This week I have gotten onto social media far too many times and been agitated by what I have seen. I’m agitated by the continuous use of the saying all lives matter. So to all those who constantly say, use, and share the saying all lives matter, this is for you.
Dear People Who Use The Phrase All Lives Matter,
Please stop. Please stop saying all lives matter. While it is true that all lives matter you’re missing the entire point. So please stop saying it. It’s that simple.
Per their website, “#BlackLivesMatter is working for a world where black lives are no longer systematically and intentionally targeted for demise. We affirm our contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.”
#BlackLivesMatter is not saying that other lives don’t matter. #BlackLivesMatter is saying simply that black lives have value.
Too often too many black lives are lost due unfortunate circumstances that are beyond their control and sadly it seems like we don’t care. It’s just another black life. But the #BlackLivesMatter movement is trying to make us understand that we should be just as concerned with the tragic loss of a black life as we are with the tragic loss of a non-black life because #BlackLivesMatter and their lives have value.
So when you say all lives matter, yes, you are right, but you’re missing the point. Once again, the #BlackLivesMatter movement is working towards the day when we value black lives and no longer think of them as being disposable.
For generations black lives have continued to be pushed aside and swept under the rug. #BlackLivesMatter is trying to lift the rug and shine light where it has been so dark. #BlackLivesMatter is trying to show the world that black lives are here and they matter and they have an important contribution to our society.
Each time you say all lives matter in response to #BlackLivesMatter you are taking away their identity.
I asked my friend Shaina what black lives matter/all lives matter means to her and she responded with, “To me, All Lives Matter is an undeniably true statement. Every being is important because in God's eyes we are all equal. The #BlackLivesMatter movement was established to protest and put an end to police brutality. #BlackLivesMatter in no way means ‘Only Black Lives Matter.’ It's just that during a time where police brutality against black lives only continues to rise, this movement gives us a voice. We are still here. We are still fighting. We are still strong. We still matter. Our brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers are being wrongfully taken away from us due to the fear of some in authority and becoming hashtags, but we still matter. Some people have started to believe we matter less. Like the Holtzclaw case, involving a police officer who raped and assaulted 13 black women before he was caught. His reasoning? Black women are "voiceless" and no one would ever take "their word against mine." #BlackLivesMatter is relevant for people like those women. Whether people agree with the movement or not, they know about it. They hear it. #BlackLivesMatter gives a voice to the voiceless, the ones who've been told no one will believe, trust, or listen to them because of the color of their skin.” She said it beautifully and I thought her words needed to be shared.
So if you’re still unclear of what I’m trying to say and why you should not use the term all lives matter maybe this photo will help you understand what I and everyone who supports #BlackLivesMatter is trying to say and get across.
