Why Do We Matter When Black Lives Matter

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.

people to take over this country and how it was before. The assigned reading and class

Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a loosely‐coordinated, nationwide movement dedicated to ending police brutality that rose to prominence in late 2014. It takes its name from a hashtag started by three Black feminist activists Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi but the movement and the hashtag are not identical (Freelon, McIlwain, & Clark, 2016). BLM has achieved national reputation through their online and offline organizing, obtaining extensive news media coverage and glowing references in music and entertainment television. Based on a horrendous incident that sparked a concern for a lot of Black people across the world, the sudden need for a social movement was born called BLM. Black Lives Matter is a national organization working for the validity of Black life and also working to rebuild the Black liberation movement. Black Lives Matter broadens the conversation and highlight the incidents around state violence to include the ways in which Black people are intentionally left powerless at the hands of the state. This referring to the ways in which Black lives are deprived of basic human rights and dignity. According to the article The Murder of Walter Scott, which talks about race and class, “African Americans are less than 13% of the U.S. population yet they are nearly 50% of those killed by the police. North Charleston has a population of 104,000, 47% Black and the police force is 80% white (Miah, 2015)”.

Many don’t realize this, but our life is forever indebted in danger. Our life, as in, minorities. This isn’t a dream nor is it long overdue. It has been time and time again when African Americans are placed on the backburner as we watch the members of our communities and societies whom have less melanin than us take what they want believe is rightfully theirs. No one has ever took the time to seek what we deserve for all the horrible endangerment we’ve been put through for years and years to come. I believe that African Americans whom stand together in regards to the Black Lives Matter protest are fighting because we know of the injustice we have had to endure that dates back to so long ago that we just can’t stand on the sidelines

I stand here today to present you with the issue that needs to be addressed immediately: racial injustice and police brutality. America is base on the fundamental principle of equality and freedom to be individual. However, this cannot happen due to the unjust to we, the blacks. Our ancestors helped through the civil revolution, many great people- such as Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, President Obama that try to create equality for people. America is a place where people of different color love and accept each other despite their differences. Throughout history, black people being treated brutality that led to the death of many innocent blacks who were killed by police officers, and we need to put a stop to this. People will always hear that their black male or female were killed by a higher authority figure; however, they still face no consequences. Most of the time the police officers that are not held accountable for the killing of unarmed black males because no criminal charges are pressed against them. There are still police officers on the street, discriminating blacks because they do not believe that blacks are equal to them. Many police officers that will kill even a young black male or female and then get a away with it. Yes, all human lives are valuable, but today I am specifically addressing the black lives matter movement. Blacks lives matter movement is important because we are addressing the white supremacy in our nation. It is an cry out for help

While there has been tangible progress made in race relations, inequalities still tarnish the country. In poor black communities across the nation, the lack of opportunity stifles potential and creates a cyclical chain of poverty and violence. Areas with high black populations struggling with violence and unequal policing, have prompted a modern civil right movement called “Black Lives Matter.” Critics of the movement often cite, the supposed inherent inequality in the idea. All lives matter, they argue, why should black lives matter specifically? The movement, however, does not argue that black lives matter more than lives of other races, the movement is saying that black lives matter just as much. Furthermore, it’s an exclamation, that calls for attention to be placed on communities ravaged by violence and poverty that are disproportion black. Similar to the movements of the 1960’s, the BLM movement is causing tension across the country. Like king argued, tension is the catalyst that inspires change and conversation. The nonviolent protests of BLM, seek to “dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored;” that is the “work of a nonviolent resister” (1310). Just as the march that was depicted in Selma, the BLM has sought to seek change without violence, but instead with protests and media campaigns. BLM methods parallel King’s use of non violent protest, in a

While driving down the road, I see a sign, “Black Lives Matter”, and I ponder on the question to myself, “what equality is there in humanity”. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”( Congress, 1776). I ask myself, at the time the Declaration of Independence was being written, did they forget to disclose the statement,” except for Black people.” The vast majority of social media sources, in 2016 have displayed the slogan, “Black Lives Matter”. I asked myself, have Black lives ever mattered in the United States of America, and what can citizens do to provide inclusion of membership for everyone. The history of the United States has shown racial disparities for over 200 years, and while the emancipation of slaves and the Civil Rights movement has shown some progression towards unity; the divide is apparent in everyday life.

Undermined is our conflict and overlooked is our pain. A man can kill an innocent black teen but the jury can set him free. Little boys learn to learn how to hide from the cops before they learn how to read. Blacks boys are treated as problems well before they are treated as people. They are losing a battle they are not prepared to fight. Are we living the same dream? Justice is colorblind, but has justice been given to those who deserve it? Mike Brown, Eric Gardener, Treyvon Martin. These black children, men, and women are afraid to be shot at for nothing more than the color of their skin. We teach our children that progress has been made but we every leap forward we take two steps back. Law enforcement is more aggressive. However, this mostly

Violence is inevitable; it is everywhere. From wars, terrorist acts, mass genocides to your local killings and robberies. The topic lately has been crimes against blacks; the most popular cases today seem to be Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin. We, the black community, start movements to notify the public about the issue of police officers and others committing these crimes against us, but most of the crimes committed against us are done by us, so we need to notify ourselves first. Instead of starting these movements to make a change, let us try gaining respect for our race, let us try coming together as one, and let us try taking responsibility for our actions. The change does not start with starting movements; it starts with us. These are not the police’s children, nor the white people’s children, these are our children. We have to make a change for them because if we don’t then no one else will.

I’m tired of all this foolishness. Everywhere I glance there are signs that read Whites and Colored. Jim Crow Laws are everywhere and they’re a number of laws requiring racial segregation. Jim Crow Laws created segregation and discrimination against African Americans. People judge us by what they see, the color of our skin instead of us as an individual. Everyone’s human and no one should feel any lesser than anybody, we all have feeling and sometimes I even feel terrible because of the way I get treated. Everyone should be equal no matter the shade of color because that doesn’t mean you can’t have the same rights as others. People see African Americans as less just because of the simple fact we’re black. Therefore, I’m going to take all my pride and stand up for what I believe.

“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.

As time goes on our ways of life begin to change however, the ideas and past events still remain. Throughout history we have seen how American liberty and freedom is always centered on the dominant white male image. As time continues on those of minority decent have had work twice as hard to receive the same level of equality as all whites both male and female. Women and African Americans have struggled much more because back then white men believed that they couldn’t be trusted and that they were not worthy of holding power. The inequality of American liberties and freedom has been displayed recently when a white male cop attacked a young African American student. She wasn’t able to express her freedom because she had to adhere to the cop that was dominant towards her.

Being a white man, when the Black Lives Matter movement sprung up I didn't quite catch the gravity of those three words because I was blinded by privilege. In recent events, it has become impossible not to see the true weight of Black Lives Matter and what it means for us as a country and culture. Black Lives Matter is not negating any other groups importance but rather emphasizing a group that really needs our attention at this moment until everyone understands what it means. Until we have reached a point where we can all say "black lives matter" and begin to understand the consequence of "all lives matter", all lives do not matter to everyone and so those three words do not ring true. To respond to "black lives matter" with "all lives matter",

This is a sensitive topic especially for America with the white supremacy, segregation, slavery, and the "freedom of speech." What I don't understand is why you continued to target me even when I partly agreed with you. People usually use insults as a defense mechanism and you're insulting and implying, TOO MUCH. 1) I'm not African-American. 2) But I am from America. 3) I ASKED WHAT IS WHITE LIVES FIGHTING FOR? *crickets* 4) There is this thing everyone learned in elementary school or as a kid: If you don't have anything to say, say nothing at all. At least I hope you learned that. Even if you don't support Black Lives Matter or White Lives Matter, I still want to know why you took your time to argue. What is your side since you emphasized

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.