The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement was established in 2012 in response to Trayvon Martin’s death and within this last year there have been social media posts about another rising movement complementing the group instead of counteracting it. The movement titled themselves White Lives for Black Lives Matter (WLBM). Recently in LA this group recently rallied with protest signs such as “In the movement for black lives, what side of history will you be on?,” “How will you show up for racial justice?” and a hashtag circulating “whitelives4blacklivesmatter.”
The rally was part of the Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) movement which, according to their website is “a national network of groups and individuals organizing white people for racial justice.” The real reason white people fear BLM is because it is not expressing that white lives matter as well. When a movement does not include the dominant group then the movement is viewed as unimportant or deemed a disturbance to the sanctity and order of our society. Similar emotions emerged during the the civil rights movement in the 19th century. Many white people are hesitant in joining BLM and choose to counteract its importance with opposition groups such as White Lives Matter or All Lives Matter. White Lives Matter was recently considered a hate group by Southern Poverty Law Center. This list also includes groups like the KKK. These comparisons raise the question: are these counteractive modern day groups a contemporary version of the tension our country experienced during the civil rights movement?
The purpose of the BLM is not to devalue the lives of others, but instead it recognizes the value of black lives and the oppression that does not equally affect white people. It is upsetting that yet another call for equality for black lives has become necessary. A movement developed, yet again, to remember that black lives do matter because our system has consistently and violently targeted people of color. BLM was a reaction to the ‘colorblindness’ of white people and how they do not recognize the difference in police brutality that has ensued continually and unjustly for the black community. Once again, this movement has readdressed the political and social demand to end systemic oppression. BLM was established not only to end racialized police brutality but to expose the number of other issues that continually oppress minorities.
Opposing coalitions such as White Lives Matter versus Black Lives Matter, or Heterosexual Day and Gay Pride Day prove that majority groups need to feel represented in society by creating a movement of acknowledgment. These responses are demeaning, unnecessary, and might possibly explain the response from the majority resisting the BLM. Groups such as White Lives Matter perpetuate power in the majority and seeks attention through the media in order to maintain power. While minorities fight to feel equal day to day, it is important to remember that everyday is heterosexual, white acceptance day. I would be so bold to say what scares opposers of this movement is the idea that race remains an issue in this country. I hope this article clearly explains why I believe WLBLM is an important movement. Primarily, to recognize why people should utilize their influence and support for those who are ill represented.