"Black Lives Matter" Matters

My heart is broken. We live in a world of unjust and inequality. Every single day people are dying for no reason. My heart is broken. Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin, and most recently Terrence Crutcher have made the national news. How is it that racism is so embedded in our society that even without laws preventing them from freedom, African Americans still aren't free. I can’t even walk into a store with my black friend without people thinking they're are going to steal something.

The Black Lives Matter movement and it's supporters believe in equality for all and are trying to make our country a safer place for everyone, thus essentially making all lives matter because all lives matter CAN'T matter if black lives DON'T matter.

Black lives matter should not be ignored. It can help to improve our country send us on track towards equality. So why are people so afraid? People are so afraid to admit that police brutality is an issue. People are so afraid to address that racism is still a problem in society.

This article is fueled by my rage of the oppression and constant marginalism that black people endure on a daily basis. I have it easier.

Please don’t tell me that white supremacy and white privilege doesn't exist. Band-aids match our skin color, our shampoo and conditioner aren’t in an aisle called “ethnic products”, I know that when I turn on my television I am guaranteed to see my race being widely represented, when I am told about our national heritage I am shown that people of the same skin color as me made it what it is, I can go shopping without being followed, I can be sure that wherever I live my neighbors will be pleasant to me.

I know I AM Privileged in so many ways. "I am privileged as a natural born white citizen. I am privileged as a cis-gendered woman. I am privileged as an able-bodied person. I am privileged that my first language is also our national language, and that I was born with an intellect and ambition that pulled me out of the poverty I was otherwise destined for."

White people and people of color experience the world in two very different ways.

Why is it that black on black crime usually ends up in a conviction while white cops have shot people and never even faced a conviction? The people who are supposed to be protecting our communities are the ones destroying it.

I just want peace and equality. And I hope that one day all lives will matter, but right now they don't. Not all black people are bad just like not all white cops are bad. Just like you can't deem an entire movement to be "dumb" just because you see looting that you see broadcasted on television or media in general. What you don't see are the peaceful protests just like what you might not see are good cops giving food to the homeless. Killing innocent lives doesn't justify killing more innocent lives. I hope that one day there will be peace and I'll finally be able to say we are all equal.