Written by Alexis Hinnat
What do you think about when you hear Black Lives Matter?
If you ask one thousand people, all of their answers would be different simply because we are all living through our own perspectives of the world. The term Black Lives Matter began through a social media frenzy after the death of Trayvon Martin. It is not a term that promotes negativity. It is not a term that promotes exclusion and inequality among the races. It is not something to joke about. It is something to open the eyes of the universe to what’s really happening to people we call friends, family, mothers, fathers, and the list goes on.
It is no secret that police brutality has become a malicious pattern with a specific target on Black Americans. Black Americans are actually twice as likely to be killed by police unarmed than white Americans. It has become a vicious cycle and almost a trend among the police workforce. It is no longer uncommon to hear about the death of an unarmed black man or woman on popular news stations such as CNN and FOX. However, it IS uncommon to hear about the death of a white man or woman at the hands of police. Why is this?
The question remains. Why are police targeting Black Americans? As a Black American, the question is still pending for me. Why are the police targeting me? The answer is simple: Racism.The police are targeting Black Americans specifically, because of their own racial indifferences. It’s not to protect us. It’s not to make the world a safer living environment. It’s because of hate that dates over thousands of years ago. The same hate and the same evil that was alive and well thousands of years ago is still alive and well today in the hearts of our policeman.
With that being said, what better way to keep the conversation going than to start a movement entitled Black Lives Matter? – To ensure that Black Americans have a voice. There is no better way, but here’s the problem. It is impossible for the world to be in agreement on every subject, so through the start of the Black Lives Matter movement, people began to suggest that All Lives Matter would be a more fitting title for the movement.
There are several reasons why the term All Lives Matter holds no weight. The first reason is that right now in 2015 all lives DON’T matter. Certain lives are being specifically targeted because of the melanin in their skin. The Black Lives Matter movement is a way to ensure that one day all lives will matter and that no one is targeted for the color of their skin. Second, the term Black Lives Matter is not a way to take away the attention from other lives. Think of it like this; paint yourself a mental picture of two beautiful houses. One house is in flames, and the other is perfectly normal. Now ask yourself this, which house needs the immediate attention from the nearest fire department– to come and try to salvage the remains of the house now damaged beyond repair. Which house is still perfectly normal?
Black Lives Matter is something much greater than just a movement or a name. It is something that represents and reflects the work of a trying race. It is something that shows the world that Black Americans will not stand down when there is trouble, and it is something that paves the way for inevitable change, while simultaneously offering people the option to lead the change or stay silent.
What are you doing right now to change something? We all have a voice and we all have a platform. Regardless of our age, sexual orientation, or race we all have a say in what happens to black lives. Choose what matters to you
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