In 2012, George Zimmerman was acquitted of the crime of killing 17-year-old Tryavon Martin. In response, #BlackLivesMatter was created. According to the campaign’s website, BlackLivesMatter.com, #BlackLivesMatter is a call to action and a response to the anti-black racism that is so widespread in our society. Black Lives Matter works to rebuild the black liberation movement while affirming the lives of all black lives on the spectrum. The political-project seeks to take the hashtag off of social media and into action in the streets as a cry for all black lives striving for liberation.
Although the movement was created in 2012, most of the country was still unaware of Black Lives Matter and its message. However, the 2014 grand jury decisions in Ferguson, Missouri and Staten Island, New York made it hard to ignore the movement. The August killing of teen Michael Brown by officer Darren Wilson and his acquittal of the crime in November 2014 got people talking about the movement. Around the same time, the July death of Eric Garner by officer Daniel Pantaleo and his acquittal of the crime in December of 2014 launched the movement into the forefront.
Black Lives Matter came together with Hands Up United (better known as #HandsUpDontShoot) to call for #JusticeforMikeBrown, along with the Ferguson community. In the same tone, #ICantBreathe was created to bring awareness to Eric Garner’s death and the circumstances surrounding it.
Many have rallied together in support of the campaign. Colleges and universities across the nation have staged protests and die-ins (also known as a lie-in; a form of protest where participants lie down as if dead) to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Professional athletes have worn t-shirts adorned with “I Can’t Breathe.” People of all ages; from our neighborhoods to Congress, have proudly held up their hands to show support.
Young activists created this movement, showing that young people are aware that they have a voice in society. Starting as just a hashtag, the movement grew through social media. Powered only by the message behind it, the movement was able to reach millions. Through this innovation, the young leaders have started a debate and opened up the conversation of how young black Americans are treated by society and by law enforcement.
However, there is a fear that the campaign may lose steam as today’s culture quickly moves on to the next big thing. How can the effectiveness of each of these campaigns be accurately measured? Some people are losing sight of the fact that each campaign is a declaration for justice. A die-in is not just an opportunity to capture a photo for a social media outlet and these campaigns are definitely not simple catchphrases to be worn on a t-shirt or on a sticker. However, to keep the message alive, the movement continues to raise awareness to the cause while demanding action through BlackLivesMatter.com.
Somewhere along the line, the message of Black Lives Matter was lost in translation and misconstrued. The biggest misconception people have about the campaign is that the movement is claiming only the lives of black people matter. However, the campaign was not created to diminish the lives of other races; it was created to simply raise awareness of the frequent mistreatment and de-humanization of black lives. The confusion has caused a great deal of opposition. One hashtag, #AllLivesMatter, was created as a rebuttal to the cause. The opposition has missed the mark and, as a result, taken the cause out of context. It seems as if the only purpose #AllLivesMatter serves is to deny that racism still exists. In a way, the responding campaign is trying to stop the conversation of racism all together. #AllLivesMatter a regressive movement that hinders the progress Black Lives Matter is trying to make.
As young people who are fully immersed in social media, we should all know by now what #BlackLivesMatter is. There are many ways to become involved in the Black Lives Matter campaign. On Dec 4, 2014, Drexel students staged a die-in at 30th Street Station. The group of students, led by a freshman photography major, set up in the station to peacefully protest the grand jury decision not to indict Daniel Pantaleo. A few days before, on Dec 1, protesters from the Students Organizing for Unity and Liberation from the University of Penn, staged a die-in in the streets at 33rd and Maket Street, as well as 34th and Walnut Street. If you would like to take action in this cause, the first step, as stated before, would be to educate yourself. Visit Black Lives Matter on their website or Facebook page. There are smaller protests that are arranged locally in Philly and larger marches in neighboring states like New York. Stay updated and, when the time is right, take action.
In conclusion: yes, all lives do matter. However, #BlackLivesMatter is a wake up call to those who are still unaware of the mistreatment and inequality of young, black Americans. Before you choose to jump on the bandwagon in support of a cause, know all the facts. The first step to speaking up is making sure your “voice” is educated.