How important is Black Lives Matter today?

How important is Black Lives Matter today? Is a social commentary on a young black man’s experience with race and the Black Lives Matter movement. This is his narrative. This is his voice. Please read without prejudice.

By: Christen Griffin

What is Black Lives Matter and what does it stand for? How important is Black Lives Matter today? Has it eased racial tensions or created more division? Who funds Black Lives Matter? African American’s have always been on the receiving end of various forms of racism. Police brutality, segregation, and nonverbal racism are a few examples of Its racism between African Americans and policemen as well as white supremacists being the most common. I have been on the receiving end of nonverbal racism.

The Black Lives Matter movement is determined to be heard across the world until America and the rest of the world stop police brutality against unarmed people of color simply because of the color of their skin. NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!!

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My Introduction to Black Lives Matter

When I was 13 years old, a couple of my old friends and I walked to a restaurant named “Big Daddy’s Bar and Grill.” When we walked in, there were white cops inside the bar. The only black person I saw was the cook. When we walked in, the policemen’s eyes were instantly on us. The whole time we were there the policemen were giving us dirty looks like we were not welcome and were a threat to them. At that moment I did not understand why I was being looked at in that manner; especially by people who are supposed to be heroes and law-abiding citizens. We got our food and left. What makes this interaction so memorable is that weeks after, Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson by police officer Darren Wilson. It was then I asked myself, why does my skin color make me a target? How do we as an African American community stand up against racism enacted against us? The images of Michael Brown’s body lying in the street for hours reached social media. After I saw that I instantly thought of the weeks before, what I experienced in the restaurant; the policemen giving me dirty looks. I instantly felt like my life did not matter simply because of my skin color. As I continued following the posts on social media, my eyes scrolled underneath the posts about Michael Brown. This is when I was introduced to #Blacklivesmatter. This hashtag fueled me. It made me realize that my life is very important, and I instantly aligned myself with the movement, but there was one thing I needed to know. What does Black Lives Matter truly mean? Who founded The Black Lives Matter Movement? How can Black Lives Matter help me?

Black Lives Matter Movement through MY eyes

The Black Lives Matter Movement was founded by three strong African American Women. Their names are Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi, and Patrese Cullors. They started the movement to fight systemic racism. The movement demands justice for the killings of unarmed black men and women in the hands of white police officers. The African American community funds the movement and of course, donors also fund the movement. This movement was made to bring awareness to society that police officers need to be held accountable for wrongfully killing African Americans. Police brutality against African Americans has been going on for over 100 years; yet society and our government has not once held police officers accountable for their brutality on the black community. The justice system protects and defends policemen who kill black people out of hate. Not once has a white policeman been arrested for harming or killing an innocent black person. On the other hand, if a black cop accidentally kills a white person he is instantly thrown into jail. We need to ask ourselves, why are white cops getting away with these killings? Who will stand up and bring awareness to this issue? Well, BLM has brought awareness to the issue. Moreover, Colin Kaepernick a former QB in the NFL and a Black Lives Matter Supporter brought the issue to society on a national stage. He decided to kneel during the National Anthem to show his support for African Americans who were wrongfully killed by the police. This quickly brought negativity to the movement and Colin Kaepernick. Society thought that Colin Kaepernick was disrespecting the military and the flag. Many do not know this, but a former marine told Kaepernick to kneel during the anthem instead of sitting because it shows respect to

the military while showing support for Black Lives Matter. Due to the Black Lives Matter movement supporting Kaepernick, most of society began labeling Black Lives Matter supporters as anti-Americans and terrorists. The problem the movement was having was getting people outside the African American race to support the movement and rally behind it. Society was not listening or understanding the message. When George Floyd was killed by four police officers, which was caught on tape, many believe that one of the officers shown kneeling on his neck was a direct message directed toward Colin Kaepernick, meant as an insult to Colin Kaepernick for taking a knee that many viewed as the main trigger fueling the BLM movement. This started a war between BLM and All Lives Matter. All Lives Matter and Support the Police was founded by what some would view as racist whites whose goal was to deflect the Black Lives Matter movement. Riots and peaceful protests erupted all over the world. It seemed that people were finally starting to wake up to the bigger issue. It seemed that people from every city in America took to the streets to show their support for the Black Live Matter movement. Neighborhoods that were predominantly white began putting up Black Lives Matter signs. When Americans became aware of the support from nationwide support; this widespread support rallied Minnesota’s police department to charge all four of the cops for the death of George Floyd. The main officer in the case is being charged right now with second-degree murder and manslaughter. But we cannot get so happy because our past has proven that the justice system can fail us again. Soon after the George Floyd case, Breonna Taylor was killed in her sleep by the police. She was shot six times. This tragedy added even more fuel to the fire. The cops involved in her murder were not charged with the crimes they were accused of committing. The attorney general of Kentucky, Daniel Cameron, a black man, defended the police and said, “The killing of

Breonna Taylor was within the law.” This statement further motivated the movement and at present, has motivated many politicians, including Joe Biden. Joe Biden has recently become more vocal about the killings of unarmed black men and women in society. Furthermore, the Black Lives Matter movement has now gained the attention of the world, and many are starting to understand the message that is being presented.

My Reflection

Unfortunately, there are still others who believe that Black Lives Matter is creating racial division instead of easing racial tension. Racial division was a thing long before Black Lives Matter. One reason for commonly, whites live in the county and suburbs. It is also common that blacks live in rural cities. Another justification for I have heard of instances where white men and black men have walked into the same bank for a business loan, and the black man’s business plan was far better than the white man’s business plan. Guess who would get the loan. You guessed right; the white man got it. So, when people say that the BLM movement creates even more division, that’s just plain wrong. Divisions between races have been in existence for hundreds of years. The United States’ justice system is an example of modern-day Jim Crow. A black man could get arrested for a little bag of marijuana and get sentenced to 10 years. A white man could get arrested for the same thing and only get 3 years - 5 years. How is that possible? Marijuana has been legalized allowing citizens to get licenses and sell it for profit. How is this possible? I will tell you how it is possible. The system is corrupted and biased toward the African American Community. That is why cops get away with the killings of unarmed African Americans.

Black Lives Matter is not a racial division group, it is not a terrorist organization, and it is not a movement that is against all lives. The movement was created to bring awareness to police brutality against African Americans. Furthermore, Black Lives Matter is a movement filled with bringing justice to the black community for killings done by policemen. The message that BLM is trying to put out is there will no longer be any racism towards the African American community. The purpose is to stand up for the rights of people of color and call out the wrongdoings of the police against them. BLM strives to ease racial tension. Its purpose is to show that justice needs to be given to all American citizens. It does not matter if you are a police officer or the president of the United States. If you commit a crime, you do the time.

The last line of the Pledge of Allegiance, says “For liberty and justice for all.” Justice for all is a phrase that America cannot use any more until it brings justice for the murders of unarmed African Americans at the hands of police officers. We all must come together as one and fix America as a whole. The Black Lives Matter movement is determined to be heard across the world until America and the rest of the world stop police brutality against unarmed people of color simply because of the color of their skin. NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!!

About the Author

Christen Griffin is currently a college student at Southeast Missouri State University, and has an interest in writing, specifically film script writing. Throughout his youth he has written speeches, written his own books (Not published), and have written film scripts. Writing is a tool that Chris has used to escape the real world. Whenever he is not mad or sad, Chris writes about it. If a tragedy unfolds around him or around the world, he writes about it. Chris stated that "there are so many things to write about." Chris believes that through his words, he can impact the world. This is why Chris states he writes. Chris stated, "I don’t just write for myself, I write to heal the issues in society."