americans have had to live the struggle of being equal. Even when things are going good and we think we finally have the same rights, something happened to change that. It is time to shed a light on the real purpose of Black Lives Matter and why they are important to today's society.

According to Central Florida Future “ Black Lives Matter is simply us saying,”Our lives are valid”.It is not the same as “Our lives are more important than yours”(Debouse and Ellison). When this movement was created it's not a movement for Black lives only matter, this movement is bringing attention to African-American lives do matter as well as everybody else's lives. The Christian Science Monitor states “Other supporters point out that responding to “Black Lives Matter” by saying “all lives matter” minimizes the problems faced by black Americans, and undercuts their message”(Fredrikson). Just by saying all lives matter, which they do, but the African-American folks feel they are excluded from all lives matter because if everybody's life did matter police and other people would not be victimizing the blacks as the bad guys. The attention people have brought to this movement is amazing because now more and more people are understanding and learning as to why is movement started and what is the reason they are doing it for. Celebrities such as Beyonce, Snoop Dogg and Stevie Wonder have brought attention to this movement by sharing their opinion on social media, interviews etc. In conclusion, Black Lives Matter has a valid reasoning to be a positive

The Vietnam War was a major controversy for the United States compared to World War 1 and World War 2. With both of the previous wars that the United States had been a major part of they had brought the people of the country together to fight  and work hard to show their support to the soldiers that were fighting. During these two wars we saw the rise of women in the workforce as they came into the picture of taking the jobs that the men held while they went away to fight in the way. And then there was the avid signing up to fight. Men as young as teenagers signing up to fight in both of these wars. The difference is that with the Vietnam War it was met with disdain from the public and also the soldiers as well. With this war people

Imagine the idea of living in a society where you are segregated from your peers as a result of the colour of your skin. Envision living in a place that you no longer wish to call home because the people around you are being eradicated left right and center.

The Anti-war movement started during the 1960s and shaped America’s public opinion on conflicts for years to come. As in all American conflicts, the will of the people controls the actions of the military. Without Homefront support, the American war machine dies. American pop culture during the 60s and 70s, sought to change public opinion against the Vietnam War. Through blatant Anti-war lyrics to their actions, the popular artists and musicians of the era changed the mindset of a generation to oppose the military actions in Vietnam.

The year was 1972. From events such as the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement, the United States was faced with extreme political and social turmoil. Despite Nixon’s promise to end war and unite the country, no one could have predicted that his election would accompany one of the largest political scandals to date. It all began with tape on door latches, finally ending with the resignation of a president and a scandal that echoes in American culture four decades later. Like most scandals, Watergate started simply enough with the intention of keeping Nixon’s political enemies at bay. However, before long it went from tape on door latches to bugging offices to breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters. By the year 1974, 43 people were facing legal consequences for their role in Watergate, and President Nixon was nearing the frightening reality of trial and possible impeachment. As small as it may have seemed at its beginning, the Watergate Scandal ending up affecting all aspects of American culture, specifically American politics.

Thesis: African Americans played a key role in Vietnam War and, in the process, changed the complexion of the U.S. Armed Forces

When you hear “Black Lives Matter” someone else will try to refute your argument with “All Lives Matter.” The context of “Black Lives Matter” is not that other lives don’t have worth. The context of “Black Lives Matter” is that the value of black lives remains under assault in the United States. When people say, “Black Lives Matter,” they are acknowledging an important context that involves several centuries of slavery, civil rights, mass incarceration and brutality. It highlights the value of black lives because historically, this country often ignored that value. The problem with saying “All Lives Matter,” it that it ignores the context. There is a difference between saying something is true and something is relevant. For example, it’s like going to a Cancer fundraiser and screaming ‘There are other diseases too!’ Or when a parent says,” I love my son,” you don’t say “What about your daughter? Don’t you love all your children?” When a person says, “Black Lives Matter” we should not say “All Lives Matter.” It is an attempt to diminish the ongoing reality of white supremacy in America. It’s a demeaning way of other people’s stories. And yes, some people associate themselves with #blacklivesmatter have called for police deaths. But the cries of few groups do not invalidate an entire

Over 100 years ago, the term slaves arose when blacks were separated from their families and freedom. They were forced into hard working labor and all rights obtained previously was confiscated by white individuals. Approximately 50 years ago, the Civil Rights movement was conducted in order to restore the equal rights under the American law. Currently, those of color are still constantly fighting to regain rights and justice that was seized from them years ago. Approximately 5 years ago, the Black Lives Matter movement became an active nationwide organization involved to protecting the lives of African Americans, all occurring due to the unjustifical death of Trayvon Martin. Unlike other civil rights movements, the Black Lives Matter

The Vietnam War was certainly controversial. There were many protests that erupted across college campuses and throughout numerous town and cities. Many individuals viewed the war as unnecessary and unwinnable. The draft was also very widely criticized and seen as a negative point in the war. The draft was forcing young college students to go fight in dangerous territory. The most controversial aspect of the Vietnam War is certainly that it was deemed unwinnable by the US government, but they still chose to remain in Vietnam and fight. Why was the Vietnam War unwinnable though? Was it actually unwinnable or did the US government

My paternal and maternal grandfathers both enlisted during WWII, stationed off Iwo Jima and in Europe respectively. Both of them are still alive and have their memories, however, the more I learn about these wars, the more I question if that is a positive or a negative attribute.

In 1967, 64 percent of all eligible African-Americans were drafted versus only 31 percent of eligible whites (Black 2009). This fact testifies to only a small portion of why nearly all African-Americans found themselves protesting against the Vietnam War. The lack of civil rights in the U.S deterred many blacks from supporting Vietnam, a conflict aimed at liberating the rights of another people. African Americans were frustrated with a country who fought for other citizens and saw no purpose in fighting for a peoples’ freedom but their own. Although African-Americans were specifically discriminated against both in Vietnam and America, they were not alone in their anti-war position. The majority of the American public opposed the Vietnam War. As the war dragged on, people found no reason to fight in Vietnam and believed that the United States should prioritize their own citizens first. Many public figures, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., and Muhammad Ali, held similar claims. Their opinions aligned with the public’s concern and suggested that the U.S withdraw troops and focus resources on the civil rights issues at home. These public figures fought for a specific minority, but, in light of the entire American population, the majority of people opposed the war.

Originating in 2012, the political movement known under the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter has exploded in size and renown. This movement, which was initially inspired after a police officer was acquitted of all charges after fatally shooting an African American individual, seeks to diminish police brutality against African American individuals and systemic racism particularly in the United States. Sweeping the nation, Black Lives Matter has become an international movement and its influence has only increased with time. On the movement’s official website, the following was written regarding the history of the hashtag-inspired entourage, “#BlackLivesMatter was created in 2012 after Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman, was acquitted for his crime, and dead 17-year old Trayvon was posthumously placed on trial for his own murder. Rooted in the experiences of Black people in this country who actively resist our dehumanization, #BlackLivesMatter is a call to action and a response to the virulent anti-Black racism that permeates our society. Black Lives Matter is a unique contribution that goes beyond extrajudicial killings of Black people by police and vigilantes.” (http://blacklivesmatter.com/about/). The #BlackLivesMatter movement asserts that racism is still prevalent in modern society and exists not only in passive forms. Instead, racism apparently can be both overt and implicit.

Some folks say and support “Black Lives” and others, “All Lives”. As time go on, things take a turn ‘for the worse’. The ‘turn for the worse’ is due to the mindset of many people and the mass media. With time should come justice, peace and common ground on what is happening, but what if no one is supportive or have no knowledge of what is to come? The saying of “All Lives Matter” is deleterious and ruinous to the “Black Lives Matter” movement and support and to the black community by deteriorating their beliefs, livelihood, and mentality.