By anonymous
Edited by Peter Milobar
The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement was created after the death of Trayvon Martin, a black teen who was fatally shot by a police officer whose actions were deemed to be racially motivated. This case sparked many debates on the racialized killing of black men in the United States. Unfortunately, many individuals assume that black men who roam the streets are engaging in or about to engage in some form of criminal activity. Therefore, this has led police officers to justify the brutality of their actions. The BLM movement emerged as a response to police brutality and became the battle cry for black voices. Yes, we are at war! We are at war against the remnants of colonialism and the institutionalized oppression which have defined our experiences. We are at war against the belittling of the afro and the idea that blackness is synonymous with inferiority.
The BLM movement reminds us that it is “an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression”. Hence, it is a form of empowerment which acknowledges the struggles of our past and aims to empower us to fight against all forms of oppression. It centers the discussion on the individuals who have been victims of a patriarchal structure which continues to question the validity of their race.
Individuals have tried to counter this movement by using the hashtag “All Lives Matter” to replace Black Lives Matter. We must first understand that the BLM movement does not place certain lives over others, rather, it sheds light on a group of individuals who have been in the shadows of patriarchy and institutionalized oppression for far too long. By using the phrase “All Lives Matter” we are simply erasing the experiences of an entire community and rendering them invisible once again. The aim of the BLM movement is to provide visibility to minority groups and offer the silenced voices within the black community a medium through which they can be heard, but it is up to us to listen to these voices and offer our support.
The BLM movement is radical, affirmative and intentional. It has not taken a passive role, rather it has created a platform for its concerns and its echoes can be heard across the globe. This is exactly what 21st century feminism needs in order to assert its movement as one which is solid, resilient and inclusive. Although this movement, focuses on black lives, it is important to understand that the liberation for black lives will lead to the liberation of others. Once black lives are rendered visible, all other colours on the spectrum will be visible as well.
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