BLM Movement

  The movement began in July 2013, with the hashtag #Blacklivesmatter on social media, following the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the shooting death of African-American teenager Trayvon Martin 17 months earlier, in February 2012. The movement became nationally known for demonstrations in the streets of Ferguson, New York and Missouri, a city near St. Louis following the 2014 deaths of two African Americans, Michael Brown and Eric Garner.    Since the Ferguson protests, participants in the movement have protested the deaths of many more African Americans caused by police or while in unjust police custody. The movement returned to national headlines and gained more international attention during the global protests in 2020 following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Some 26 million people participated in the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in the United States, making it one of the largest movements in U.S. history.  

  All Lives Matter is a slogan that has come to be associated with criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement, and has been considered a view of "racial dismissal, ignoring, and denial”. That's because it discounts and diminishes the focus on the violence and discrimination Black individuals face every day in this country. "All Lives Matter" sounds like a we're-all-in-this-together statement. Some may be using the phrase to suggest that all races should join hands and stand together against racism, which is a sentiment that comes from a good place. But the problem is, the phrase actually takes the focus away from those who need it. Saying "All Lives Matter" redirects the attention from Black lives, who are the ones in danger. It's a natural reaction to respond with, "But what about all lives?" or "Isn't my safety important, too?" But the truth is, Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by police violence and system...

  States across the US have approved or pledged to adopt measures, to confront the permeating racism within police departments decisively. For example, statues of the confederate soldiers have been removed in states like Kentucky, Philadelphia, and Alabama. These demonstrations are reminiscent of those during the Civil Rights era due to their anti-racist agenda. However, the crucial roles played by social media and the decentralised form of leadership are two factors that set apart these movements.

  To finish our blog, we thought it would be ideal to show you ways in which you can help. The first step to combating racism in our society is listening, no matter who you are. It hurts to hear that you might hold prejudice, especially if you consider yourself an open-minded person. But instead of getting defensive or jumping in to explain your own perspective immediately, listen to other points of view. Push back on prejudice in your own social circles, even if it requires awkward conversations. And educate yourself on your own bias, even if you don’t think you hold any. And support racial justice organizations monetarily if you can, and share their messages on social media so others can get the information, too. Dear readers, we hope our blog has been informative and created at least a little awareness! If you have questions or want to say something, please comment! See you soon!