[Read with an open mind. Read willing to learn. And most of all, read with the purpose of change.]
It's like when you ask a mother who her favorite child is. She may smirk a bit, giggle, and say she loves all her children equally, but at times she knows that one of her babies may need more love than the other. And so, in that time, that one child is her favorite (whether she’ll ever admit it or not is another story).
In this moment, the world is Mama and her children are America’s beautiful melting pot of colors, cultures, and communities. And in this moment, black lives need to be Mama’s favorite because this outrageous lack of love they have been given is way beyond expiration. Considering that, in this first week of July 2016, there have been two names added to the list of why #BlackLivesMatter even exists; Philando Castile, 32, and Alton Sterling, 37. This file of lost lives is reaching a countless quantity over a shorter and shorter amount of time, and this is why this movement is necessary! With that being said, the purpose of this piece is not to focus on the details of those events, to begin a debate of any kind, or even to choose sides. We see more than enough of that covered on our social media timelines. However, we all have our opinions and beliefs on this topic, and so here I am to share mine. Loud and proud. And peacefully.
To start, I'll admit I was not a fan of #BlackLivesMatter in its birth because my eyes could only see that it promoted separation and portrayed an image that other lives did not matter. But I was ignorant to its depth and failed to read between the lines of its true purpose. While recently on social media, I stumbled across a statement that read "All lives matter once Black lives matter," and it all began to click. We've all heard the sarcastic phrase "thank you Captain Obvious." Well, it is obvious to state that all lives matter as we all know this. But in knowing this, we have failed to prove our understanding that black lives are equally as important as all others. And that, in its simplicity, is exactly why I encourage and support Black Lives over All Lives Matter, and I stand behind it wholeheartedly.
Just think about it, would you ever dare be that person to walk in a Breast Cancer Awareness 5K while carrying a sign that read "All Cancer Matters"? No, I highly doubt the mere thought would even cross your mind. So tell me, why would it be acceptable to out-voice the Black Lives Matter movement that promotes the first steps toward bettering all lives?
Because like that mother’s favorite child, not all of our people need the same fight, love, and support that black lives do right now. It was not created to make those on the outside feel uncomfortable or threatened. It was created to form a pact, a movement of unity against the hate crimes that have been drowning our people in their own blood, sweat, and tears. It is a power move for ALL of our people to peacefully protest, peacefully carry a voice, and peacefully put an end to the disgrace our country is abiding by.
But in saying that, I want to also point out that hating our non-black brothers and sisters will not make a happy family. I have seen too many hate-motivated statements from one color against the other as a result of what is happening in our streets, but this is no answer. This is no reaction that promotes a care or desire for change. Because holding the guilt of slavery over their heads when not one of us in this generation are in any way, shape, or form responsible for the events of our horrid history, is nonsense! Grouping all whites with those who are racist, filled with hate for those who look darker than them, is nonsense! Stereotyping all non-whites to not be capable business men or highly educated, is nonsense! And fighting back with fire against those in blue because a few are corrupt, is nonsense! It is a disgrace to ourselves, our brothers, our sisters, and our country.
Stop the nonsense!
I know we've all heard "two wrongs don't make a right," "you can't fight fire with fire," and every other cliche saying, I could squeeze between these lines. So encouraging our peers to rampage in reaction to these terrifying brutalities, tell me what good that’s going to do? While learning to acknowledge that of all the lives that surround us, black lives need to matter more than they’ve ever been shown, that is the beginning to this change we are so desperate for. So learn something. Learn that today is not all about you, or me. Today is about the need to raise respect for black lives to better the growth of our country, and our world. Together.
So, I can only hope that my words, as simple and true as they come, have reached someone out there who once thought like I first did. I hope they inspire like others have inspired me, to make a stand, make a movement, and make these lives matter. And I hope these words, along with so many other powerful voices that have sprouted over the media in these last few months/years can form a cohesive tone of peace, love, and support for all of America’s brothers and sisters. But, remembering that today, Black Lives Matter. And once we have learned and treated those lives with the respect we give our neighbors, that is the day America will begin to be great.
"All Lives Matter Once Black Lives Matter"
