I wanted to write on this subject again because I don’t think my initial article/poem was clear enough. If I sound mad or come across as a little aggressive, it’s cause I am mad and I am being aggressive. I’ve had enough and so has everyone else. I am in full support of the #BlackLivesMatter (BLM) movement. And, even though this should go without saying, this does not mean I am anti-white or anti-police or whatever wild accusations people have had against those in support of BLM. I would also like to say that anyone who responds to this with “All Lives Matter” should know that this response is antagonistic. Do not belittle BLM because you are uncomfortable or “feeling left out.” This is not a competition for attention. This is a serious issue that deserves respect, recognition, and action.
To those who are against this movement, I do not have questions. I have statements. One being, if you can coldly listen to these occurrences and respond with an accusatory response towards the victim, you have no humanity. As my previous article stated, I have seen little to no humanity during this time. People have sat back and said, yelled, posted, and commented accusations and retorts about how any of these shootings, these killings, these beatings, these murders could possibly be the victims fault. Terrence Crutcher did not deserve to die. Michael Brown did not deserve to die. Alton Sterling did not deserve to die. Eric Garner did not deserve to die. Philando Castile did not deserve to die. Tamir Rice did not deserve to die. All of these victims and more did not deserve to die.
During none of these occurrences has the victim done anything to prompt being shot or beaten. Wearing a hoodie does not prompt a gunshot. Having your hands up does not prompt a gunshot. Having a seizure does not prompt a gunshot. If that were the case a larger population would be gone, but they aren’t. And you know why? Because none of them were black. Not once has this happened to a white person and that is a privilege people need to recognize. Was the man who bombed Chelsea, New York shot when he was apprehended? No. Were any of these godforsaken rapists shot when they were arrested? No. Bringing me to my second statement: constantly searching for a reason to validate the shooting of an innocent black person while looking for a way to humanize a white bomber or rapist is racist. Anyone who does this should be ashamed of themselves.
Something that still shocks me is that I have seen endless explanations about why this movement is important and necessary. What baffles me about this is that there is a need for an explanation. How is it not clear? How is it not clear that black lives are the ones in need of protection and support at this time. Yes, everyone matters but not everyone is a victim of systematic racism and prejudice. Not everyone wakes up in fear of their life because they have the same skin color as the many people who have been killed for no other reason than that they are black and that therefore makes them “a bad dude.” This brings me to my third statement: if you need an explanation for the purpose of the #BlackLivesMatter movement after reading about all these events and seeing the footage, you are a disgusting excuse for a human being.
My fourth and final statement:
Black. Lives. Matter.
