“Black Lives Matter”. The Meaning and the Movement.

In discussions of racial injustice, a controversial issue is whether or not the term 'Black Lives Matter,' is insensitive to other races and cultures. While those who support the cause argue that this is not the case, others contend that the phrase is divisive and that it is an act of terrorism. In her interview with 'The Economist,' Alicia Garza, (the co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement) explains the real goal of the campaign. She starts her argument by setting the record straight. Garza explains that Black Lives Matter isn't a weapon wielded to force black supremacy, but rather a platform for change. She hopes that through activism, there will be a shift in the balance of power held between marginalized groups and the rest of the country. She further bolsters her argument with statistics pointing out the disparity between those who have privilege in America and those who don't.

Garza states, "Power is incredibly distorted in this country. I wish black people had the power to reshape the economy in such grand ways, but first and foremost, black people are only 13% of the population of the United States. The makeup of people making decisions in this country is white men. There are only three black senators in Congress, and only around 40 out of 445 members of the House of Representatives are black. It is very plain to see that black people and immigrants are not usurping power." Too often, we see black Americans rejected for jobs simply because they are black. Research has even proven that people with more African-American sounding names are less likely to be hired than those with white-sounding names. This example further goes to demonstrate that the times we are living in are still not ones of total equality. The chasm separating white Americans and minorities is something Garza hopes will close through educating others. She explains that people need to speak up and point out fundamentally wrong things in our country. I agree that racism is not behind us, a point that needs emphasizing since so many people still choose to believe we are past that chapter of our history. Many people assume that we are living in a post-racial America, and yet, the hate crimes that have occurred in the past decade only serve to prove that we are not. “Black Lives Matter " is pulling back the curtain on injustice and despicable deeds.

Image catured by Tobuloba Ano

That's what we need as a country, a wake-up call. The fact that people are more likely to know what's going on with The Kardashians than the injustices that occur to their fellow countrymen is a disgrace. How can we say that America stands for freedom and liberty when our fellow Americans are mistreated and denied the same rights given to others because of the color of their skin or how their name sounds. I believe that the people who are calling the cause racist and an act of terrorism are ignorant. Whether by choice or by ingrained beliefs, people are choosing to ignore years of systematic racism and oppression. Why? Why are others so afraid of giving the scorned and disenfranchised a voice. I think that they feel threatened. Some people believe the Black Lives Matter movement is an effort to silence the voices of non-minority Americans. Others believe that giving back that stolen power will lead to an uprising. But I must pose the question. Why does giving one person a voice, have to take away someone else's?  In my opinion, the Black Lives Matter is a modern rendition of "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" The powerful and direct speech that was given by Frederick Douglass in 1852, which pointed out the lack of justice and freedoms granted to African-Americans. In the same manner, the Black Lives Matter movement strives to do just that. Later on, Alicia says, "What we are trying to do is point out the failings in the basic premise of the founding of this country, that there would be liberty and justice for all." In the end, that is all that the movement aims to achieve. It is not a terrorist movement or a form of racism, but a beacon of hope for those within the community who need it. It serves not only as something that brings people together, but a way for us to lift each other up. Black Lives Matter shines a light on issues that have seemingly been overlooked and gives confidence to those who've been forgotten.