Since the introduction of slavery in 1863, the fight for social justice for the black community has been long sought after. Before 2012, the public has only been educated about movements such as the peaceful protesting by Martin Luther King, Jr., more aggressive ideologies and approaches from Malcolm X, and the organization of the Black Panthers. Major social movements seemed as if there were historical references until the light was shed on police brutality against the black community. As stated on the Black Lives Matter website, “Black Lives Matter is a chapter-based national organization working for the validity of Black life...it is a not a moment, but a movement” (Culler, 2012).
The deaths of Jamar Clark (24), Trayvon Martin (17), Michael Brown (18), and more recently Alton Sterling (37) and Philando Castile (32) have all created and intensified the #BlackLivesMatter movement. #BlackLivesMatter has been the social media response to police brutality and racism against the black community. #BlackLivesMatter is the symbol of many protests, riots, articles and billboards of today touching everyone in America. Through fear, ignorance, and spite, #AllLivesMatter has also been a recent hashtag with many problems.
All lives do matter; everyone knows that. Humanity itself is sacred and every individual plays a vital role in how the world operates. Morality, respect, and kindness for one another is something that is already expected. The difference between saying and taking action about how all lives do matter and #AllLivesMatter undermines the progress and awareness of a clear issue in this country.
#AllLivesMatter is supposed to express how people feel that the goal is social equality for all, so that is what needs to be promoted, and that #BlackLivesMatter is too exclusive. I feel that this is ignorant, considering that #BlackLivesMatter's goal is to also achieve social equality by bringing attention to the injustices being brought onto the black community. #AllLivesMatter was just created out of guilt for this fact.
#BlackLivesMatter is not radical, it is not trying to suppress whites, it is not trying to demoralize the role of police officers, and it is not trying to cause a war. The point of the hashtag is to let the world know that there is an issue that goes beyond black v white. It is not aiming to remind America that we are still a racist nation and that only blacks are killed for unjustifiable reasons. America has many problems. Racial profiling and police militarism are just two of many.
For those of you who choose to use #AllLivesMatter, that is your American right. But also think of why you choose to use this hashtag instead of rallying behind one that aims to uplift a clearly suppressed group. Is it out of fear? Is it out of pride? Is it out of ignorance? Is it out of being misinformed? Because whatever the reason may be, that will not change the obvious problems that the black community continues to face.
Choose to think about not what brings "equality," but what makes brings justice.
