How America Reached the Point in Needing to Declare That “Black Lives Matter” Essay Example

the controversial All Lives Matter Movement. This movement argues that the Black Lives Matter Movement is racist because it supposedly segregates and divides people's worth based on race. As a result, this has caused confusion among many Americans.

In a society that claims to have overcome racial discrimination, is the Black Lives Matter Movement still necessary? How is this movement perceived in America - as a fight against racial discrimination towards African Americans, an effort to promote acceptance and progress towards an ideal society, or as some argue, an excuse for dividing communities? Does social media, which serves as the catalyst for this movement, also generate negativity alongside awareness? Some argue that the movement promotes "colorblindness," creating a society where differences are disregarded. Ultimately, I am interested in exploring whether this movement is achieving more than its original goal of eliminating violence and systemic racism against Black individuals. Despite my own bias resulting from personal emotions evoked by years of violence, I struggled to form just one question. Nevertheless, it is precisely these emotions that drive me to seek a deeper understanding of why such social movements persist.

When examining the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement, it seems that history is repeating. However, I struggle to understand the importance of a Black Lives Matter Movement.

The Source of My Drive

My fascination with this issue extends beyond my personal connections with African men.

During our childhood, many of our classmates expressed their enthusiasm about becoming a police officer, which was considered a respected and fortunate career choice. However, I couldn't comprehend why someone would willingly opt for a profession that inflicts significant harm. How could anyone imagine

donning a uniform that has caused immense fear and pain to others? In the summer of 2010, while peacefully spending time in their own home, a family experienced an abrupt intrusion by the police who forcibly removed a 19-year-old boy from his yard and violently slammed him against the protective gate. This horrifying incident left the boy's niece and nephew gazing at him with tears streaming down their faces as they struggled to grasp the recent occurrence.

How is this possible? What did he do? Nothing, the only thing that boy was guilty of was matching the description of a suspected man who had recently robbed the store near our home. That boy was my uncle, and I was that niece. Two years later, a 17-year-old boy named Trayvon Martin was reported as being killed by a Caucasian man, because he felt "threatened" ... hearing this shattered me, all I could think about was the fact that he was young, he was innocent, he was an average young lad. He could have been my neighbor, my cousin, my brother. This was the norm, this was our experience as minorities in America and I had finally lost all the trust I had in the system thatwas supposed to keep us safe.

As I grew older, my social circle expanded to include a more diverse group of friends, including Black individuals from different parts of the country. Our bond was strengthened by our shared fear of the criminal justice system.

Exploring the Black Lives Matter Movement

The selection of a controversial subject in America added an extra level of intrigue to my research. While seeking a deeper understanding of this topic,

I came across several articles presenting conflicting viewpoints on the Black Lives Matter Movement. Using the resources provided by the library's databases, I began searching for three significant articles related to my subject. However, it turned out that this approach was a mistake on my part.

After a week of research, I discovered that my focus on one aspect of The Black Lives Matter movement was too narrow, limiting my understanding and examination of the topic. Therefore, I decided to shift my research towards examining how this movement has influenced both the African community and our nation as a whole. My objective was to shed light on the division created by the movement's controversial impact in various areas including law policies, sports, music education, and social media. However, I also aimed to present an argument disputing the notion that the Black Lives Matter Movement is solely accountable for this division.

Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize the disunity within our country. We are currently divided and fragmented, not solely because of the movement, but rather because we have failed to comprehend its objective. Additionally, I opted to explore alternative search engines such as Google in order to seek information regarding the All Lives Matter Movement.

The article on the All Lives Matter Movement offered valuable insights for my research. It provided different perspectives on the argument that the Black Lives Matter Movement is no longer necessary due to overcoming xenophobia. Some argue that the Black Lives Matter Movement demonstrates racism by excluding other groups and contradicting the principle of equality.

What I learned from this is that approaching the topic with an open mind and setting aside personal biases

allowed me to objectively seek answers. This approach helped me become less judgmental towards those who find the Black Lives Matter Movement offensive or dismiss it as insignificant. Supporters of "All Lives Matter" believe that this movement undermines the value of life for all individuals, including African Americans, while sending a conflicting message.

Critics argue that the Black Lives Matter Movement is simply a way for certain individuals to shift blame onto others for their social problems. They also claim that it is a pointless movement because of the prevalent occurrence of "blacks killing each other daily." However, philosopher and educator Marino Gordon acknowledges that many Americans believe that the Black Lives Matter movement should also address black-on-black crime. Nevertheless, using the phrase "all lives matter" is a means to ignore the harsh realities experienced in events like Katrina, Ferguson, Waller County Texas, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Charleston. This statement suggests that those who assert that the Black Lives Matter Movement is solely a method for African Americans to avoid confronting violence within their own communities are actually using "black on black crime" as an excuse to avoid feeling guilty about causing pain in minority communities. The mention of black on black crime also ties into the concept of "reverse racism," where some argue that media intentionally seeks to divide society into two groups: those being oppressed and those being oppressors.

The text explores the representation of oppressed people of color and oppressor white individuals. This is rooted in the belief that violence occurs within black communities, while similar acts perpetrated against black individuals by white individuals are widely recognized and punished. However, there are those who oppose

the Black Lives Matter Movement, asserting that it perpetuates the idea of white supremacy and weakens empowerment within the black community. This movement has caused frustration among privileged Americans who feel unfairly singled out for the actions of a minority within their racial group, particularly white police officers. They contend that it is unjust to hold all white individuals accountable for the deeds of a few.

There is an ongoing debate about whether the perception of the "oppressor" implies that Blacks are still experiencing oppression due to their own actions. Some argue that Blacks feel guilty and believe that white individuals should be responsible for solving every problem. Advocates of the Black Lives Matter Movement counter this by asserting that while all lives matter, it is crucial to recognize the historical devaluation of black and brown lives. The movement aims to highlight the importance of black lives as well. Comparisons have been made between the Black Lives Matter Movement and the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, viewing it as a social justice movement. However, it is important to note that the Black Panthers were a political organization founded in Oakland, California in 1966.

The Black Panthers, who were part of the Black Power Movement, aimed to bring radical change to the system in order to meet the needs of African American society. They collaborated with other Black power organizations and engaged in various initiatives such as establishing food banks, newspapers, offices, and schools. Their actions brought about change and led them to be perceived as a threat to society.

Elaine Brown, a former leader of the Black Panthers, shares her perspective on the Black Lives Matter Movement

in a video clip titled "Ex-Black Panthers leader says, 'Black lives matter' is NOT a movement". Brown recognizes it as a conscious and wonderful phenomenon but does not consider it a real movement due to lacking clear goals, agendas, strategies, and members. However, she acknowledges the strong anger and desire for action among many young people and suggests that change is imminent with the next generation.

According to Brown, it is important to note that without organization, the youth's efforts will not lead to real change. Merely protesting is insufficient to achieve revolutionary reform because one cannot expect oppressors to grant them justice through continued protestation - they must take justice for themselves. In the words of Elaine Brown, "I'm not sure what your point is in raising all the names of these people who are dead if you don't have a real plan for what to do" (Sean 32). This implies that the Black Lives Matter Movement lacks action and must establish an organized plan to create and attain the justice they seek. Until such a plan is in place, things will remain stagnant and protests will merely act as reminders of the current situation. The impact of this movement extends beyond the Black community as it has successfully heightened awareness.

Exposing the brutal injustices that have occurred in America, individuals now live in fear. Police officials, instead of ensuring our safety, are now seen as the perpetrators burying us. With the increasing frequency of new murder cases, the cops have transformed into badged thugs, causing the very "thugs" they kill to fear the Ku Klux Klan dressed in their dark blue suits. Not only are

innocent lives being taken, but as a society, we are also failing to achieve justice.

#JusticeFor_____, another hashtag, different name but same story. When will it end? How can it end when society fears interfering between a cop and their crime scene? We can only record them, but what about citizen's arrest? Please, as a minority in the United States, one is lucky to be arrested instead of becoming the next week's news headline, until another person falls under the same headline. Aside from other debates, Black Lives Matter has sparked discussion about the need for reform, particularly regarding gun policies. Guns are in the wrong hands when given to someone trained to kill instead of disarm. Guns cannot be trusted around people who don't listen to "I can't breathe" or "I don't have a gun, stop shooting"... but that's another argument won by someone who values their gun more than a human life.

Reflections

The overall experience of writing this paper was stressful due to the broad nature of the topic. There were multiple aspects I wanted to discuss, such as murders, the influence of social media, and politics, but focusing on all of them would have been challenging. Despite these difficulties, I enjoyed gaining different perspectives from former Panthers and white individuals. It was a valuable experience to approach the topic without bias. I also had to understand viewpoints I may not have initially supported, such as those related to All Lives Matter and the dismissal of systemic issues by using Black on Black crimes as an excuse. It is important to acknowledge the bleeding state of our nation.

Annotated Bibliography

• Brown, Stacy M. “Police Brutality Top 2014 Legal Cases. (Cover Story).” Washington Informer, vol. 50, no. 12, Jan. 2015, pp. 1–9.

EBSCOhost,
This article discusses the high number of police-related killings in 2014, with many victims being Black and Brown individuals. It points out that some of these cases were not reported, while others received extensive media coverage for weeks, suggesting that there may be additional unreported murders.

• Elder, Sean. “Right Then! Right Now! Right On!” Newsweek Global, vol. 167, no. 14, Oct. 2016, p. 32.

This passage draws a comparison between the Black Panther Party and the Black Lives Matter Movement. It features a YouTube video where former Black Panther leader Elaine Brown argues that the Black Lives Matter Movement lacks effectiveness and purposeful action.

• Joseph, Peniel E. “WHY BLACK LIVES MATTER STILL MATTERS. (Cover Story).” New Republic, vol. 248, no. 5, May 2017, p.

16.
This piece discusses the significance of the Black Lives Matter Movement, drawing rational comparisons to the Black Panthers. Many African Americans continue to be victims of everyday cruelty. According to director Mak Thaproduce, in a video by Walt liquor on YouTube dated 2 Jan. 2017, titled "Ex-Black Panthers leader says 'Black lives matter' is NOT a movement," former Black Panther leader Elaine Brown speaks about how the Black Panther party differed from the Black Lives Matter Movement. Brown, drawing from her own experiences in fighting for social justice reform, highlights the lack of organization and the differences between the two movements.

Being a member of a political organization that contributed to the progress of the Black community, Brown suggests that the current generation

of activists are more focused on expressing grievances and emotions rather than actively fighting for change. Brown argues that little will be accomplished if the movement continues in its current form.

• Marino, Gordon. “‘All Lives Matter’ Vs. Black Lives Matter.” Commonweal, vol. 142, no. 15, Sept. 2015, p. 6.

EBSCOhost, Mariano Gordon's academic journal "‘All Lives Matter’ Vs. Black Lives Matter" focuses on how the "All Lives Matter" movement protests against the "Black Lives Matter Movement". Gordon explores the experiences and challenges faced by Black and Brown individuals in America, and highlights the contrasting perspectives of white male Republican candidates Ben Carson and Rand Paul towards the Black Lives Matter Movement. Interestingly, both candidates argue that while they acknowledge the importance of Black Lives, they also believe it is essential to address intra-community violence, emphasizing that murder should be condemned regardless of race.