As the end of the year approaches so quickly, it seems as though the ethnic rift in America is only becoming wider. And instead of trying to turn this situation around, it appears that many people only want to point fingers. There are scores of different causes for the racial tension in America, and it is impossible to place all of the blame on any one group of people.

Now, that’s not to say that everyone wants to contribute to the growing divide in our country; because there are many people of all different backgrounds fighting to end the hate and violence and supporting the struggle of our black brothers and sisters. Or so they think.

At this point, “Black Lives Matter” is an almost universally known movement in America. We hear it on the news, on social media, on the radio, from our friends and family, etc. seemingly every day. And almost as many people have also heard the phrase “All Lives Matter.” That seems like a perfect phrase to encourage unity between all races and express your love for everyone, right? Wrong.

The truth is, “All Lives Matter” is a cop-out. It gives those who believe in equality a way to show their support for the movement, without actually showing their support for the movement. People are afraid, even ashamed, to openly support BLM in front of their peers, because no one wants to be “that person”, but guess what? We’re beyond that. Because when a mother has to fear for the life of her child on his walk home from school simply because his skin is a little bit darker than most of the other kids in the neighborhood, we no longer have the right as the ethnic majority to feel embarrassed about supporting this critical struggle of our brothers and sisters.

Every time someone utters the phrase “All Lives Matter,” it takes attention away from the real issue. Of course all lives matter, isn’t that what most of us were raised to believe? But when one race specifically is being targeted, when one race is made to feel inferior, isn’t that the time to help them back up, encourage them and let them know we think they’re important? “All Lives Matter” ignores the whole purpose of the phrase, which is to support a specific group that is being picked off, and that is what most people don’t seem to understand.

And by the way, when did “Black Lives Matter” translate to “White Lives Don’t Matter?” Because I must have missed the memo. With the offense that so many white people take to the phrase, you’d think you were personally attacking them. BLM isn’t meant to shame white people or insinuate that black lives matter more than white lives; it is meant to uplift those that have been so badly abused and raise awareness of their struggle so that, maybe, we can bring about change.

When African-Americans are treated equally, when were are no more prejudices and no more unjust murders, only then can “All Lives Matter” truly be used. With some of the major recent events happening in our country, you’d have to be blind to not see the injustices taking place; so to act as if BLM is a futile movement is offensive in every way. Obviously all lives matter, but we need to bring attention to the ones that are being treated poorly.

The only way we, as a country, can conquer this repulsive beast known as racism is to support the BLM movement in a way that promotes equality, unity, love and peace. That can only be done when other races stop taking “Black Lives Matter” as an offensive claim and start embracing it and encouraging others to do that same.

Yes, I’m white. No, I’ve never experienced even a fraction of the bigotry that so many African-Americans have; but from what I’ve observed in media and everyday life, I’d be heartless to not want to help in some way.

I support Black Lives Matter. Because all lives can’t matter until black lives matter.