Category: Black Lives Matter

In the article Black Lives Matter as resistance to systemic anti-black violence, Dominique Thomas (2019) makes extensive use of previous research. Among other sources, the author quotes the article by Thomas and Blackmon (2015). While Thomas (2019) recognizes the central message of the article correctly, it is still misinterpreted in a significant way.

The author quotes Thomas and Blackmon (2015) in support of the notion that the killings of unarmed African Americans affect the socialization patterns of black parents. The actual quote is: Black parents have to shift and adjust their socialization in response to killings of unarmed black people (Thomas, 2019, p. 42). This notion is indeed the central point of Thomas and Blackmon (2015), who argue that socialization practices of African American parents were influenced by the shooting of Trayvon Martin (p. 85). Hence, Thomas (2019) is right to quote the article in support of the notion that shootings influence parental socialization of black parents.

However, the specific interpretation of Thomas and Blackmons (2015) text is still inaccurate. The author opines that black parents shift and adjust socialization practices in response to shootings (Thomas, 2019, p. 42). However, Thomas and Blackmon (2015) do not claim that such a shift occurs  on the contrary, they emphasize that African American parents have consistently taught children about the presence of racism, and this tendency stays prevalent (p. 85).

According to them, the impact of shootings on black parents is not shifting and changing socialization practices, but perceiving them as more important due to the possibility of violence and death (Thomas & Blackmon, 2015, p. 84). Therefore, Thomass (2019) interpretation of Thomas and Blackmons (2015) article appears inaccurate.

To summarize, Thomass (2019) use of the article by Thomas and Blackmon (2015) is imperfect. The author recognizes its primary point  the idea that shootings of unarmed blacks influence socialization practices of African American parents  correctly. However, he represents this impact as a change in socialization practices, while Thomas and Blackmon (2015) stress that the practices stay essentially the same, and the shootings affect their perceived importance rather than substance.

References

Thomas, D. (2019). Black Lives Matter as resistance to systemic anti-black violence. Journal of Critical Thought and Praxis, 8(1), 30-45.

Thomas, M. J., & Blackmon, S. M. (2015). The influence of the Trayvon Martin shooting on racial socialization practices of African American parents. Journal of Black Psychology, 41(1), 75-89.

Event Background

Todays society and media context, in general, are replete with events that tend to interfere with the fundamentals of ethics and sociological issues. In fact, every single endeavor that takes place in the world has the ability to be assessed from a sociological perspective. However, one of the major problems that tackle humanity today is the notion of racism within all the social concepts, including workplace environments, relationships with neighbors, or patterns of communication with the law enforcement facilities. Researchers claim the existence of various types of racism, which are generally divided into implicit and explicit behavioral patterns (Conley). In their turn, the latter racism clues, although happening rarely, frequently expose an unprecedented rate of ethical violence and breach of the sociological dogmas associated with the issue. Hence, one of the most vivid examples of such an event has now become the series of police brutality acts concerning intended killings of Black people by police officers. Thus, the primary goal of the following paper is to analyze the following precedent through the prism of the sociological issue of race discrimination.

To begin with, it is necessary to dwell upon the basic information concerning the event. Thus, having started in the United States in 2013 and going worldwide ever since, the activist movement Black Lives Matter was caused by the fact that a local police officer who shot an unarmed 17-year teenager Trayvon Martin was found not guilty in the committed crime (Alvarez and Buckley). Although the fact itself had caused a series of protests across the state, it was the subsequent precedents that initiated a more aggressive response to policy brutality towards Black people, as two more deaths of African Americans were caused by policemen in 2014.

However, the actual attention of the media space was drawn to the Black Lives Matter action in 2020, after the spread of footage with a policeman standing on the Black mans neck for almost ten minutes claiming George Floyds alleged use of counterfeit bill (Hill et al.). After the event, demonstrations against police brutality were held across the state in order to address the absurdity of law enforcements prejudice towards ones racial affiliation. As a result, the Black Lives Matter movement has now become a major sociological dilemma of the 21st century.

Black Lives Matter as a Sociological Construct

The sociological issue of racism has always been one of the most complicated and challenging paradigms of sociology due to the complexity of the constructs history throughout time. Speaking of the very issue emergence, the notion of racial discrimination has always been a feature of society considering even the fact that the discrimination was not even regarded as an actual issue, as racism had been an integral part of social communication for a very long time (Conley). However, in the course of sociological development, the idea of discrimination based on the notion of skin color had become an issue for Black people who realized the true scope of their rights limitation.

Some scholars claim the emergence of racism to be closely correlated with the pursuit of social equality on the global level, as the absence of a rigid hierarchical pattern explicitly emphasizes the disadvantage for Black people (Tucker). Hence, precedents like police brutality that lead to the promotion of social equality for Black people, in fact, reflect a bigger picture of racial relations within social environments by making people reconsider their actions in terms of both implicit and explicit racism.

The sociological scope of the event itself may be introduced with the help of examples displaying peoples further evaluation of social relationships in terms of race, considering the issues going beyond the law enforcement periphery. For instance, the precedents have led to the investigation of racism and potential racial prejudice in terms of admissions to medical educational establishments in Britain, claiming the acceptance rate to be less than 20% among Black applicants (Kadiyo and Mellish). Hence, it becomes evident that once an event serves as a full-scale reflection of the overall patterns of social interactions, it should be, by all means, considered as a sociological endeavor that obtains a certain level of influence in the context. Moreover, the issue itself reflects the notion of institutional racism, where the law enforcement bodies demonstrate a severe violation of natural social dynamics and deal with power abuse instead (Conley).

Summary

Taking the notion of racism in the context of sociology into consideration, it may be concluded that the process of racial discrimination on the level of public institutions has now become one of the most challenging aspects in terms of establishing proper relationship patterns within society. To examine the point closely, the recent movement called Black Lives Matter was examined on the matter of sociological aspects that are employed in the event scenario. As a result, it was established that the following issue is both concerned with the relationship paradigm of institutional racism and power abuse and with addressing the global ways of racism perception in various social spheres.

Works Cited

Alvarez, Lizette, and Cara Buckley. Zimmerman Is Acquitted in Killing of Trayvon Martin. The New York Times, 2013, Web.

Conley, Dalton. You May Ask Yourself: An Introduction to Thinking Like a Sociologist. W. W. Norton, 2017.

Hill, Evan et al. How George Floyd Was Killed in Police Custody. The New York Times, 2020, Web.

Kadiyo, T., and V. Mellish. Is Black Lives Matter Over Now?. British Dental Journal, vol. 229, no. 6, 2020, pp. 326-326.

Tucker, William H. The Ideology of Racism: Misusing Science to Justify Racial Discrimination. UN Chronicle, Web.

Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylors book Black Lives Matter to Black Liberation explores how the Black Lives Matter (BLM) began, its history, and how it came to shape the black liberation movement. It also features the role that neoliberalists played in the development of the BLM. Although most people would think the movement began recently, it has been there for some time now and can be traced back to such activists as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. It also forecasts the potential gains that the BLM can achieve and its role in enhancing equality not only in the American society but the world at large. In Chapter 7 of the book, the author explores the BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation.

Taylor expresses her agitation for the racial discrimination that black people are facing as well as the need for the American society to have racial harmony. She agitates for an American culture that allows both white and black American citizens to interact and live together as brothers and sisters. Her book acts as a voice of awakening for the black American citizens whom she urges to come together and fight for their freedom and liberty. It encourages the black Americans to fight for justice and their freedom through non-violence means. Her speech was and still remains an inspiration to most Americans if not the African American community.

The text advocates not only for equal rights but also for the Declaration of Independence. It highlights that the goal of the Black Lives Matter movement is to fight against economic exploitation and inequality. In one of the extracts in text, Taylor says The struggle for Black liberation, then, is not an abstract idea molded in isolation from the wider phenomenon of economic exploitation and inequality (2016, p. 279). Here, the author expresses her displeasure with how the Declaration of Independence had provided a glimpse of hope of equality. However, only the White Americans seem are the ones benefiting from the declaration and the black people remaining alienated and segregated. Basically, the first half of the speech portrays a picture of racial injustice and inequality in the American society and calls for action to be taken in order to ensure these injustices are addressed. She argues that like the White Americans, the African Americans equally deserve the rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

The Black Lives Matter movement seeks to give hope to the African American people that one day they will be treated with respect, live in harmony and peace. They will interact with their fellow White American countrymen and women freely. This is seen in the following quote: This assumption rests on the mistaken idea that the working class is white and make, and therefore incapable of taking up issues of race, class, and gender (Taylor, 2016, p. 307). Here, Taylors text warns the African Americans that this will not come without a struggle and that its not only about voicing their grievance. She argues that they should continue with the protest and revolt until the bright day of justice emerges. It also cautions the African American people not to engage in violence when seeking their freedom and justice.

According to Taylor (2016), everyone should take responsibility for fighting against racism. This means that individuals should make a step of being personally liable for ending racism. One of the ways of being accountable is by not discriminating against any person on basis of their color, race, or ethnic identity. In one of the lines, Taylor says Black liberation is bound up with the project of human liberation and social transformation (Taylor, 2016, p. 279). Although there are laws on anti-Black racism and anti-oppressive practice, it will take African Americans to fight for their rights for equality in the American society. Laws are there to only guide individuals on what to do and what not to do. However, the greatest responsibility lies in individuals themselves to uphold the highest possible etiquette to embrace one another and understand and appreciate people from other races.

Besides, the text highlights how black workers are the most discriminated among the African American population. According to Taylor (2016), the Black Lives Matter Movement is significant in ensuring that a worker is not biased to any individual of a different background than theirs. She suggests that if workers are able to understand that it is their responsibility to ensure they fight against racism, they will not find it hard to work with people of color and other races. Naturally, individuals are all biased to people who are not of their own races or cultures as seen in the following lines: Its not as if white workers can simply choose not to ally with Black workers to no peril of their own (Taylor, 2016, p. 305). At times, people find themselves being racists without intending to do so. People can be racially biased especially when dealing with individuals that are of another color, culture, and religion.

In summary, the Black Lives Matter movement plays a vital role in the understanding anti-Black racism, and anti-oppressive practice. It explores the inequalities that people of color face and acts as a plight for their rights. Taylors book highlights the history of the BLM movement, the role it has played in advancing Black Liberation and the future of the movement in curbing racial discrimination.

Reference

Taylor, K. (2016). From #BlackLivesMatter to Black liberation. Haymarket Books.

Introduction

The black Lives Matter movement gathered a lot of public and media attention, so I decided to join in and create an art piece that would reflect my attitude towards the protests happening all over the United States and internationally.

The Nature of Protests

Eight minutes and forty-six seconds became a symbol of public disappointment and rage regarding the inhumane treatment of George Floyd. The death of Mr. Floyd gained enough media attention to start a series of protests all over America.

The Origins of the Project

Here is a picture from one of my favorite New York Times articles discussing the nature of protests in American cities. The photo represents the unity of people of all races, socioeconomic backgrounds, and sexualities.

I have decided that I want to include photographs and combine them with different quotes. Therefore, I started searching for source materials online, looking through social media and online publications.

The Process of Creating the Collage

The process of creating the collage took me five hours. At first, I brainstormed the ideas for the piece and decided to go with the first one I had in mind. The second step was research, which included a variety of articles from different publications to become more knowledgeable on the subject of Black Lives Matter. The first two steps took me an hour and a half.

The Effectiveness of My Project

As for the effectiveness of my project, I believe that it did exactly what I wanted it to. First of all, I showed the collage to my family and asked for their output. It surprised me how responsive my family was to the message I was trying to incorporate in the collage. I have had a discussion with a couple of my relatives about the protests. Therefore, the collage served as a conversation starter, which I wanted it to do.

Public Reaction

Although my family and friends have reacted in a positive way, it does not mean that my collage cannot produce negative responses from people. The United States is affected by a political divide between liberals and conservatives, which is why Black Lives Matter is a sensitive topic for the majority of Americans. Some people believe that George Floyd is responsible for his own death since he used a counterfeit bill and refused to cooperate with the police (Hill et al., 2020).

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to acknowledge the fact that creating art is an exceptionally effective way to start open discussions and arguments regarding current social, political, and economic issues. Nowadays, it is easier than ever to find inspiration and sources online in order to make a creative project.

Works Cited

Anti-Defamation League. Black Lives Matter: From Hashtag to Movement. ADL, 2020, Web.

Hill, Evan, et al. How George Floyd Was Killed in Police Custody. The New York Times, 2020, Web.

What Is Black Lives Matter (BLM)?

Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a decentralized social and political movement that protests against instances of racially motivated crime and police brutality targeted at people of color. In the context of the systematic inequality between races that have existed in society for centuries, BLM advocates for equality of treatment and opportunity. Therefore, BLM has been vocal about the mistreatment and inequality that persists in US society and worldwide and engaged in working with victims of racially motivated violence and abuse.

The Work of the BLM Movement

The Black Lives Matter movements work is concentrated on its mission of eradicating white supremacy and building local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes (About Black Lives Matter). Founded in 2013 by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, BLM combats and counters acts of violence against Black people work on creating innovative and creative spaces for Black development and engages in protests for the rights of Black people in the light of recent police brutality cases and instances of Black people being shot by police officers. In 2020 alone, between 15 to 26 million Americans participated in BLM protests (Buchanan et al.).

Systematic Inequality

When comparing the level of wages, unemployment, and household wealth of white and black people, the difference is enormous. In 2019, the wealth of white households was 17 times greater than that of black families (Herbig 245). All these imbalances exist, and as early as the 1970s, the biological rationale for the race was discarded (Herbig 246). It means that there is no reason to say that because people have such a skin color, they are more intelligent.

The differences that have been mentioned are maintained socially and economically since wealth and power are concentrated in the hands of white people. In recent years, fortunately, there have been changes, but this is still not enough. Considering the film industry, white people dominate as actors, directors, and characters of the films themselves in this area. The whole culture patterns and representations are designed so that people with white skin make decisions, they are more successful, educated, and all supported and reproducible. The Black Lives Matter movement can help bridge this cultural divide.

Why the BLM Movement Is Important?

The BLM movement is important because the instances of brutality or Black peoples mistreatment have not ended, with new cases emerging every month. Therefore, there is a need for an ongoing and open dialogue to engage more supporters of the movement. Such dialogue encourages law enforcement to get education on racial bias and take accountability. Even though the history of inequality takes a toll on society, only systematic and organized efforts aimed at improvement can help. The critics have stated that all lives matter and not just Blacks, but the movement emphasizes a specific issue that affects the African-American community that is not prevalent in others.

Works Cited

About Black Lives Matter. Blacklivesmatter, Web.

Buchanan, Larry, et al. Black Lives Matter May Be the Largest Movement in U.S. History. The New York Times, 2020.

Herbig, Art. Understanding Privilege in a Pandemic: The Small Systems that Perpetuate the Large Structures. Journal of Autoethnography, vol. 2, no. 2, 2021, pp. 242-247.

For the last two centuries, groups have been fighting for equality through peaceful protests across the globe where there has been racial discrimination. The Black Lives Matter movement (BLM) has lately emerged and drawn widespread attention from the media. Media coverage of the BLM movement frequently parallels the Civil Rights Movement (CRM), highlighting the two movements shared goals, strategies, and impact. Social movements can be analyzed through their political influence, tactical strategies, media, and government response toward their campaigns. While BLM and the CRM focused on politically fighting for the rights of minorities, racism, and other injustices, they differed in implementation, mobilization, strategic tactics, and achievements.

Briefly outlining the origins of each movement is necessary for understanding their relationship to one another. From the middle of the 1950s to the end of the 1960s, a social movement known as the Civil Rights movement emerged and developed. The purpose of the movement was to eradicate racial prejudice and inequality against African-Americans and to ensure that they were granted full citizenship rights at the federal level. The BLM movement is an international activist organization with roots in the Black-American community (Chase, 2017). Since its inception as a hashtag, the grassroots movement Black Lives Matter has expanded to include more than 30 local chapters across the United States and beyond (Chase, 2017). Black Lives Matter uses nonviolent direct action to protest police shootings and the mistreatment of African Americans, drawing parallels to the civil rights movement of the 1960s (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). In 2014, after the police killings of two African-American men, the movement gained national attention through street protests. Aiming to improve many African-Americans, the movement is currently in full swing.

African Americans in the United States are engaged in an ongoing fight for civil rights. The Black Lives Matter movement is also raising some of the concerns raised by earlier Black liberation movements: People of African descent are stereotyped as criminals, and their lives are considered less valuable than those of other groups. Both groups have stood against racism and other forms of injustice. Many view the BLM movement as the next iteration of the civil rights struggle. From 1954 until 1965, this movement pushed for civil rights for Black-Americans. The movement BLM has highlighted police brutality against Black Americans. Thus, looking at the parallels and distinctions between the civil rights struggle and the BLM movement is illuminating.

The movements ability to strategically instigate change and disseminate its message is crucial to its success. The Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter (BLM) used nonviolent tactics to gain attention and sway policy (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). Both groups have employed boycotts to gain attention and advance their causes. One of the best recognized in American history is the Montgomery Bus Boycott. As a result of civil rights leader Rosa Parks arrest for defying segregation rules, the Montgomery Improvement Association orchestrated a citywide boycott (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). Involving 42,000 individuals for 381 days, the boycott effectively shut down municipal bus service, leading to the eventual and successful unification of all city buses (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). The Black Lives Matter movement, realizing the efficacy of boycotts, has organized several of its own. According to Kirshner-Breen (2017), Black Lives Matter and Walmart employees coordinated a boycott of Walmart on Black Friday in 2014, causing an 11% drop in sales that year.

Even though both movements used boycotts, the strategies employed to accomplish their aims were significantly different. By illustration, prominent preachers and civil rights activists convened the day after Rosa Parks arrest to coordinate the boycotts and distribute pamphlets urging black people to avoid taking the city bus. They provided fliers that communicated to the people and were used to attract support for the boycott. There is no denying that the fliers are not exactly a work of art, but rest assured that they had every last bit of vital information for spreading their message. On the other hand, a social media movement called #NotOneDime coordinated the BLM boycotts.

The BLM fliers are much more visually appealing and likely to attract attention. Still, they provide significantly less information than the fliers did more than 50 years ago in the Civil Rights movement. The BLM fliers were designed from the ground up for digital distribution rather than traditional hand-to-hand distribution (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). It is possible to see the differences between the actions in the approach taken and the tools used for communication. Unlike the Bus Boycott, which relied on leaflets and word of mouth to spread its message, BLM used social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to reach a massive audience (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). It is intriguing to think about how these two tactics compare effectiveness. Even though the Montgomery Boycotts were limited to a single city, they had a national and international impact. However, social media allows people worldwide to join the BLM boycotts.

Throughout history, governments have typically resisted social movements that sought to alter the established political order of society. Activities for civil rights and black lives are no different. The unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, was challenging for the BLM movement (Clayton, 2018). Massive demonstrations occurred following the murder of Michael Brown 18 years old black American, by a white police officer. After demonstrators were confronted by military police and riot squads, who imposed curfews on the crowds, things quickly escalated into violence. News outlets across the country covered the incident because of the polices use of excessive force. Because of what happened in Ferguson, President Obama asked Congress for funds to buy 50,000 body cameras for police (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). The White House has also taken steps to modify local police agencies process of acquiring sophisticated military hardware.

The protests of the Civil Rights Movement were greeted with violence from the police at every turn. The Birmingham youth march of 1963 was one of the most significant events of its kind (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). Schoolchildren walked across the city carrying the slogan We Shall Overcome. Youths were arrested and incarcerated until prisons became overcrowded. Firefighters turned high-pressure hoses on the youthful, peaceful demonstrators the following day. Journalists caught these shocking incidents on camera and broadcast them afterward. Kennedy used the spotlight to push for and secure the passage of a civil rights bill that guaranteed access to all public accommodations for people of color.

Both uprisings faced violent repression from the government, but they ultimately resulted in significant political change. The media played an essential part in both of these examples. The public became far more cognizant of the racial issues within the Criminal Justice System due to the coverage of the two events (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). Both presidents at the time addressed the issue and proposed political changes in response to the growing public consciousness of the problem (Clayton, 2018). Origin discrepancies are indicative of more profound distinctions between the two movements. Compared to the more progressive tactics of the Civil Rights Movement, BLM demonstrations are sometimes seen as more conservative. Groups involved in the Civil Rights Movement planned continuous marches to spark a conflict that would grab the nations attention. Protests under the banner of Black Lives Matter are, on the other hand, typically organized in response to specific acts of racism (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). This makes the outcomes of BLM protests significantly less predictable, even though many analysts claim that socioeconomic circumstances are present in many locations for large-scale demonstrations.

In both the Black Lives Matter and Civil Rights movements, the media played a crucial role in effecting change. The President did not act both times before until media coverage of protests swayed public opinion. Although they shared a standard message, the two movements approached the issue of acquiring widespread support differently. The main reason these groups attracted extra attention is because of technological distinctions.

Since its inception, the Black Lives Matter Movement has relied heavily on social media. As a result of social media, BLM is liberated from relying on established media to disseminate and manage its message (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). Twitter and Facebook have allowed BLM to reach an international audience of hundreds of millions. Activists can more easily reach a wider audience with articles written from their point of view thanks to the internet. The news is not the only thing people use social media for; it is also a great way to get people together for parties near and far (Jones-Eversley, 2017). Such revolutionary tools did not exist during the Civil Rights Movement. They were, therefore, forced to rely on more conventional media for their news. The Civil Rights Movement had to resort to other methods of getting attention because they could not generate news coverage (Benoudina & Maameri, 2021). Protest actions such as marches, speeches, and sit-ins received widespread media coverage (Clayton, 2018). Both movements have relied heavily on the medias support to advance their causes but have used very different approaches.

The BLM and the Civil Rights movement both seek to influence government policy. Examining the impact of these two movements on politics is essential to any discussion of their success. After several challenges were filed in 1954, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, ruled that the separate but equal doctrine was unconstitutional and ordered the desegregation of schools across the United States, marking a significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). The movement won, but momentum stalled due to concerns about further violence.

In contrast to the Civil Rights Movement, which opposed overtly racist measures like segregation laws, the BLM movements goals are more nuanced. The BLM movement seeks a radical overhaul of government agencies like the Justice and Prison Systems (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). These systems are intricate and cannot be altered by just nullifying one statute or overturning one Supreme Court ruling. The Black Lives Matter movement is less interested in amending specific regulations than changing the overall framework within which politicians discuss and treat racial issues.

Many significant political victories were won during the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was arguably the most critical accomplishment since it outlawed racial discrimination on a federal level (Benoudina & Maameri, 2021). Many people thought this groundbreaking legislation had little chance of passing. A subsequent law, the Voting Rights Act, banned the use of literacy tests as a barrier to voter registration and participation. The widespread use of literacy tests severely restricted the voting rights of African Americans (Clayton, 2018). Larger scale, one of the significant successes of the Civil Rights movement was raising awareness of racial injustice (Benoudina & Maameri, 2021). One may argue that public support and opinion were crucial to the success of policy reform.

One could argue that the most significant success of the BLM movement has been drawing national attention to the issue of racial discrimination and shifting public opinion. There has been some policy shift due to the movement, but they want to see much more. As was previously said, they are concentrating on modifying the Justice System (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). The BLM movement has called for an end to broken window policing, the practice of cracking down on little offenses to deter more serious ones (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). Furthermore, BLM has demanded that militarized weaponry not be used by police and that police department be made up of people of all races who live in the neighborhoods they patrol (Jones-Eversley, 2017). They have not yet successfully implemented these changes, but their political actions have caused federal and state lawmakers to see the need for them and become advocates for them (Clayton, 2018). BLM is confident in its ability to implement these policy shifts in the foreseeable future.

The goals of both movements are primarily political since they have made political progress by taking initiatives outside the formal process, such as engaging in civil disobedience. Intangible results, the Civil Rights Movement is ahead of the Black Lives Matter movement (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). The length disparity between the two phases is primarily responsible for this. Even though they have only been around for two years, the Black Lives Matter movement has already significantly impacted. At the same time, BLM can affect political change on a scale comparable to the Civil Rights Movement. The goals of Black Lives Matter (BLM) are unmistakably influenced by the unprecedented social change the Civil Rights Movement achieved (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). Additionally, the media was largely unsupportive of the Civil Rights movement. Politicians, regular individuals, and the media voiced their disapproval of various boycotts, sit-ins, and protests (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). They thought the movement was utilizing the wrong strategies and being too disruptive. Those participating in the marches were mostly held responsible for the outbreaks of violence they provoked. The protests were often ignored entirely by the media.

In conclusion, both movements share many similarities but have significant distinctions in tactics, political sway, and media coverage. Both campaigns have used similar tactics, such as marches, protests, and boycotts. As a result of this disparity in technology, the Civil Rights Movement had to rely heavily on face-to-face meetings, the attention of traditional media outlets, and word of mouth. Both revolutions were successful in rallying enough public support to sway lawmakers and effect legislative changes. However, Black Lives Matter sought to change the system, while the Civil Rights Movement sought to overturn legal segregation. Police and other government agents resisted each of these movements.

On the other hand, BLM could document and broadcast their treatment to the world thanks to the internet, while journalists were required to record the events during the Civil Rights Movement (Kirshner-Breen, 2017). The media was instrumental in both movements and was criticized for its coverage. The Civil Rights Movement had little say in how the matter was framed in the national media, but Black Lives Matter had a lot of say and control over the argument.

References

Benoudina, R., & Maameri, F. (2021). Black Lives Matter vs. the civil rights movement. Web.

Chase, G. (2017). The early history of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the implications thereof. Nevada Law Journal, 18, 1091.

Clayton, D. M. (2018). Black Lives Matter and the Civil Rights Movement: A comparative analysis of two social movements in the United States. Journal of Black Studies, 49(5), 448480. doi:10.1177/0021934718764099

Jones-Eversley, S., Adedoyin, A. C., Robinson, M. A., & Moore, S. E. (2017). Protesting Black inequality: A commentary on the civil rights movement and Black lives matter. Journal of Community Practice, 25(3-4), pp. 309324. Web.

Kirshner-Breen, S. (2017). Comparing Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter. Web.

The Black Lives Matter social movement is concerned with important issues of racism and police brutality. BLM also became one of the most popular essay topics for high school and college. Here, you will find a free example of a Black Lives Matter movement essay complete with an introduction and a conclusion.

Black Lives Matter Social Movement: Essay Introduction

The issues of racism and police brutality have existed long before 2012, but it is the killing of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin by the neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman that sparked countrywide protests and a national debate about police violence toward black people. The controversy surrounding the shooting and the subsequent investigation led to the creation of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Although the movement raises concerns beyond African-American communities, some people criticized it for being anti-white and anti-police (Mendoza par. 8).

In this paper, I would like to examine the connection between a persons ethnicity and the likelihood of their support of the Black Lives Matter Movement. The hypothesis is that African-Americans are more likely to support and join the Black Lives Matter Movement because they feel they are treated unreasonably and want change. I will focus on the movements member base, its goals, and reactions to this social development to test the hypothesis. The available data that can be used to support the hypothesis includes human rights activists interviews, the official website of the movement, news articles, books, and polls.

Black Lives Matter Movement: Essay Body

Social movement scholars developed a set of concepts called framing theory to describe the way individuals, groups and societies react to and exchange information about the reality (Johnston and Noakes 5). The frame alignment perspective is based upon the concepts of frame and collective action frame. As Johnston and Noakes point out, frame defines a certain problem, the individuals or groups who are responsible for it and provides a solution to the problem or a call to action (6).

These three tasks are called diagnostic, prognostic and motivational (Johnston and Noakes 6). They are also attributed to collective action frames, which strategically explain the issues with the intention to call people to take action. Some element of injustice is often attributed to collective action frames. The element of injustice is an idea that something is wrong and should be changed. In the case of the Black Lives Matter Movement, this element was the shooting of Trayvon Martin and the broader idea that the state systematically targets African-American individuals and deprives them of their rights and dignity.

This element of injustice was supported by the following series of incidents where unarmed African-Americans were killed by the police. The government provided further evidence to this issue by the acquittal of the shooter George Zimmerman, who received other allegations of violence. Collective frames must be amplified, and in the case of the Black Lives Matter Movement, the amplification was achieved through social media and the use of a specific Twitter hashtag. The social media campaign attracted attention of the media, which further helped its amplification.

The state, the judiciary system and the police officers who go beyond their professional boundaries were pointed out as those responsible for the problem. The solution to this problem was protesting and raising awareness about the injustice and the oppression African-Americans face. The work of the participants goes beyond protesting, however.

Those behind the movement hosted national conference calls to address the acute issues ethnical minorities face (A HerStory of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement par. 3). The supporters of the movement created a list of specific demands that should reduce the number of killings of African-Americans by the police and provide justice for all people regardless of their ethnicity. The supporters of the movement would address the current issues in the following ways:

• by establishing transparent legal investigation of police shootings of African-American people;
• by the demilitarization of local police forces;
• by the creation and application of accountability measures for those police officers who overstep their professional boundaries (11 Major Misconceptions About the Black Lives Matter Movement par. 4).

Despite the positive message of equity and justice the supporters of the Black Lives Matter Movement spread, some prominent figures have criticized the movements goals. African-American US Navy veteran Peggy Hubbard posted videos in which she argued that the issue is not racial, but is about accountability and responsibility (Fredrikson par. 7). However, although the movement does focus on a particular ethical group of Black people, its message actually is When Black people get free, everybody gets free (A HerStory of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement par. 12).

What this means is that when the discrimination against black people is eliminated, it benefits the society as a whole. The creators of the movement support all the oppressed groups, including transgender and gay people, handicapped, and women, and strives for the liberation of all oppressed groups. Supporting all oppressed groups means including African-American people, and it is appropriate to emphasize the role the Black liberation movement had for liberation of all people. Research demonstrated that the supporters of different historical social movements were united by their connection to their communities, and this connection was essential for recruiting new people to the movement and the movements success (Johnston and Noakes 4).

In other words, it is nothing new, the focus on African-Americans helped the movement get traction and succeed. African-Americans were more likely to support this movement because they are the group that experiences the oppression first hand. The studies support this point. In particular, Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,000 likely voters showed that 83 percent of African-American felt that Blacks and other minorities face discrimination (Witt par. 10). On the other hand, half of white voters thought blacks and minorities get equal treatment (Witt par. 10).

There is a difference of opinion on whether the between different ethical groups of whites and blacks, which is why the latter are more likely to support and join the Black Lives Matter Movement. One of the Black Lives Matter activists DeRay Mckesson explained that his personal experience with police violence prompted him to support and join the movement (Breakfast Club interview: Black Lives Matter Activist DeRay Mckesson Talks Social Issues). Similarly, other supporters of this movement are likely to face predisposition on racial grounds and thus, are likely to be a part of ethnic minority. In the case of the Black Lives Matter campaign, which targeted African-American people, it is likely that the majority of its member base is African-American.

Black Lives Matter Essay Conclusion

The Black Lives Matter campaign attracted the media and the peoples attention to the important issues of racism and police brutality. These issues were largely unknown to those who do not belong to a specific discriminated group, which is why it was important to raise awareness and get the message that the lives of black people are just as valuable as the lives of others. This movement united all oppressed minorities, including gay, transgender, and people with disabilities in their goal to promote equality and justice.

Works Cited

11 Major Misconceptions About the Black Lives Matter Movement.

A HerStory of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement.

Breakfast Club interview: Black Lives Matter Activist DeRay Mckesson Talks Social Issues.

Fredrikson, Annika. Who is speaking out against Black Lives Matter? 2016.

Johnston, Hank and John, Noakes. Frames of Protest: Social Movements and the Framing Perspective, Lanham, MA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2005. Print.

Mendoza, Jessica. Can Black Lives Matter and Police Lives Matter coexist? (+video). 2016.

Witt, Louise. Most American voters dont think Black Lives Matter can ensure equal justice for all, poll shows. 2016.

Introduction

The murder of George Floyd has brought attention to the issues of social injustices and broader societal biases that affect African-Americans. The research question that will be examined in this paper is the social justice movement titled Black Lives Matter (BLM), its origins, and the main issues that the activists are fighting to combat. In opposition to BLM, many point out the need to acknowledge that all lives matter, but this opinion disregards the problem of dehumanization and oppression within the society that the members of the African-American communities experience. The root of the debate is the lack of recognition that BLM activists suggest that the lives of African-Americans matter too, similarly to others lives. This paper will provide evidence suggesting that the BLM movement highlights the implicit biases that society demonstrates towards African-Americans and that the movements efforts should not be mitigated with the all lives matter statements.

Background

Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement represents a fight for social justice, as a response to systematic oppression faced by the African-American community in the United States. In the article for American Civil Liberties Unions website, Roberts (2018) explains the origins and purpose of this movement as the push for Black liberation from state-inflicted violence has evolved into one of the most influential social movements of the post-civil rights era (para. 1). It was established by three women  Cullors, Garza, and Tometti, who created the infamous BLM hashtag for social media. The main focus is not on changing specific laws to contribute to peoples civil rights, but rather, to affect society as a whole. The constant dehumanization of African-Americans in different domains of their daily lives is often overlooked, perhaps because technically, the laws guarantee fair treatment to citizens of the United States. However, in practice, society does not treat all individuals justly, which is why BLM emerged.

The BLM is a representation of the collective efforts of many organizations advocating for the rights of African-Americans. The examples of cases that BLM advocates point to include the failure to address 68 deaths that were a result of police brutality in Atlanta, which emerged in 2013 (Roberts, 2018). The members of groups, such as YP100, together with Assatas Daughters, brought attention to the fact that police officers responsible for shooting these people were never brought to justice, which raised questions about social justice. Mainly, many of these cases were attributed to the African-Americans being shot without an apparent danger they posed to the police officers, yet the latter was cleared of charges (Roberts, 2018). Moreover, Atlanta is one of many cities where BLM reported these types of behaviors, and before BLM, the press and the general public dedicated little attention to the issues of African-Americans being killed by the representatives of the law. Hence, the first and foremost issue that BLM activists point out is the consistent violence against African-Americans, leading to many deaths and a lack of prosecution for the police officers committing these actions.

The BLM movement has become the center of attention in recent weeks. Following the death of Geoge Floyd that was filmed and published online, many people witnessed the dehumanization that police officers showed towards the man, which is one of the central issues that BLM aims to combat. As a result, many people chose to protest against the violence and unfair treatment that the African-American community has experienced over the years.

The systemic nature of the treatment and issues that the black community faces daily requires immediate action. Notably, cases of failure to examine the cases of police officers shooting people without an apparent cause described by Roberts (2018) and the death of George Floyd are not the only examples of oppression. The cases of unfair treatment by the police are common across the United States. Moverover, Roberts (2018) states that police corruption, reported by many activists, is another problem, contributing to societal issues. The new governmental policies that target undocumented immigrants and their rights have an indirect influence on the BLM since both relate to human rights and freedoms.

All Lives Matter

The opposite side of the debate claims that all lives matter, meaning that human rights and social justice should be guaranteed to all, not only to African-Americans. The BLM only examines and advocates for issues that this group faces, however, in the broader context, no person should be denied their human rights. Hence, the focus on only one ethnicity or race makes some people question the validity and applicability of BLMs efforts because the activists only mention black Americans. This position disregards the oppression of the African-American community. According to Gallagher et al. (2018), in response to #BlackLivesMatter, other Twitter users have adopted #AllLivesMatter, a counter-protest hashtag whose content argues that equal attention should be given to all lives regardless of race (p. 1). Hence, this counter-movement emerged simultaneously with the popularization of BLM, and the disagreement between the two oppositions has been ongoing since then.

Moreover, since the BLM emerged and was popularised through social media, other counter-movements emphasizing the current issues in American society emerged on Twitter and Facebook as well. For example, #PoliceLivesMatter and #BlueLivesMatter supporters aim to highlight the dangers that police officers face daily (Gallagher et al., 2019, p. 1). The main idea behind these hashtags is that it is counterproductive to focus on only one group of people or ethnicity. Again, the idea of the lives of individuals being valuable regardless of their race and occupation is reflected in these counter-movements.

Historically, the conflict between law enforcement and African-Americans has been ongoing. Gallaghar et al. (2018) point out that this tension between the police and black activists makes it challenging to have a conversation about real issues. This explains why the #PoliceLivesMatter hashtags emerged immediately after the BLM movement began on social media. Notably, BLM members do not advocate for the opposite. They state that police or other law enforcement representatives lives have no value because their job implies risk or for any other reason. As Gallaghar et al. (2018) note, the BLM began as a response to the murder of Trayvon Martin by the neighborhood watchman. The issue was the lack of action from the law enforcement, as the watchman was not arrested, and no charges were presented against him for the murder. This case, similarly to many others, suggests that people who murder African-Americans do not have to worry about justice, as their cases are usually dismissed. BLM aims to bring attention to this problem, and not to disregard the lives of other individuals, as suggested by the opponents of the movement.

Undeniably, no person should be treated unjustly, and no social movement should advocate for such actions. As Atkins (2018) suggests, people who oppose the black lives matter movement with the all lives matter counterclaim review the former as an idea that only black lives are valuable. However, this social movement does not deny the value of life, regardless of race or ethnicity. The main idea is to point out the continuous oppression and implicit biases that still exist in our society and mainly affect the African-American community. Such error in judgment is attributed to the so-called color blindness (Atkins, 2018, p. 1). Therefore, BLM activists do not want to disregard the value of other communities. However, they want to point out the real social problems that affect black people more than any others.

Another issue with the all lives matter claim is that people of other ethnicities may not have the same experiences as African-Americans. While they may recognize that some problems exist within the society, because they are not faced with racism on an everyday basis, they cannot recognize the value of the movement. Roberts (2018) points out that many African-Americans experience racism even today, for example, at Universities. The BLM activities at the University of Missouri highlighted this issue by advocating for the resignation of the Universitys president. The latter failed to address on-campus racism. It is improper to expect that white students would understand this because they are not subjected to racism. However, they can acknowledge the problem and admit that their experiences may differ, contributing to the BLMs message.

Some people perceive BLM as a hate group aiming to promote racism against non-black individuals. The Economist even notes that some on the right have called for the movement to be classified as a hate group (The misplaced arguments against Black Lives Matter, 2017, para. 1). This attitude is further intensified by the lack of recognition of the groups efforts and advocacy from the government. President Trump, for example, balmed the BLM representatives, amongst others, for violence that happened in Charlottesville in 2017 (The misplaced arguments against Black Lives Matter, 2017). Hence, BLM faces strong opposition, both from the politicians and members of other groups. However, while preparing this research, no evidence of hatred or BLM members advocating for violence against members of other groups were located. Hence, the conclusion is that the counterarguments against the BLM movement are based on misunderstanding or lack of willingness to communicate and find out the truth about the movement.

Freedom is a Constant Struggle

As mentioned, BLM is not the only movement arguing against racism and promoting social justice in the United States. In her book, Davis (2016) provides a collection of works that explore the issue of racism and violence, similar to the BLM movements activists. Among other themes, Davis (2016) explores the police brutality that disproportionately affects the back people. Mainly, the majority of people in prisons in the United States are back. Moreover, Daviss (2016) research suggests that 25% of the world prison population is attributed to the United States, a disproportionately high number. This can be an indication of a broader or a systemic issue with the way crimes are reviewed in the state. Additionally, police officers often shoot and kill back people, as opposed to representatives of other races. Hence, Davis (2016) explores the topics BLM activists focus on, the brutality towards African-Americans, which is mainly manifested through law enforcement actions. Therefore, both BLM and Davis explore similar ideas of racism and injustices affecting black people in the modern era.

Since Davis is an activist and many of the books texts are her speeches, an essential element is a call to action that the author presents. The system that allows officers to avoid being charged for the murder of a black person has to change. More importantly, however, the societal perception of such actions and media attention directed at similar cases have to change as well. It is necessary to change the way society perceives and recognizes racism and condemns racist actions, which are the goals of both Davis and BLM.

Conclusion

To summarize, this paper argues that BLMs central idea is to point out the unfair treatment of this ethnicity in the United States. Hence, the movements efforts should not be overshadowed by the idea that all lives matter. The activists of BLM do not argue that only their race matters, instead their argument is that black lives matter as well as the others. Hence, people who think that BLM overlooks the idea of fundamental human rights and justices fail to recognize the purpose of the movement claiming that all lives matter leads to social colorblindness and failure to recognize the systemic issues that oppress this community. Hence, the counterarguments against BLM are based on the improper understanding of the premise under which the movement was formed.

References

Atkins, A. (2018). Black Lives Matter or All Lives Matter? Color-blindness and epistemic injustice. Social Epistemology, 122. Web.

Davis, A. (2016). Freedom is a constant struggle. Haymarket Books.

Gallagher, R., Reagan, A., Danforth, C., & Dodds, P. (2018). Divergent discourse between protests and counter-protests: #BlackLivesMatter and #AllLivesMatter. PLOS ONE, 13(4), e0195644. Web.

The misplaced arguments against Black Lives Matter. (2017).

Roberts, F. L. (2018). How Black Lives Matter changed the way Americans fight for freedom. ACLU.

Introduction

The article Black Lives Matter and the Civil Rights Movement: A Comparative Analysis of Two Social Movements in the United States by Dewey M. Clayton provides an in-depth comparative analysis of two of the most significant social movements in American history (Clayton, 2018). The groups include the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Lives Matter group, influential in steering social balance through rapid approaches and campaigns (Clayton, 2018). Therefore, this article reviews Dewey Claytons work by analyzing the main argument, providing a synopsis, and examining the strengths and weaknesses based on the authors rationale.

Main Argument

The articles central claim is that the Black Lives Matter movement is a natural progenitor of the Civil Rights Movement since both share a commitment to racial equality and justice. Clayton argues the Black Lives Matter movement has expanded on the triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to tackle issues like police brutality, racial profiling, and the criminal justice system (Clayton, 2018). Clayton also claims that the Black Lives Matter movement has effectively utilized the internet and other forms of modern communication to propagate its message and organize its followers (Clayton, 2018). Therefore, the Black Lives Matter movement has been more effective due to its decentralized leadership, online visibility, and widespread support.

Synopsis

The author delves into a comparative analysis of the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Lives Matter movement. He discusses the similarities between the two activist groups, such as their shared goal of challenging racial injustice in the United States (Clayton, 2018). He also discusses the differences between the two movements, such as the centralized governance in the civil rights movement and the decentralized system in the black lives matter movement (Clayton, 2018). He argues that the groups have successfully brought attention to the issue of racial injustice but that Black Lives Matter has been more instrumental in creating a sustained movement due to its decentralized structure and use of social media.

Strengths

The articles strengths are its comprehensive comparison of the two movements through an extensive literature review, clarity of thought and a systematic approach. Clayton (2018) articulates the similarities and differences between the two movements, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each. Additionally, he provides evidence to support his argument that Black Lives Matter has been more successful than the Civil Rights Movement (Clayton, 2018). The reason is that he examines the decentralized structure and use of social media, which has influenced the stability and growth of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Weaknesses

One of the articles weaknesses is that it does not address the context in which these two movements operate. While Clayton does mention the development of technology and social media, he does not provide enough information on the current political and social climate that has enabled the success of the Black Lives Matter movement (McCoy, 2020). Additionally, the article does not detail the specific tactics the civil rights movement employed, which is a crucial factor in understanding the differences between the two groups. The article does not discuss the legal reforms achieved by the civil rights movement or the broader societal changes promoted by the activist group (Mundt et al., 2020). Additionally, the report does not consider the differences between the two movements in terms of race, gender, and class which help distinguish the successes, failures, and overall impact on American society.

Conclusion

Claytons overall argument is that the Black Lives Matter movement is more revolutionary than the civil rights movement due to its focus on systemic racism and its use of new technologies to spread its message. He also argues that the civil rights movement focused on achieving legal reforms. At the same time, Black Lives Matter has a broader goal of challenging systemic racism in all aspects of American society. Through this systematic comparison, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of the movement on ending prejudices.

Reference

Clayton, D. M. (2018). Black lives matter and the civil rights movement: A comparative analysis of two social movements in the United States. Journal of Black Studies, 49(5), 448-480. Web.

McCoy, H. (2020). Black lives matter, and yes, you are racist: The parallelism of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 37(5), 463-475. Web.

Mundt, M., Ross, K., & Burnett, C. M. (2018). Scaling social movements through social media: The case of Black lives matter. Social Media and Society, 4(4), 2056305118807911. Web.

Last year, the American black teenager Michael Brown has been shot dead by a white police officer. Ten days, after Brown was shot, a young black man was shot by a police officer again. It leads in 2018, some demonstrations against the rights of black people, and the freedom of life broke out. And all these issues, causing these all from Black Lives Matter — which is a big problem in America for a very long time. Meaning of BML, BML is an activity that originated in African-American communities and targeted black violence and systemic racism. But for this matter, the world’s attitude towards this issue is actually polarization. Many people think that not only happen in the group of black people and that it is only a geographical problem. But for my claim, people should support Black Lives Matter. I will describe it in three aspects—equality, natural rights, and freedom of thought.

First, every person has their own freedom of thought. In the ancient world, Voltaire was one of the famous people who support that people have their own freedom of thought. “Voltaire argued for the separation of religion and state and also allowed freedom of belief and religious tolerance. Voltaire had a mixed opinion of the Bible and was willing to criticize it. Though not professing a religion, he believed that in God, as a matter of reason.” (Pomeau Henry) This evidence shows that Voltaire thought that everyone should have the freedom to express what they were thinking. And also now in society, black people in America have held on a club and set up a new website called the Black Lives Matter Global Network to separate the information that can help the black people that rights are violated. Their original intention to create this group and their desires are simply to hope that in today’s social environment that is so unfair to black people, there will be a platform for them to freely express their opinions and thoughts. At the same time, I hope that through this platform, the black community can have the freedom of thought they should have, rather than the white-based ideological system. For people, every person has their own thoughts because of the experience that they have before. And also humans are having different values and world views, and they will not have the same advice based on their memories. For black people, people’s prejudice against them comes from previous history and the current society’s understanding of their deformities. But it is not to be obstructed, or even to deprive anyone of their reasons for freedom of thought.

Second, all men are created equal. John Locke—was the person who supported that everyone is equal. “Each person is naturally free and equal under the law of nature, subject only to the will of ‘the infinitely wise Maker.’ Each person, moreover, is required to enforce as well as to obey this law” (Graham A.J. Rogers) For what John Locke said, “Each person is naturally free and equal”. But today’s words and society, there are more unequal treaties and unequal rights for black people, and even invasion of their privacy and lives. When Obama was the president of the United States, he was often highly controversial because of his black identity and his handling of black lives matter. “Obama pointed out and saying that focus on ‘black lives matter is not meaning that government reducing the importance of otherpeople” (Carimah Townes). No matter whether black people or white people, they are all born in the same way, and they should be treated the same way as whites and respected. Everyone has equal rights. And these equal rights are not limited to color and race, nor to adults or children. Equality is the right that everyone has from birth. It can not be deprived by anyone in any way.

Last but not least, natural rights are for everybody. Also, John Locke, explained the meaning of natural rights, “The legislative body is central, but it can create laws that violate the law of nature, because the enforcement of the natural law regarding life, liberty, and property is the rationale of the whole system.” (GrahamA.J. Rogers) And for society, “Natural law in the American legal system is centered on the belief that everything in life has a purpose, and that humans’ main purpose is to strive to live a life that is both ‘good’ and happy. Any behaviors or actions that deliberately obstruct that one simple goal is considered to be unnatural or ‘immoral’” (anonymity) The meaning of natural rights are life, liberty, and property. And now in life, black has been severely damaged to varying degrees on all three sides.

But nowadays, not only do people pay no attention to black lives matter, but even the government has ambiguity about black lives matter. “Many politicians have criticized the black lives matter and believe that they should not focus on the specific injustices of African Americans” (Carimah Townes) And for Obama—one of the black people presidents of the United States pointed out the problem, “ There is a specific problem that is happening in the African-American community that’s not happening in other communities”(Carimah Townes) The reason why this black lives matter is difficult to solve is due to the particularity of the problem – because this problem is not so serious in other races. And It is precise because of that other races do not have the social recognition and social respect as the desire of the black race. Now what they are doing is just to get back the rights they should have at the outset, equality, and the opportunity to judge them for justice. Every year, some white police are still acquitted or have no verdict after killing black people, but the families of the blacks killed are hard to appeal to. This behavior is an unfair treatment of black people’s natural rights.

In conclusion, people should support Black lives matter. Because people who are alive are equal, and they have their own freedom to think about everything. Also, they can pretend their own lives, liberty, and property. No one, black or white, is free to deprive others of their rights, freedoms, and their lives. However, in the current society, both the realistic pressure and the society are unfair and oppressive to black people. And many of the current prejudices against black people come from historical prejudices and misconceptions about black people. And the reason why people should support Black lives matter is for peace and love for the whole world. They created a new culture and make a better world. Although it is to hope that the world will be better, it is to squeeze the rights and lives of others to achieve their own ideals. This is a very selfish situation. So, supporting Black Lives Matter not only maintains the rights and lives of black people but also creates a better world. word cited

1. “Natural Law – Definition, Meaning, Examples, and Theory.” Legal Dictionary, Legal Dictionary, 29 Oct. 2018, legaldictionary.net/natural-law/.
2. Pomeau, René Henry. “Voltaire.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 17 Nov. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Voltaire.
3. Friedersdorf, Conor. “How to Distinguish Between Antifa, White Supremacists, and Black Lives Matter.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 31 Aug. 2017, www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/drawing-distinctions-antifa-the-alt-right-and-black-lives-matter/538320/.
4. Rogers, Graham A.J. “John Locke.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 5 Dec. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/John-Locke.