#Black Lives Matter

4/15/2015

Watch the videos below that highlight various aspects of the Black Lives Matter movement. Describe in 200 words your interpretation of what the organizers and activists have said about the movement and what their goals are.

Include a summary of the videos that highlight:
1) Your interpretation of the meaning of black lives matter and why the movement is necessary. 2) Describe at least three of the goals explained by the various leaders of the movement. 3) Provide your own opinion on the topic.

Blog Requirements
Post one original post each week along with a response to one student. Your original post should be at least 200 words, your response should be no less than 50 words.

Post your original post by midnight (11:59 p.m.) on Wednesday of each week and respond by midnight on Friday of each week (11:59 p.m.).

63 Comments

LENA COLETTO

4/15/2015 03:35:48 pm

Black Lives matter is about the value of life. Black lives matter is about a broad range of issues, a response to anti-black racism in America, having the right to live in safety, not having to face police brutality, to be able to earn livable wages. Whats being highlighted at the moment is all of the police brutality against African Americans, police act as though they are above the law. Police need to be held accountable for their actions. All lives matter, "black lives are devalued and targeted for destruction and demise". The justice system is failing, our justice system (america) values certain people over other people, and African Americans aren't being valued, or given the equal opportunities. Black lives matter is about drawing attention to these injustices and being heard to promote change. A lot of what needs to be addressed first is the relationship with police, there needs to be more of a focus on solving problems instead of criminalizing people instinctively. Most importantly its about ending racism, prejudice and stereotypes so that everyone can be offered a life they deserve, and given the tools to succeed and pursue happiness.

stephanie linford

4/16/2015 05:34:12 pm

I agree with you on everything you said no lie because its trues Black Lives Matters does repersent al types of different issues. The Rasicm in AMericia is here everyday throughthe system we go through. The Police are never held accountable for what they do.How many times are they gonna get paid leave? And I like what you said about the Police building relationships with the people to really make things work.Nobody needs to die but Black Lives Matters real fight for the life we all deserve in our communities.

Fode Cheick Toure

4/21/2015 06:15:07 pm

I agree with you Stephanie. Police officers are never held accountable for their crime. They always get away with murder. The Black Lives Matter should continue to fight against racism, injustice and equality in America. I think that everyone deserves to live and to have a better future.

jorge ferrer

4/17/2015 12:48:08 pm

yes i really like the way you made it sound. black lifes matter is a strong movement i mean just that phrase says it all its a very powerful phrase. so many officers (not all) are corrupted and with the authority they get been officers they think they can go on and do what ever they want. they need to stop taking lifes like it doesnt matter and start acting as officers who needs to keep us safe!

Harin Yoon

4/21/2015 04:37:37 pm

I wholeheartedly agree with you on your personal opinions about this matter. It is really sad to see our justice system failing and the time that we are taking in order to get rid of this racism. I always wonder if we will ever be able to look at each other beyond the color of our skin. But I think if we just continuing to support movements and try our hardest to change ourselves first, we will be able to create a society with no racism and stereotypes in the future.

Huimin Huang

4/22/2015 03:06:08 pm

I think the police officers need to be retrain on how to protect us and not to harm the residents. we need some real police officers and not killers. we should not live in a dangerous community like now. we should not worry to get shoot some day for no reason. and those who had killed someone should get their sentence and not because of who they are then they can get away with it. black people need equality and everyone does. All skin color are different and the same. everyone should get treated equally.

Rayvonne Evans

4/30/2015 07:35:27 pm

You hit the nail on the head. Black lives matter isn't just about police brutality. It represents how our country is failing as a whole. It represents so many different issues and I love that. I love how were addressing the many things that is wrong with our system. I hope there will be a push to dismantle the system completely and rebuild it in the African Diaspora and under the principals of MA'AT.

Hang Nguyen

5/1/2015 09:46:05 am

I agreed with you. The movement is a must to improve people's live condition. Racism is still everywhere. The white people give themselves a right to treat people of color skin in the inappropriate way. The police is just a way that we see that fact more clearly, but in fact, racism, black racism in particular is still shown in every aspect of our lives.
They just want to show that black people, color people, their lives just as valuable as anybody else's lives. That is the right you got from the moment you were born to this world.

stephanie linford

4/16/2015 05:27:25 pm

In the first video I seen was a news clip that featured the BLACK LIVES MATTER Protest in Oakland, Stockton, New York, and a lot more places; representing that the war on black lives needs to end! It focused on Stockton California were a mother was present but her son was not because he lost his life to the bullet of a police officer. The group of protesters were big enough to use their voice and presence to pause movement on one of the busiest streets in Stockon. The protestors were all ages adults to children that skipped school to be present which the interviewer had to make known which I didn’t like because I felt like she was belittling the little girl. Other than that I really felt the protestors because the war is real.
The interview with Alicia Garza cofounder of Black Lives Matter; was deep I really felt like I knew this lady in her video and am touched by the way she speaks very down to earth, sharp, and smart. The interviewer asked her questions and she brought many main points up. The interview asked her if all lives matter and she said of course but in our community black lives matter. They’re the lives that are getting set-up by powerful forces to hold them back. She brought up the jail systems and how they can be cut in half. Families can be whole again and bring back to the community. She didn’t say all the people locked up but review the cases of some. People locked up forever all the time for nothing and nobody never shines light on it. Alicia spoke about the unequal wages, racism, demands to the government about police polices, police departments have tanks, and how racism is always swept under the rug. Still it needs to be talked about it happened, it’s real, and it’s still ALIVE.
In the film from Black Lives Matter: Oakland Speaks on Ferguson was very sad to me that everything those people said were true. Both Black and White had a lost loved one to the Police Departments. It is a crime on Black Lives and everyone that lives in the community because the government neglects us. I live in Oakland California and I must admit honestly that we are treated like the scary and guys that don’t deserve nothing and “they” understand why “they” don’t want to help. Its crazy I hate when I hear someone talk about Oakland it gets me mad Oakland is Beautiful. The interviewer kept asking about the trial of the innocent boy whose killer was let off the hook with paid leave. The boy had no gun or any evidence of anything, But the Police Officer still shot him. The same things are happening in my community repeatedly and I am glad that finally its getting revealed in the open.
Black Live Matters because it stands for something that been going on for hundreds of years most hatred and evil intentions were put on the Blacks in my own beliefs. Taking someone from their homeland and then “seasoning” them to your own beliefs to gain ultimate power to oppress them and turn them into to slaves that some didn’t fight back because oppression became normal. Yet, America was built on Power & Greed. They tried to take over the Indians and ultimately killed off a whole bunch of Indians the number we will never know. Now, the government pays off a certain check to those who are a certain percentage Indian that’s bullshit. Paying nothing compared to the land you stole, beauty, and families. And let’s be honest people from Oakland, Richmond, Ferguson is set up to fail with a big united powerful force generated by lots of money. That why Black Lives Matter to stop this ongoing corrupting cycle that’s made for us to fall behind instead of continue. With Black Lives that Matter you can see the pure humbleness in these Mothers eyes how they speak of their sons getting murder with common suspects a fellow Police Officer. That made Black Lives that is Black Lives. That Real Reality. And We demand better treatment, equality, oppturinites, jobs, and degrees, The ultimate “American Dream” but a real African Americans dream. A dream everyone needs to have no matter what race, class, and community your from. The life you this should have the same chances and way of life.

Maurice Ainsworth

4/21/2015 08:20:43 am

Steph, you covered it all. I wish I wasn't so jaded. I wish I could be more in touch with the positive, but I can't. Until people, who call themselves black, realize that their title is empty, and void, nothing will happen, The establishment will maintain their stance on how the so called black people are dealt with. History proves this to me.

Stephanie Linford

4/30/2015 08:44:22 pm

I know it seems hopeless but we need to change history!!!!

jorge ferrer

4/17/2015 12:44:21 pm

Looking at the videos and hearing people talk about the movement #Black Lives Matter is a very strong little phrase. I feel like the movement represents the killings of white officers towards African Americans. Not all officers are corrupted but most of them are and when people hear that another African American life has been taking away by a white officer at least I think to myself, why are this officers taking African American life’s so easily like I know they are officers but why kill them when the situation can be handle differently. I feel like this movement represents justice not been served the right way. When a person kills a person that certain person gets sent to jail for years or even for the rest of his/hers life but when an officer takes a life away fucking police walk away with no sentence served. People from different states are finally coming together to stand up for the right things that should be happening. Officers should be taking care of us not fucking us over must because they have the authority to do certain things that doesn’t mean they can do whatever they want without having any consequences. It’s very important that people are getting together to try and put a stop to this, when people get together their voice is louder than one and as a group standing up as one can help change this ugly world.

Michael Le

4/20/2015 07:53:15 am

I agree that police officers should handle their stops differently. If they were trained to assess situations better then they wouldn't always resort to pulling their weapon out.

Erkhes Bat-erdene

4/20/2015 04:26:19 pm

Why do you say that most police officers are corrupt? Because from my shoes, the majority of officers are nice and good people, but the minority end up making up the face of the entire force. I think it's ludicrous to be generalizing that. These events should be judged on a trial-by-trial basis and not just generalized, I believe.

liang zhang

4/24/2015 02:07:45 pm

police officers are not above the law, they are just have the right to protect themselves. If they see the suspect may harm their life, they have the right to use deadly force, which is use the gun. But I do agree with you, some time they should handle the situation differently. they dont have to use deadly forces, but they did. That is the part they really need get trainning on. when should they use deadly force, when should not use deadly force. One thing I can understand is I dont wanna get killed. so is the police officer. some times they just over protect themselves. THis is just my opinion..

Michael Le

4/20/2015 07:48:07 am

Black Lives Matter is a movement that fights for the equality of black people. It was created by Alicia Garza and a couple other cofounders after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. Its main focuses and goals are to get the federal government to monitor police officers more closely, re-budget the amount of money that police departments get, reduce the mass incarceration of black people, and get the public to notice the inequality that black people face. I believe that Black Lives Matter is a huge step into the right direction because, as demonstrated in the Stockton protest clip, it shows civil unrest among the people. It is important to keep this movement alive because most people won't step up against inequality without a group of people behind supporting them. I agree with the Black Lives Matter's goals because I believe that police officers are being given too much power and are part of the reason why racism still exists.

Bolortsetseg Jargalsaikhan

4/21/2015 06:30:39 am

I agree that the police are given too much power because I have seen a video recently about a guy honked at a police car because it wasn't following the road law, and the police insulting the driver so much and basically threatened him by asking where he is from because the driver was from Eastern country. The police should be monitored just like civilians because they should be the example/ model to others. If they can't follow the laws, how can they expect others to follow it properly. Just because polices are enforcers of the law doesn't mean they get to break it.

Yvette Castillo

4/21/2015 09:00:54 am

I agree with you Michael Le when you said that Black Lives Matter movement is a huge step into the right direction because I also believe that this movement will help people to become aware of the racism and Mistreatment against African Americans & to motivate people and students that want to make a change in the world for the better to be involve in this movement and have hope that there will be change. I am proud of this movement because racism has been going on for years ever since the word slavery came out. And slavery treatment is no different than people that are targeted as criminals - that get treated in a injustice way by the police no matter what color u are black white yellow green

Erkhes Bat-erdene

4/20/2015 04:15:22 pm

The Black Lives Matter movement is about the undervaluing of lives, especially of African descent, and the issue with police brutality that has become more rampant throughout the United States. Black Lives Matter is about ending the invisible racial segregation that black people face--from the safety of their lives, the conditions by which they are treated in society, etc--and make it so that there is no disparaging difference between white people and black people. The goals that co-founder Alicia Garza are to live in full dignity and respect, make wages that support our families, and stop and stem the tide of police brutality.

With the recent events of police brutality and the concurrent deaths of the victims, this newfound movement is gaining a lot of traction. Though I know little about the movement in its entirety, I think some of their points and actions are unjustified and incredibly skewed. I abhor the point about the majority of police officers being corrupt and being called ‘pigs’. A small minority of police officers are corrupt—causing mayhem and soiling the reputation of the career. But the bad sticks out more than the good, and the small minority have also become the face of the majority, and that is loathsome. From my standpoint, being a first generation immigrant who has seen a lot of racism, it is absolutely inane and fallacious to be pinning the actions of the very small to everyone. I’m going to make another fallacious argument of generalization here: all African-Americans are ghetto gangsters who are criminals. Now obviously that’s a lie, but certainly the point could be very well received by the uneducated because of the way media depicts the minority. In fact, the reason for the mistreatment and racism against black people (especially with Asian immigrants), is because they hear and read about the murders and narcotics in the likes of West Oakland and Detroit and believe it to be true. Making this hasty generalization of all police officers being corrupt is the same as generalizing all black people to be dangerous criminals. I think this movement is necessary and great though, because no one, especially a community as a whole, should be afraid of the very organizations that are meant to protect us. The recent increase in police brutality does need to be quelled, and so does the racism that permeates our society.

Ri'Chara Glenn

4/21/2015 05:46:34 am

The Black Lives Matters movement's purpose is to fight against all odds and end the destruction of black civilization. It means exactly how the title is presented, Black lives are important and it matters. It goes to say that they are humans and should be treated as equals. This movement is necessary because many black people are still getting killed by polices and justice aren't being serve to the black families. The goals are to change the justice system, earn respect and equality, and end racism. These goals are hard to achieve so I understand the frustrations the African Americans have towards racial profiling. Our justice system is to some extent the root of evil and has always been over many years. I believe black people are more focused on attacking the issue than attacking the person but it always seem to others that its the other way around because blacks are known to be violent people. Anybody regardless of skin color is capable of resorting to violence, even a person in a wheelchair could harm a police if need be. There's no needs to set limitations towards a group of people just because a police is more fearful towards a particular race group. I can walk pass a group of 5 white senior citizens who have only one eye functioning , and still I'd feel frighten that there's a possibility that they might shoot me or do harmful things to me. People are people, and polices shouldn't undermine anyone's capability based on their own fear. If the polices are scared then that becomes a personal problem because their assumptions are triggered by fear and not common sense or knowledge of situations.

Nafi Watson

4/22/2015 09:55:05 am

I agree with you , yes Black lives are important and they matter. I like how you put your personal experience in your response. I feel that it is scary for blacks to walk the streets because the police officers have this high standards that they can do whatever they what to do.

Bolortsetseg Jargalsaikhan

4/21/2015 06:22:04 am

The Black Lives Matter movement is about calling for an action/response from people about injustice that's been going on around the country, including racism toward mostly African-Americans, police brutality, and incarceration. The movement addresses the issues/ goals like police brutality, anti-black social system, and incarceration. The people have seen so much of police walking away without punishment for their wrongdoings toward people, African-Americans being treated differently because of their race, too many people are being locked up behind a bar. The movement is important because it tells others that we care and it will make everyone being responsible their actions, and help those who need guidance and create equal society for everyone.
My opinion on this topic would be that it is necessary to have a movement that is going to address issues we don't usually address daily, but when it's just about only one group usually addressed makes it more sensitive topic. Whenever I hear the phrase 'Black Lives Matter', I feel like it's just about values of African-Americans, not others. Like the 3rd video mentioned, the #All Lives Matter would be more appropriate for the cause because it would value everyone, not just one group. I know that the discrimination toward African-Americans might be more visible than others, yet others are being affected by social discrimination as well. If I hear white guy cursing at African-American, I know that someone's going to say 'he/she is racist', but if it's other way around, I don't think I would hear so. It makes me question about value of others. I hear black cops killing whites, but I don't hear or see people marching for them. I think the #Black Lives Matter makes this topic one sided and makes African-Americans more sensitive to everything and take everything offensive to them. But I am not saying that the movement is bad, but I believe it’s just focused on one group of people in society. I support the actions toward too many people are being incarcerated, and police acting as if they are better than others. But I just think that it should be about every group in society.

Angela Tam

4/22/2015 05:01:20 pm

The Anti Black social system is a good point because we don't realize as a society how we are used to the treatment towards blacks. We see someone like George Zimmerman get acquitted for killing a teenage boy because of whatever he thought and then it gets pinned on Trevor for possibly doing "weed" or whatever else the media tried to paint the kid as. It's almost like saying, if you smoke weed you deserve to die. No wait, if you are black and smoke weed, you deserve to die. The fact that the media was even trying to justify the situation was sickening. Unfortunately, George Zimmerman gets to walk around as a living example of what happens to you when you kill a young black boy, you get to walk a free man. While the system pins the smallest of crimes on blacks and has them doing ridiculous amounts of time.

Maurice Ainsworth

4/21/2015 08:04:33 am

Black lives matter is a very noble concept. It suggests that Black people should be considered as everyone else; that Black people are deserving of the same constitutional rights as our cultural counterparts. I believe it is designed to establish a collective amongst Black people; to get us all on the same page, and to inspire us to see that we all can do together, what we can't do alone. If we stand together, and nicely ask the police to set aside their racist ways, they will listen.

Alicia Garza is one of the co-founders. She explained some of the goals that stood out for me. 1,We will demand that the federal government discontinue its supply of military weaponry and equipment to local law enforcement. 2, We will call on the office of US attorney general Eric Holder to release the names of all officers involved in killing black people within the last five years, both while on patrol and in custody, so they can be brought to justice. 3, And we will advocate for a decrease in law-enforcement spending at the local, state and federal levels and a reinvestment of that budgeted money into the black communities most devastated by poverty in order to create jobs, housing and schools. i got these goals from http://blacklivesmatter.com/demands/. I agree with what BLM is trying to accomplish. I just don't see their method as one that will work.

We call ourselves black, because the European that enslaved us, called us black. Black lives will never matter to the establishment. After all, they enslaved us. As a people, the descendant of the slave has experienced spiritual saturation. We have not established the reason to unite. As of late, when we do unite, it's because of police violence toward Black men. I know I'm way out there, but this is how I think. I love the group of people I come from. I realize that there will always be animosity between them and us. I just wish we would seek more to find out who we are, and not ways to make the oppressor apologize for being who he has proven himself to be. And yes, I will support the mission of BLM.

Yvette Castillo

4/21/2015 08:48:28 am

After watching these videos, the first one was about interviewing people in Oakland about the movement of Black Lives Matter and how is police brutality and racism affects their lives. A lot of people showed angerness of the injustice cruelty that has been going on with the police. There was also a protest going on in Stockon about the same thing and this protest was made for everyone to become aware of what is going on with the police and the cruelty treatment of African Americans and how there is a lot of police brutality and racial profiling going around. The last video that I seen talked about Alicia Garza a UCSD grad and Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter. She talked about her reason of this foundation and why it is so important. Alicia lived in Oakland for 20 years and she discovered Black Lives Matter on 2013 right after Treyvon Martin's death. Her foundation stands for many reasons: a call in response to anti-black racism, a call in action for respect , dignity and able to live and make wages that support families. to be able to have full housing and employment and to stop police brutality. All of the above has been protested and fightedvfor before, & still people are here are fighting for Black lives Until there is a CHANGE. also an elimination of federal funding for police to not have tanks, bazukas, flash grenades in local communities- I think this is very good to eliminate in a community if there is a lot of police brutality going on because this gives them a lot more power & is a lot easier for cops to commit a crime(like killing) Alicia has announced that black lives are being devalued and targeted for destruction like if there was a war between black people. she also pointed out that police function in a discriminatory way and I totally agree & I can relate this to my English class discussion that we have about a book called "The New Jim Crow" and it is very similar to what is happening today and to say that There is change because slavery is no longer existed is absolutely incorrect. Is like they reinnovated slavery by just changing the word to criminals. Alicia Garza wants to help to cut mass incarceration-instead realine folks with their families and have employment and better education opportunity for African Americans that are going through this.

Emerson Lovato

4/23/2015 06:26:49 pm

I totally agree with you, police brutality has terrorized our community for too long now we must put an end to it. The Black Lives Matter Movement is the key to stop police officers from killing innocent people. However, people have to fight together because the movement can be stopped if people don't join the movement. Police brutality and racism in our communities should be the main concern of people in those communities because they are directly affected by it so they should motivate young people to help out. I think the Black Lives Matter Movement should inspire other minority groups to join the fight against inequality and racism because we are not doing anything about it.

Tory Burleson

5/7/2015 05:56:04 am

I agree with you. By putting people in prison they have found a way to do what they have always done and call it legal once again. I also read the "The New Jim Crow" it helped me put a lot in perspective. Racism seems to not be as apparent but it is still there. If you look at the numbers of black men incarcerated how can that be anything but racist?

Harin Yoon

4/21/2015 04:31:01 pm

Black lives matter means that all humans; lives matter. The phrase emphasize African Americans since a lot of cases concerning African Americans have been surging. I think it is necessary for this movement to continue because it will spread the awareness across the nation and even internationally. This kind of movement will be able to influence socially and federally to stop from injustice happening. The justice system currently is failing to build trust with people of this country no matter the colors of their skins. Many people agree that the justice system is failing and need to be restructured. Another goal that this movement is affecting is police watch. The movement influenced many people to report police watch to make sure no injustice is being done to human beings. This movement will also help stopping the police taking over law system. The leaders also talk about ending the racism all together in the society. In order to do this, we have to break down social barriers and stereotypes that stop us from thinking that we are all created equal. I think this is a great movement for society take parts in because it has to do with all of us regardless of colors of our skins and cultures. Thought the title is black lives matter, I think this movement is helping us to think about how to reshape our future together by ending the racism and stereotypes in our society.

Fode Cheick Toure

4/21/2015 04:54:55 pm

The Black Lives Matter movement is about protecting the very existence of the black people in America. Who have been harassed, discriminating against, and murdered because of who they are and how they look like. It also about protecting the right of the black people, ending racism, injustice, inequality, mass incarceration, and the police brutality.

The police always get away with murder and don't get charged for their crime.
The three of the goals explained by the various leaders of the movement are: the first one is the demilitarization of t he police departments throughout the country. To change their policy and hold them accountable for their crime. The second goal is to reduce the prison population in half because many black men are being unlawfully incarcerated fo no reason. And they want them to come home to reunite with their families. And the last goal is to end racism, injustice and equality.

I think that Black Lives movement is important and people should be aware of it. These guys are doing great job in fighting racism, injustice, inequality, and the police brutality. But I also think that they should do more in diversifying the movement. They should bring other minority groups into it because they have their own problems that people are not aware of. They have to keep the pressure on our elected officials to make changes in the system.

Qin Chen

4/24/2015 04:29:02 pm

I agree with you that black people should not fight alone. In my opinion, black lives matter movement is not just for black people. This movement is try to awake people that our society is not equal. Everybody should join in this movement, because nobody knows who will be the next one.

Nafi Watson

4/22/2015 09:19:12 am

Black lives matters is a serious issues and problem. Black live mater means all lives matter but in particular just Black lives because they are the only ones getting killed by police officers or a higher authority. This is a touchy matter for me because I am African American and these are my people getting killed. What I saw in the videos were all people of color protesting for black lives. That stood out to me because they are standing up for something that is wrong. What they want to do is change how black people are viewed in this world, for people to stop feeling treated by blacks. My opinion on this topic is that police officers should be trailed as a regular person and not just as an police officer and just because they know the law.

liang zhang

4/22/2015 12:32:11 pm

Black lives matter means that all human's live is matter and I think the "black lives matter" movement is necessary. we are the human, we should get tread equally. not because you are white , and you are better than any other color. This is just not right. "slavey" still exist in the United State, we need a moverment such as "Black lives Matter" to slove this problem. Three of the goals explained by Co-Founder Alicia Garza are live in full dignity and respect that were able to make wages the support our family is that we have for housing and employment, and we stop and stem the tide of plice brutality that's ravaging our community.
I am chinese, I had some bad expersice when i was in michigan, racism is still there, I really hope "black lives matter" movement can keep going and change something in our community. I know that feeling about being tread differently.

Qin Chen

4/22/2015 12:34:43 pm

Black lives matter movement is necessary is because lots of black people is treat unequally. And this unequal treating may take their life. If we do not stop this discriminating, who will be the next one? Asian? The poor? Women? This movement is not just for black people. This movement is for everybody. This movement is trying to tell everybody, we are all equal. One of the goals of black lives matter is let the black people can be respect. The other goal is company can treat the black people and others equal salary. The last goal is police can treat the black people normal y.
In my opinion, this black lives matter movement is necessary and significative. Like what I said above, this movement is not just for black people. Even if it calls black lives matter, it is trying to let falls know everybody should be treated equally. Black people should not be treated unequally just because their skin color. If we all be quiet for what the black people encounter, then when we encounter the same situation, nobody will helps us. Nobody wants to be the next one, then will should help them. Treat black people equally is the important step in our democracy.

Richara Glenn

4/23/2015 03:37:03 am

Yes you are correct , theres a common quote that says " treat others the way you want to be treated". what you do to others could either affect you or the person . If we ignore a big problem such as what you mentioned then yes the problems will continue to multiply and then eventually it can cause a war out there. The best way to live is to live a life that remains peaceful. The only problem is that there's a few people who do things that's natural for them and thats to do what villains normally do everyday, stir up more problems.

Lin Chen

4/24/2015 03:04:26 pm

Yes, if we don't stop the discrimination, everyone will be the next one. This movement is not just for the black, but also for other race. As you mention, even though the movement called "All Black Matter", it also imply that all lives matter. None of us wants to be the next one, thus this movement is important and necessary.

Lin Chen

4/22/2015 01:20:43 pm

All lives matter, however we are live in the society where black lives are systematically devalue. The movement is necessary because nowadays our society has a broken justice system. There is still anti black racism believer, and even though “ All men are created equal” is written in constitution, and unequal things are always happen. The movements contains a simple but strong message, and it is to build a world where all lives matter. There are three goals in the movement. First one is the broken justice system needs to replace. The second one is people don’t want to be hurt. And the last one is All lives matter.. In my opinion it is absolute wrong for the police mistreatment of people by their color. Because it send a wrong value that people can be treat in different ways by their color. And our next generation will be affected. Thus, it is necessary for us have the “all black matter” movement. It is important for us to build a based for people, and the based is a simple concept which is “all lives matter.” Moreover, the system of policing that often functions in a discriminatory way, thus people have to fight for the unequal system and replace it.

Erik Hoffmann

4/22/2015 01:50:34 pm

I feel like the black lives matter movement is about bringing an end to the systemic racism so apparent towards black people in our society. It is no secret that the system is designed against people of color, with black people in particular experiencing the worst treatment over others. Three of the goals of the leaders of the movement are to end police brutality and discrimination towards black people and people of color, to indict the officers who have gotten/will get away with unjustified killings, to demilitarize the local police departments, and to bring attention to the injustice that they're doing and have gotten away with. I feel like the movement has sparked an increase in police brutality (or just more attention to an already ongoing issue). An increase in reports of police shootings, beatings, and other misuses of power have come up since the movement has started. It's almost like they're abusing their powers more to prove a point or something. The killings of Eric Garner, Ezell Ford (another man shot "resisting arrest"), and John Crawford (a man shot while looking at a BB gun in Walmart) in just weeks after the killing of Mike Brown proves that. Whether its been happening or just recently, it needs to stop. Too many people are getting killed and too many people who are supposed to be our protectors are getting away with murdering us civilians. The police need to be held just as accountable for murder as normal people are, especially in cases where its recorded like in the killing of Eric Garner. It shouldn't have to be an issue of procedure or something, murder is murder.

Huimin Huang

4/22/2015 02:42:39 pm

The meaning of black lives matter is everyone are the same. we are human kind. we should all get to treat the same. every lives are matter including black lives. The movement is necessary because there is no equality in our country. we need this movement to get black people treated equally like others. Three of the goals explained by the various leaders of the movement are black people should be treat equal on wages like everyone else, black people can lives in dignity and respect, and to stop the police brutality in this country. I think this movement is meaningful. people need to step up for their own rights. everyone on this earth should get treated the same, not just certain kind of people can get treat well. everyone should get treated equally because we are all human kind. and the police brutality is a serious problem that the government need to face. it is not right for police officers to kill anyone. no matter what color they are. killing is not right. our police officers should get some higher education in order to operate their duty. they need to realize that their job is to protect every residents or not to harm them. Also employers should treat their workers equally and no matter what their skin color is.

Dongho Kim

4/22/2015 06:41:51 pm

Police brutality on black people is definitely a serious problem. It is unjust and inhumane. All citizens should feel safe being around police officers, not fear and get threatened by them. But from the videos, I learned that black lives matter is not just about this police brutality, but about racism, dignity, and democracy.

Shameim Lowther

4/29/2015 07:22:18 am

Thats nice but it's ging to take everyone collectively to come together as one consciousness to fight, march, and stand for change. Empathy, and opinions like voting with change nothing. People have to be willing to sacrifice time, energy, safety for the greater good.

liang zhang

4/22/2015 02:55:47 pm

Black lives matter means that all human's lives is matter and black people’s lives too. I think the "black lives matter" movement is necessary because we are all human, we should get to treated equally. not because your color skin is different , and you are better than any other color. This is just not right. "slavery" still exist in the United State because all the inequality in our country and the discrimination that against some people. we need a movement such as "Black lives Matter" to solve this problem. Three of the goals explained by Co-Founder Alicia Garza are live in full dignity and respect that were able to make wages the support our family is that we have for housing and employment, and we stop and stem the tide of police brutality that's ravaging our community.
I am chinese, I had some bad experience when i was in michigan, racism is very bad there, I really hope "black lives matter" movement can keep going and get things change in our community. I know that feeling about being treated differently. I hope our community can be better because of this movement. I hope the next generation can get a better life than us. black lives are really matter and all lives matter.

Emerson Lovato

4/22/2015 04:13:14 pm

The Black Lives Matter Movement is a movement created to protect black people in America. It's about fighting for justice and the rights of African Americans because lately black men have been targeted by police officers who claim they were attacked by black men or that they were committing a crime to kill them.Black lives matter is a response to the inequalities and police brutality against black people. People want change because they are tired of being treated like they are not human beings. Black folks want to feel safe and protected because they feel targeted not only the police but the entire government. This movement has inspired a lot of young people to join the fight and participate in community events to put an end to police brutality. It's important that young people take action too because at the end of the day this movement will be more beneficial for future generations. Alicia Garza is the co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement, she explains that this movement should encourage people to stand up for themselves and not allow the authorities to intimidate them because we are all human and we should all be treated the same. She has seen some changes lately, the government is starting to address the issue but has not done much action. Racism is not just about people been mean to each other when in fact there are systems that are backed by power that impact the outcomes of peoples life. We learn the real meaning of racism and hate to educate our youth and inspire them to keep fighting back until we reach our goal.

Angela Tam

4/22/2015 04:55:59 pm

Black lives simply means black lives matter. It means that it doesn’t matter how you appear or what your education is or anything that might make you “appear” a certain way; your life matters. I think the movement is necessary for 2 reasons. One, to inform the community/ the nation that black lives matter. If the system is going to not show that black lives matter and aren’t going to give justice to black lives, they will fight for black lives. It is necessary for the community to see the injustice being done on blacks in America. It is necessary for everyone around the nation to see that things aren’t as equal as we want to think. They need to know that there is racism still going on and it’s specifically being targeted towards black Americans. The second reason it is important is because blacks need to know that their lives matter. They need to stop accepting the circumstances because they are used to the bias. They need to know that their lives matter, fighting for justice for their lives matter, and that they need to come together as a community and support one another. 3 goals is to stop the racial profiling, black killings, and police brutality on black Americans. The black lives matter movement has really awoken me to the extreme violence and injustice that black Americas face. It is shown me that we have been conditioned to blame them for anything that happens to them. Blame them for the way they dressed, the recreational things they did, the way they looked, or acted. But really it is societies fault for having these views. We have to change our thoughts about this subject because it shouldn’t matter how you appear, you shouldn’t be judge based on that. It has also shown me that the police are above the law and the courts protect them. Police are hardly held accountable for the lives they take. I think this movement is necessary for change and I hope it continues to grow and empower.

Dongho Kim

4/22/2015 06:32:04 pm

Black lives matter means that the value of African American’s lives are important just like how all lives matter and have meaning. It is a response to anti-black racism. Due to all the recent incidents of police brutality and shooting, African American communities had to stand up to fight against this racism and injustice. In the recent tragedy, we know an officer repeatedly shot and killed an unarmed 18-year-old black man, Michael Brown.
Goal of the leaders of the movement are the same demand that people have been fighting for a long time. To be able to live in full dignity and respect, participate in the nation’s democracy, and stop police brutality that is ravaging their community. They are calling for federal government to collect data on officer involving with shooting, but black lives matter is not just about the police shooting.
I agree that in order for people to build a world where all lives matter, we have to change how black lives are systemically devalued in our society. Police officers are being discriminatory and this is unjust. This movement is good way to help making a humanized society and share the problems across the country. It is good that this movement is spreading worldwide.

Shameim Lowther

4/29/2015 07:20:08 am

@Dongho Kim
What people don't nderstand is that police brutality is not newly found. It's only receiving recognition due to being captured on tape!
since slavery there has been abuse, injustice byt political heads (judges/attorneys/officers/town officals) in the kkk, south, lynchings. the cops are the old/new form of kkk. social construct of society perpetuates fear of color (dark sking), size (height), tone(deep voice), and sexual exploitation to make blacks appear as sex driven overstimulated animals-to be treated as such. for decades blacks have subjected abuse, violence and injustice through instutitions-yet no one cared. now that we have phones to capture proof of it it's now a travesty! But all news shw and have shwn is blacks rioting, fighting, killing one another, to justify their claims of blacks being savages, and inhumane so they can continue to abuse us

Roy Christopher

5/11/2015 07:01:27 am

I agree with you kim that these movements are about demands we've been marching for a long time. We have not been giving the credit and respect we deserve, and they just want to shut down our pride, and self esteem. As for the participation in the system or nations democracy, there is always some barrier made to prevent from getting in. Also I agree when you say black lives are systematically devalued in our system. There always seems to be a barrier for every step we take.

Tonivi Truong

4/24/2015 05:01:28 pm

I believe "black lives matter" is indeed prioritize on the crimes in the cities. Although it feels like the title-ship originated from "black racial profiling," which is how he open to social media. Instead it seems to be targeting everyone, white, or colored people. They want to be heard, they want to make a change in how things are ran. They want to feel more safe among the innocent. There seems to be alot of racial profiling but is it really racial? or just acts that are unjust. Black Lives Matter has became a figure of hope for people. They are believe to take a stand for actions to the reasons why polices are not taking charge for the wrong doings they have done. Of course, it is not all polices, but as there are quite a few when there should not be. Racism has been a big issue of America's history and seems to only grow when there are actually more people who wants it to stop then to keep it there. It later grows onto "all lives matter" where it discrimination should not be around either. Innocent people are getting attacked and/or charged for profiling and it is against protocol so to speak. It doesn't matter what education you have, how much you know, or what you look like, but as long as you "look" dangerous or a threat, which can even be race, in many cases of modern-day society, you are posed as a threat. And this is what the organization stands up to. Against people who are being targeted, especially black, whether it is white on black, or black on black, for their skin color before anything else. I believe this is a strong organization in many ways since it is a peaceful one especially. It avoids all violent acts and creates a powerful message for the people that are not even a part of the organization will respect what they are doing. However I do not think young teenagers should be a part of the protests and the organization. They need to continue being in their schools and getting their education to really MAKE a different. rather than doing what they want out there to "avoid school" or "make a change" in their community. If they really want to make a change, they need to take lead and make the change themselves. However the organization should remain as strong as it is because they are wanting a better for ALL communities.

Jacob Bandel

4/27/2015 01:22:55 am

After viewing all four of these videos I can tell that the first one is about interviewing the people taking up residence in Oakland about the Black Lives Matter movement, and how is police brutality and racism negatively affects them on a everyday basis. A lot of people showed aggression for the acts of inhumanity towards African Americans and cruelty that has been happening with the local law enforcement recently. There was a non violent protest happening in Stockton about the same topic, and this protest was made for everyone to spread awareness of what is happening in community due to the police doing acts of cruelty towards African Americans acts for example like police brutality and racial profiling. The last video that I viewed was a discussion about Alicia Garza a UCSD grad and with the Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter. She went to discuss about her reasons for her foundation, and why it is incredible important. Alicia was a residence in Oakland for twenty or so years of her life and she found the Black Lives Matter on 2013 after Treyvon Martin's death.Alicia's foundation stands for many reasons one of them being a call in response to anti-black racism, and other reasons such as a call in action for respect and dignity, and to be able to have full housing and employment and to stop police brutality. There are many more reasons, but all of the above have been protested and fought for before, but still humans are here fighting for Black lives Until there is a significant change made. Also the decline of federal funding for the police to not have high powered grenade launchers and flash grenades in ghetto communities which honestly is a good thing in my opinion.Eliminate in a community of these weapons would help decline police brutality going on because this gives them a lot more ''power'' and is a lot easier for cops to suppress and kill African Americans. Alicia has announced that African American lives are being under valued and targeted for demolition as if there was a war between black people. she also pointed out how police act in discriminatory ways, and yet again i find my self totally agreeing since I can relate to this. It's like they reconstructed the wall that used to be slavery by just changing everyone into criminals. Alicia Garza wants to cut mass incarceration- but instead reline people with their relatives and have employment and better and higher education opportunity for African Americans that have to go through this treatment.

Shameim Lowther

4/29/2015 07:10:26 am

Black lives matter to means Black is beautiful, powerful, resilient, and visionaries. It expresses the history of being black in America and struggles and adversities of abuse, torture, violence, poverty imposed on by social instructions, and governments. It is a social and political movement to unify black people and other racial groups who support the vision. It speaks out against police brutality, and the system of negative images portrayed to justify violence and illegal abuse against blacks in America.

The goals were jail time, police policies, and racism which I believe all go hand in had. Being a Black woman in America and having ancestry that extends from the very beginning…it’s difficult to give an opinion on such a vast subject because it derives from a bigger problem. America is a cancer to it’s own society.

Anqi Sun

4/29/2015 11:32:51 am

I believe that for everyone who lives in this society. All lives should matter, not only for black people, white people, Asians or Latin Americans because all of people are born to be equal, everyone is supposed to be protected by the constitution. In other words, as long as we live we all should be able to share to share the same rights as many other people does. From my point of view, equality is supposed to be a mark that differ the modern society from ancient societies, not just a slogan that is used by politicians during the election. But on the other hand, I think people should also think about what is needed to be done when people are protesting about an event that clearly get involved with the issue about races. It could be dangerous that it cause huge masses. The messes that happened in the past one week about the death of Grey should clearly be a good model. People are supposed to protest peacefully against what the police did to Grey, and there is supposed to have no violence during the whole process, but the truth we can see is completely different from what we expect. Personally I believe that the actions about all lives are matter is necessary because we have the right to concern about the events that we feel maybe unfair against others. But is it really logical to walk onto the street and break up everything the protester can see? If that is what most protesters do, I will start to wonder what the real purpose of the protest is. Maybe the police did some mistakes and caused some causalities during the actions, but I still can’t agree using violence during the protest is acceptable.

Guadalupe Hernandez

4/29/2015 04:51:23 pm

I agree with your idea that this country is supposed to demonstrate equality within its people, and currently are not doing so. This does need to change and I believe we are attempting the start of change. Those who are protesting, protest differently. Some demonstrate a huge amount of violence, this leading nowhere. I too believe that the best way to protest is to speak up, be heard, but say something meaningful, not only because you yell will you be heard. Speak low, and people make a bigger effort to listen.

Raynard Anderson

4/30/2015 10:11:16 am

some times violence is the only way that attention can be brought to the issue at hand because if their is literally no repercussions for the lack of justice then you just continue to be stepped on until the group that's oppressing you finds a conscious. an example of riots that brought reform is one of the hugest pacifist in history Gandhi who was thrown in jail by the British government for peaceful protesting which sparked riots and open revolt across India with Gandhi's slogan "Do or Die" at its helm once Britain understood that they couldn't afford to continue to fight the war they granted India their independence. so what do you mean violence isn't acceptable sometimes when your continually pushed down and stepped on you have to push back to show them your still down there and that not only they haven't broken your resolve yet, but that they can't. the only issue i see is wrecking your own community inorder to get back at the police because you still have to live there so your just hurting yourself.

Guadalupe Hernandez

4/29/2015 03:26:40 pm

Organizers and activist have been speaking about the importance of black lives. They have exposed how the justice system has downsized the importance of black lives. There have been situations where the police have murdered innocent black lives, and were not brought to justice. This says that black lives do not matter. The organizers have expressed how they want justice for all, white, black, and brown. They have said how a lot say that the police system is broken, when in reality it is NOT broken, but functioning in the exact way it was designed. Short term goals for this movement is to collect data on officer involved shootings, and reducing funds for militarization on the police department. Long term goals are to change how the police system works AGAINST black lives, to working WITH black lives. Black lives is a powerful movement where they are fighting for justice, for fairness, for equality. They are to show that blacks, whites, and browns are all one. No one race gets preference or is less important. They are to be heard as being just as important. This movement is necessary because if it wouldn't exist then to police system would believe they can whatever they want with black lives. They would take even more advantage of us people. It is important because we, us a country, want to project an image of equality, but when it comes to justice in black vs white, chances are most would side with the white, even when injustice. This is WRONG, and needs to CHNAGE. I believe this movement is much needed, but us as a community we need to move with it, and not be ashamed by what the media may say on or about us. We change together.

Roy Christopher

4/29/2015 04:52:35 pm

The movement of Black Lives Matter is important because it is bringing people together in unity to help create change in communities. I see it as an army of unified citizens strong in numbers who have awoken. The Black Lives Matter protestant marching in unity is a stand up for those who were innocent and have been criminalized brutally by police authority. Those who have been a victim of injustices in the system. Murder is being unjustified and policemen are getting off easily and still being able to hold their badge. The police are above the law they’re not the law anymore. They have become a paramilitary like group for a closing society. There's a lot of corruption in the police departments and law enforcements, they're not doing their job. It doesn’t matter if you're black, brown, yellow, or white. We are all not safe, and are possible next targets and brutality cases. The Black lives matters movement is for all lives, If they’re so easily willing to shoot us black people, I’m pretty sure they will be willing to do the same to others for oppression along the road. But the thing is like Garza said “we live in a society where black lives are systematically devalued”. Which is why the hashtag is #blacklivesmatter. It is based around brutality on black lives, but It’s fighting for a change in the community that effects EVERYONE regardless of ethnicity, color, religion and so on. A lot of things have happened and gone wrong due to discriminatory ways.

Tonivi Truong

5/10/2015 07:58:00 pm

I agree with your insights on the topic. Discrimination has gone a long way and has a long way to go of getting out of it throughout America's history. It is sad really, capitalism is based on who has more power, which the police force has and uses quite often all over. We need to figure out how to keep America as America, without the corruption which is well, almost an impossible

Raynard Anderson

4/30/2015 09:46:27 am

I completly agree with the slogan black lives matter because black people are the main ones getting gunned down by the police and the main issue is that being judge jury and executioner is not their job their supposed to apprehend the suspect so that they can be judged in front of a jury of their peers and their suppose to do so unbiased but what we have in america is a biased police force that lets profiling and stereotypes dictate how they do their job and apprehend the suspect. for those people that are saying that they should not use the slogan #blacklivesmatter because other lives matter too, i think that you are entirely missing the point of the slogan their using black lives as the spear head to ask for reform in the police department and using black lives because thats what we see most in media, black individuals getting gunned downed by cops who are using excessive force and letting their emotions get out of control over minuscule offenses if their was an offense at all. lastly the reason these kids are being violent and rioting is because they kind of already understand that no body is actually helping with the situation its always going to be the same outcome everytime we protest cop shoots unarmed person, cop gets payed vacation, cop gets manslaughter charge, cop gets 2 years in prison tops if any time at all. so the question becomes how long are you going to let people come into your neighborhood and oppress you before you lash out in anger at the lack of justice. so that is the reason why we have the Baltimore riot now because of the lack of justice which makes us wonder if our lives even matter to you because obviously your not portraying that their worth the same amount as yours or even half that because you even put a man in jail for life for killing a police dog that was attacking him, so what i'm getting is our lives must be worth less than an animal. racism is the offspring of the highest form of ignorance because their is literally no logical way to justify it.

Rayvonne Evans

4/30/2015 07:31:08 pm

The black lives matter movement is about the value of someones life. Its about police not being able to take away an innocent life. No one deserves to die unjustly. The movement is about police being held accountable for their actions. The movement is about black people being able to sit at the table and feast like everyone else and not just tossed the scraps. This movement is necessary if we want to affect change. We must continue to shed light on whats been happening for centuries to black people. We must continue to protest and organize and unite with one another so that we can achieve our goals. Some of the goals I heard were ti stop police brutality, bring the officers who have killed innocent people to justice, and were fighting for equality, Were fighting for the right be be treated equally and have the same opportunities as a white person. I'm all for this movement. I think this is the start of a revolutionary war between the government and its people. I applaud the leaders of this movement. I think they are doing a wonderful job organizing. I want see us change the world.

Hang Nguyen

5/1/2015 09:41:23 am

There is a true fact that none of us can deny is that racism is still happening everywhere, although things have changed a lot in compared to the past, most people still intend to treat some groups of people more respectful than to other groups.
In the first video, they have shown the meaning right in the name "Black lives matter"_meaning the life of the black is just as valuable as any other people's life, whether they are white or color skin. The police killed a black boy, and they intend to just let it go. They call the system has justice, but killed a boy with no gun, in the payment and they just let it go, that is obviously unfairness. Just assume the one who get killed was the Asian, Hispanic, or white person and got killed by a black man, would the result still be the same? Each person's live is a treasure, and so is that black boy's.
The movement is necessary because that was not right, it goes against human rights, and if we do nothing about it, probably unfair thing like this would just keep going on, and then again, everybody ignores it. If so, this might no longer be the democracy system anymore. They do the protest to ask for their right back again: the most basic right since you were born: the right to live SAFELY and have their lives' being treated equally as white folks' lives. They are fighting for the right of the boy and the guarantee of the safety of their future children's lives. They just want what they haven't been given for so long: they want to be heard, they want a chage!
Alicia Garza is one of the founder of the Black Lives Matter, she said what they have been trying to do is anti black racism, ask for full dignity and respect, which is what everybody deserve. They also aim for full housing, full employment, full wages. They called the federal government for the shooting information, and they didn't get it.
Overall, what the Black lives matter has been doing, is just asking for their right, for justice, no more discrimination and true respect from the sociaty.

Zane Samuel

5/3/2015 07:28:23 am

In recent news everyone should have clearly noticed the increase in police violence and murders on African Americans. Black Lives Matter is a movement and uprising created by the people to congregate and unite against police brutality and the murders of innocent black people. Nationwide protests have been the result of the Black Lives Matter movement and as many try to relate that to violent protesting, the majority of the rioters or violent outbreaks have nothing to do with the Black Lives Matter movement. In fact, they try to keep peaceful protests and respect the families of the murder victims. As more and more lives are taken, the news and other individuals seem to try and justify the police actions as they pull out old criminal records on individuals or say that the officer felt threatened. One, criminal record or not nobody deserves to be murdered in cold blood. Two, how could a police officer feel threatened by a pleading or fleeing victim as there are many video records that prove there was no threat (Unless the officers have abandonment issues and are scared of people running away). Nonetheless, the Black Lives Matter movement is an important fight against modern day jim crow and the modern day enslavement of Black people.

A.J. Roderos

5/3/2015 12:50:44 pm

#BlackLivesMatter is a response to all unjustified events that have occurred between the Black community and law enforcement across the nation. Whether it is police brutality or murder, African-Americans are purposely targeted, resulting from a sense of dehumanization and racial profiling and discrimination. Essentially, #BlackLivesMatter serves as retaliation to the injustices brought upon law enforcement. It is clarified that the organization simply wants the Black population to live with dignity, stable pay, and stop the violence that have been caused by law enforcement. I believe this sense of call and response is necessary because innocent people have been harmed or worse yet, killed because of the ways law enforcement handled these particular situations. Most importantly, these injustices can happen to anyone, whether an individual is black or not. I believe that these events are part of a bigger picture, which is bigger than being harassed or targeted by police officers in the United States. From a general point of view, police officers have already put themselves in the situation where they are being targeted as well, in response to these courses of events that have happened over the past couple of years. Ultimately, these events that law enforcement has demonstrated are completely contradictory to their slogan – “serve and protect.”

steven gissentanner

5/4/2015 01:50:00 am

The black lives matter movement began as a hashtag after George Zimmerman's acquittal for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in 2013, and gained momentum after the shooting of Michael Brown, the shooting of John Crawford III, and the death of Eric Garner, all in 2014. The black people all across the nation are tired of seeing their own getting killed for no righteous cause. Its sad so see people who are unarmed getting killed execution style and not get any justice from it. Black Lives Matter is "a unique contribution that goes beyond extrajudicial killings of black people by police and vigilantes" and the organization states that "Black Lives Matter affirms the lives of black queer and trans folks, disabled folks, black undocumented folks, folks with records, women and all black lives along the gender spectrum." The movement has opened everyone's eyes around the world and it the media by storm. Protesters and protest organizers have met with U.S. President Barack Obama and other prominent leaders to demand an end to what they view as racial profiling, police brutality, mass incarceration of African-Americans, and ending what some view as the militarization of many U.S. police departments.As of March 2, 2015, at least 700 "Black Lives Matter" demonstrations have been held worldwide.

Adham Awa

5/5/2015 05:29:20 am

Black lives matter is more than just a movement to me. It’s over the top in its claim in such a perfect way, as it triggers the basic human reaction to say yes and all lives matter. But here are a group of people who have been through the worst of our history and still till this day cannot seem to find a sense of belonging or equality in our country due to the same prejudicial thoughts or beliefs that have kept them in the dark for so long. This movement is crucial to regrouping Americans and getting us to the unity we so desperately need. Goals explained by Alicia included a response to anti-black racism in America, having the right to live in safety, not having to face police brutality, and to be able to earn livable wages and stand on their own two feet. All these being crucial to the advancement of our African-Americans and the advancement of their people. My opinion overall would consist of basically being right there with the Black crowd, behind them in body and in spirit. The structure set up surrounding Blacks is broken, needs to be torn down, and built from the bottom up by the people they want to lead them. Systematically, the African-Americans have always been kept down and that is not a future I can accept to live with for any man, woman, or child in this country.

Tory Burleson

5/7/2015 05:49:44 am

My interpretation of the movement “Black Lives Matter” is that it is a movement focused on the liberation of black people. I think that this movement is completely necessary because we tend to think that racism doesn’t exist anymore because of black exceptionalism and the fact that it is hidden in many ways including mass incarceration and police brutality. The goals that were explained were that they want to make a change in multiple ways including changes through grassroots foundations, the political structure, and in the prison system. My opinion of the movement is that it isn’t short of inspiring, and I agree when people say “all lives matter” we already know that but the focus is on black lives and how they matter just as much as the next persons life. Just because the focus is on a certain race doesn’t mean that the lives of others don’t matter, its just that this particular group of people have been substantially looked down upon for decades upon decades. The civil rights movement wasn’t that long ago and we are supposed to believe that everything is just fixed with just one act? That racist ideas will just disappear? It doesn’t work like that. It is going to take years for people to just get it already.

#Black Lives Matter

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