Why Black Lives Matters

Black Lives Matter is an international activist movement that started within the African-American communities. This movement is organized by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi. Ever since the black people have stepped on American soil, they have continued to be victims of racism and violence. From slavery to lynching to segregation, the black people have suffered alot in this country. In the past few years, there are so many of them that have been targeted by the law enforcement authorities across the country. This movement’s goal is to raise awareness of racism and violence against African-Americans. They wants African-American to live with dignity and respect like other Americans do.

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.

In the Black Lives Matter movement, we simply try to encourage and show others that our lives matter. This movement advocates justice, peace and fairness.

If there is one thing that I have learned the most throughout this semester, it is to ask why. Not to sit and accept what I am told but to ask “So what?” and this is what brought me to this question. Why do black lives matter? Of course, the question could be answered by just saying that all lives matter but if that was the correct answer, then there would not be a problem. There are many ways to look at this question and many sociological concepts to apply to it and that’s what makes this particular question very intriguing. The “Black Lives Matter” movement started with numerous deaths of black individuals by the hands of the police force. Some of the shootings were said to have happened for valid reasons but that is a never ending controversy. Granted, these things have been happening for years and it is more or less just a momentary subject prompted by heavy media coverage, but why did the shootings even happen to begin with. It would be foolish to just sit and shout “It is become of racism!” because there is a better explanation other than that. There is a problem that has to be explained in some way. The problem is that African Americans have been killed by the hands of mostly white policemen and nobody seems to know how to give a rational reason. The three ways I am going to take explain this is through the eyes a functionalist, a conflict theorist, and symbolic interactionist along with a few other sociological explanations.

The Black Lives Matter movement does not only focus on improving the justice system for black people, they want “Justice for all”. Although some may argue that the group hates white people and police officers. Patricia Cullor founder of the BLM movement “The Black Lives Matter movement demands that the country affirms the value of black life in practical and pragmatic ways, including addressing an increasing the racial wealth gap” (para 9). None of what the BLM stands for includes producing a hatred for whites or police officers. The BLM group explains, “It is about acknowledging that the system already treats white lives as if they have more value, as if they are more worthy of protection, safety, education, and a good quality of life than black lives are” (About para 9). This group was created to

“Instead of feeling protected by police, many African Americans are intimidated and live in daily fear that their children will face abuse, arrest, and death at the hands of police officers who may be acting on implicit biases or institutional policies based on stereotypes and assumptions of black criminality.”

First and foremost this post is NOT up for a debate I am expressing how I feel and any ignorance will be deleted and blocked.... Black lives matter was started for an awareness, just as any cancer awareness but you don't see anyone getting upset about them. How would you like for someone to try and stop the breast cancer walk and say "well all cancer matters"? That is a known fact but this is the one we are focused on right at that given minute. We as people are blinded by certain situations that go on that we don't typically see. How would you feel if you were in their shoes? How long did it take for a colored person to even have the opportunity to become president (and the list goes on)?? If it was the other way around, I would feel as if the world viewed me as not being good enough.

The recent events occurring in America really brought to my realization that some people truly believe black lives don’t matter. In school, I grew up learning that since America abolished slavery and the Civil Rights Movement occurred that black lives are just important and equal to white lives. Gaining majority of black friends and becoming aware of current and past events, I’ve realized that many people treat black people as though their lives don’t matter. Police brutality and incarceration rates will persuade anyone to believe that black lives are treated as though they don’t matter. “The reasons organizations use the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ was not because they were suggesting that no one else’s lives matter. Rather, what they were

It is a proven fact that if you are born black that you're a minority to the society. Being a black /african american means everyone is depending on you to fail in life . They don't get the higher end of the stick, it's always harder. For an example, one in three black men are expected to go to prison for a lifetime. Sixty percent of the people that are in jail are black /african-american. Also students of color race harsher punishments in school than white peers , leading to a higher number of colored youth incarcerated .

The interviewee talks about how violence and racial injustice brought about the message black lives matter. She talks about how not all lives are valued as the same and when people are just killed for senseless reasons, not all lives matter. This is why people use the phrase “Black Lives Matter” because while all lives do matter, black lives do not matter as much right now. She talks about how African Americans are often seen as a threat, even when they are not, and they are unarmed.

“Black Lives Matter” —an intended progression in society without a hierarchy, merely marching forward by spur of the people. Started by three sisters who continue to keep the organization a chapter-based, left wing social justice operation, it can best be described as “Not a moment, but a movement” by those that follow it. The case that began this outcry involved a man —George Zimmerman— whom, according to Lizette Alvarez and Cara Buckley (2013), “was found not guilty [of] second-degree murder [and] was also acquitted of manslaughter, a lesser charge.” (para. 1). Since its initial start in 2013, the movement follows and protests against police brutality and civil injustice towards individuals of the Black minority; however, this is a prime example of hate breeding hate as the movement, has opened a new floodgate full of antipathy aimed towards the White-community and Law Enforcement Officials. In short, the initial idea of “Black Lives Matter” —which is to bring civil justice to the Black-community— is a good concept, but the execution by its adherents are, ironically, bigoted; the movement needs to either evolve its state of thought or disperse before it further segregates America.

Why do Black Lives Matter? What does it mean to me and my community? Black Lives mean a lot and people tend to look over it and not treat it like it should be. What does Black Lives Matter mean to me? Well as a Black Young Adult in America It means a lot to me, because some of those things could have happened to me.

Firstly, yes I agree with the definition of justice in this quotation, because if you are neutral to the cause, you are on the opposing side, being neutral (not having a voice in the issue) is ignoring the oppressed side. Recognizing the right and wrong in an issue and sticking to what is right no matter what. Being able to recognize the power struggle. I related this quote to the new uproar in the #BlackLivesMatter issue. Over the past year, innocent black lives have been taken by the police and so this movement started. Baltimore and Ferguson, the spotlight, Black Lives Matter is a movement in direct response to the disproportionate murders of black people in America and it is an issue that needs to be taken seriously. Unarmed victims of

“Why Black Lives Matter” by Andrews and Palmer (2013) revealed that Britain lacks job opportunities for black scholars forcing many black scholars to have to move to America. America’s higher education centers, unlike Britain, are more accepting of people of diverse backgrounds. The authors also exposed how Britain categorizes Blacks as being anyone who is not white, unlike other countries that categorizes Black people a being people of African Descent or live in the Diaspora. Basing my judgement off of the facts in the text, these authors feel that there is a need for more black scholars in Britain, due to the fact that the new generation if scholars need to be exposed to discussions that involves black studies. The authors of “Why Black Lives

Thank you for sharing this. I believe that of course, all lives matter but I think it is important to note the true meaning of "black lives matter". I never once found it offensive but I have however had discussions with some people where they do believe that it is offensive in a way. Given the problems that we are having and the unjust treatment that African Americans are receiving it is important to send a message that their lives matter as