1.0 INTRODUCTION
Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise. It is an affirmation of African American contribution to society at large, humanity and their resilience in the face of deadly oppression (“About the Black Lives Matter Network,” n.d.) Therefore, this movement is also known as, the next Civil Rights Movement ever since, George Zimmerman was acquitted in the killing of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, is a necessary demonstration that inspires individuals to take a stand for justice. The movement has blossomed from a protest cry into a genuine political force (Altman, Rhodan, & Frizell, 2015). Through dignity, justice
Black Lives Matter isn’t just about the loss of life, which is always terrible, but rather it’s about the lack of consequences when black lives are taken at the hands of police (Hafner, 2016). According to the most recent census data, African Americans are 2.5 times as likely to die at the hands of police when adjusting for population as there are 160 million more white people in America than there are black people and they make up to 13 percent of the US population. Regarding unarmed persons, the data showed that black Americans are five times more likely to be fatally shot than a white American (Lowery, 2016). Additionally, Black Lives Matter is a unique contribution that goes beyond extrajudicial killings of Black people by police and vigilantes (“About the Black Lives Matter Network,” n.d). The movements aim is to spread awareness of the atrocities prominent and prevalent within Black Communities and among African Americans in accordance to state violence through demonstrations as they maximize impact by causing discomfort which are designed to make society feel the pain and frustration of living as a black person in America (Altman, 2016). Race relations in America is in serious need of acknowledgement of the wrong that has been done and the need to crackdown on violence and repair it from the federal level down to the local level. Furthermore, Black Lives shouldn’t be amalgamated into White Lives in order for it to have added value (Abdur-Rashid,
The All Lives Matter supporters believe that black people who were killed recently showed violence against the policemen and they were not innocents. The president of Amherst College Republicans Robert Lucido responses, “First, the Black Lives Matter group was originally titled ‘F--- the Police.’ The organizers of the Awareness week claimed that every 28 hours a black man is killed by a law enforcement officer, but they never mentioned that a law enforcement officer is killed every 48 hours in the line of duty. The organizers may have thought it clever, but such a title is utterly shameful” (Lucido). The author uses ethos by showing facts in his response that illustrates the opposite of what Black Lives Matter group claimed; however, these
Police brutality has been an apparent mark on the struggles, trials, and tribulations of people of minorities for years, primarily Black people. From the times of slavery to the present unlawful targeting and murders of black citizens with no justification, police brutality has been an enema in Black American culture for hundreds of years. Seen both in James Baldwin’s “Going to Meet the Man” and in the current happenings of the United States. The hashtag “#BlackLivesMatter” has been a focal point in the current struggle for equality of the races. The current outpouring of support for black lives and
The black community has suffered from years of social inequality and oppression. Social issues such as the criminalization of black males is a frequent problem in society. These social issues highlight the reforms that need to be done to ensure that the nation is not consistently targeting and prejudging others based on their race, especially when dealing with legal authorities. Widespread awareness of recent deaths of black males reveals many unaddressed social issues including “justifiable homicides.” In an attempt to fight against inequality and end violence against African Americans, three women created an international activist movement using the hashtag #blackLivesMatter. This movement goes beyond the extrajudicial killings of black people;
Today there are many controversial subjects discussed throughout the media. One of the most discussed is race and the Black Lives Matter movement. Recently, I came across an article titled “The Truth of ‘Black Lives Matter’”, written by The Editorial Board. The article was published on September 3, 2015, to the New York Times. In the article, The Editorial Board writes about what they believe African Americans are facing as challenges in society today, including the all-too-common police killings of unarmed African-Americans across the country. The Editorial Board is right that some African Americans have been treated unfairly, but all ethnicities have been. Life is a precious thing that comprises all ethnicities. This brings us to ask; why
The rhetoric we hear most from Black Lives Matter is that of police brutality, how it’s a black issue, or how it affects blacks more than whites. Well, this too is factually incorrect. Of the White people living in the U.S., forty-nine percent are killed by police officers, as opposed to the thirty percent of blacks. White people comprise sixty-three percent of the population; conversely, black people only make around thirteen percent (Dailywire). These discrepancies can be seen in their “inspirations” as well. Assata Shakur was put on FBI’s most wanted terrorist list after she shot a New Jersey State trooper. Black Lives Matter blindly uses her as their inspiration or teacher(Pibillwarner). Al-Amin, a Muslim, who shot and killed police officer Ricky Kinchen is seen as a hero among the BLM
Black lives matter is a social media movement that went of the Ferguson, Gardner cases etc. Also very rapidly it was to show as a opposition to the police and cops. Somehow when saying black lives matter it was like saying all life matter don’t matter. It’s a touchy subject due to why people view things and for most case I can understand. I feel that the person that made black life’s matter didn’t mean for it to be just all about black life but to inform others around the nation that there is a special problem that is only happening in the African American community and we have fix that issue . we as a society has to recognize this that the African American are not making this up this its not something being politicalized its real and there’s a history behind it so we have to seriously.
This paper was written to discuss the hot button topic, “Black Lives Matter.” Specifically, in regard to law enforcement. This has been an ongoing and controversial issue ever since the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting of Trayvon Martin. This is when the movement “Black Lives Matter,” was born, with the belief that blacks are treated unfairly by law enforcement. I, however, do not believe that blacks are treated any more unfairly by law enforcement than any other race.
In America, police brutality affects and victimizes people of color mentally and socially. Social injustice has become a major issue, which involved the principle of white supremacy vs minorities. The current police brutality that has been occurring is culturally disconnecting ethnicities from one another. According to Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell, “…the cultural disconnect is very real; you have the weight of generations of abuse on African Americans,” (Flatow, 2016). For example, over the past four years, there have been countless acts of police brutality. The three key deaths of Eric Garner, Philando Castile, and Alton Sterling have become the face of police brutality in the year 2016. People knew that it was unequal treatment of black people by police in the United States and they made it known by creating #BlackLivesMatter.
Since then it has become a rallying call to African-Americans all over the nation and has been the cause of several demonstrations turned riot, the most infamous of these taking place in Ferguson, Missouri. (Sidner-Simon, The Rise of Black Lives Matter: Trying to break the cycle of violence and silence) As these potentially violent demonstrations are something to be wary of, the Black Lives Matter group has taken to policing themselves. Why not let the police do it? It is their job after all. The answer to that question lies yet again in Ferguson, Missouri. After severe rioting in Ferguson, law enforcement officers have come to fear the “Ferguson effect.” It is this fear that has kept them from doing their jobs by avoiding violent confrontations which has potentially caused them to no longer effectively do their jobs.(Buchanan, Blue Lives Matter) This response to violence with violence is what has shaped our police force, this is what has kept both officers and the general public safe. If these officers can no longer confidently do their job, then society as a whole could very well be at risk from
Black Lives Matter is not a bandwagon to hop on, nor is it a hashtag or a slogan. Black Lives Matter is a movement. To not support the movement or to think that the movement does not need support is outright depraved, demeaning and degrading. We too often think that retweeting, tweeting or sharing a photo on social media is supporting the movement and it’s not! This is no longer the 1960’s. We have gained our rights: that is no longer the fight. The fight is receiving justice for our black people, so no effective protesting is no longer sitting at countertops, it is no longer peaceful marching and it is no longer bus boycotting The new protest is to educate ourselves, to show respect, to get involved in the justice system, to raise black lawyers, to vote and to do jury duty. All of these things are needed to benefit the movement in stopping the corruptness in our justice system.
A seven-year study conducted by USA Today analyzing the FBI’s justifiable homicide database revealed that 96 percent of all cases involve Black people dying at the hands of white police officers, who are rarely indicted, let alone brought to trial.” (Kaplan 2014). “Some have called the Black Lives Matter a hate group whose rhetoric is partially responsible for the recent shooting of a sheriff in Texas”. Police cars were destroyed, and several police were injured.
Black Lives Matter is an international activist movement, originating in the African American community. It campaigns against violence toward black people and has become a uniting call for an innovative chapter in the black freedom fight. The clearance of Trayvon Martin’s killer in 2013 and the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014 stimulated this movement. Black Lives Matter isn’t just about the loss of Black lives; but mainly about the lack of consequences when African American lives are taken by Caucasian officers. The question is; do black lives truly matter to those that claim to protect it? The answer is no they do not because the movement’s alleged “peaceful” protests continuously
In discussions of The Black Lives Matter movement, a controversial issue is whether this movement exposes police brutality or promotes antipolice hate. While some argue, this movement’s purpose is to expose the realities of police brutality and how African Americans are often left powerless in the law. Others contend that this movement is an excuse for unjustified violence and the demonization of police. Subsequently, the death of Trayvon Martin is seen as the motive to construct a response to anti-black racism, similarly known as The Black Lives Matter movement.
Black Lives Matter is not a movement that believes all lives do not matter; nevertheless, it highlights the fact that black lives are taken for granted by the judicial system. Protests around the world have taken place to fight for justice in the black community. The immense number of deaths of unarmed black men and women is a clear sign that they are more likely to be killed by police than white people. Physical violence and excessive use of force by the U.S. police towards African Americans are seen in the news regularly.
The movement BlackLivesMatter have outed hundreds unlawful officers and victims that never got the justice needed. The same characteristics (color and style) that emulates strong, noble people can backfire. Black people in this country who actively resist dehumanization makes a call to action and a response to anti-Black racism in our current society. (Cullors, 2015) The growth of the movement has moved country-wide, first starting in the south; the south had always had history of racism and anti-black impulses. This movement is continuing to carry up north and west, and is projected that any officer can be the next one to unlawfully kill another black individual. These immoral police officers are no different from the rest of the police force, their uniforms are no different color or style they do not have different titles, there is no distinction between the these two types of officers. African Americans are persuaded to be more cautious and angry towards police officers; anyone with a cop uniform can be considered a threat to their life. Innocent cops were murdered in retaliation to the unfair judicial systems that are not punishing these cops. Once a police-like uniform is worn it not only once symbolizes honor and power, but t too many communities