Protest movements have created difficult conversations and allowed for social change. Social media’s impact on these topics has allowed people to talk about them in new ways. A remarkable movement emerged following the tragic shooting death of TrayvonMartin, a Black teenager, in Sanford by George Zimmerman. It attracted attention from viewers across the U.S. The #BlackLivesMatter hashtag amplified criticisms of the murder of Black Americans. An opposing group started #AllLivesMatter to protest against #BlackLivesMatter. This counter-protest argued that everyone should receive equal attention. The #AllLivesMatter hashtag was used to create tension between law enforcement and Black protesters. While Black Lives Matter has seen a rise in popularity, it avoids negativity and shows interest on social media. Other groups, however, create counterarguments like #AllLivesMatter.
The U.S. has seen a large social movement centered around the #BlackLivesMatter tag. After Trayvon Martin’s death, Alicia Garza and Patrisse Curllors started the movement. It was a “call for action” to protest the historical, shameful legacy of American racism. This tool allows you to reimagine a world in which black people can live freely and exist as they wish. Darren Wilson (a white police officer) was not charged in the shooting death of Micheal. The hashtag was used to highlight other Black Americans’ deaths such as #FreddieGray, #EricGarner and #SandraBland. But, until November 2014, Darren Wilson, a white police officer, was not charged with shooting and killing Micheal Brown. Obama spoke at the debate and stated that “Black Lives Matter” was not used by organizers to suggest that all lives are important. He refers to police brutality and the murder of unarmed blacks and touches a little bit on the unjustified detention of African American minor offenses. Supporters of #AllLivesMatter don’t understand the significance of race in discussing Black deaths in police-involved shootouts. A lot of African American critics noted that there are “disproportionately many prisoners, of color” in this country. They believe this is due to “racially discriminatory practices within our legal system.” But #AllLivesMatter does NOT relate to the violence and dehumanization black people suffer. The hashtag #AllLivesMatter counters the #BlackLivesMatter movement. #AllLivesMatter believes all people should receive equal attention, but #BlackLivesMatter supporters claim it is a defamer to the Black Lives Matter movement. Trump said, “Black Lives Matter, a divisive word, and that it is inherently racism.” A 2015 poll found that 78% of American voters felt that All Lives Matter was closer than Black Lives Matter. Pieter Hanson, a White boy who was falsely accused of sexual assault, claimed that Black Lives Matter was closer. However, 11% of those polled said it was. He believes that he is important and that everyone should see him as such. Black Lives Matters’ leaderlessness is one of its most criticized aspects. Black Lives Matter claim that they are “leader-full” and have many leaders working independently. This problem makes Black Lives Matter appear disorganized. This makes Black Lives Matter appear disorganized and prevents them from communicating their message. Anybody can claim the title of leader without any clear guidance and form their own views of Black lives. It leaves the message ambiguous and can’t be considered serious. Black Lives Matter is often questioned by people who may wonder: Who is it leading? What’s the point? What are the goals of these people? These are some of the most pressing questions people have. It’s also very difficult to attract people to your cause without a compelling spokesperson such as Malcolm X. King, who is a leader in the movement, has not been able to gather large numbers of supporters. Although Black Lives Matter is not a leader, it has many leaders. There are many local leaders, including the Dream Defenders and Organization for Struggle. Their movement goes beyond one individual. They want local leaders to speak out on behalf of their movement and help them achieve the same goals as the original founders. Is it a problem to have multiple people sharing the same incite? Another misconception is that Black Lives Matter is a protest movement. The movement was founded in the initial intent to stop unjust and racial police firings. They established surveillance and increased accountability for police officers who abuse their authority or violate the law. But the demands made by Black Lives Matter became chaotic and unrealistic. Black Lives Matter’s agenda was not fully clear at the time. One of their demands was for decriminalization in prostitution, the expungement record of all drug-related offences, universal health coverage, reparations as well free higher education. These policies are not in line with what Black Lives Matter was originally fighting for. These demands seem absurd and can’t be taken seriously. Although the demands might seem outlandish, they serve a purpose. People and organizations with goals and agendas have created detailed policy demands and reform proposals. Campaign Zero, for instance, offers a list that focuses on ending police violence. It addresses the immediate and fatal symptoms of systematic racism. The Movement for Black Lives advocates a platform that includes six areas of domestic reforms. These include economic justice and inequitable investing education. The demand for compensation for Blacks is a critical part of their agenda. They ignore other oppressed people who have the right to it. They demand free education and federal support for Black students. It isn’t right to want it for just one race. This goes against the spirit of Martin Luther King’s message. California State University’s campus is a perfect example of this current situation. It is a system that provided housing for Black students, which sounds almost like a plea for separation. It is unfortunately being accepted by Black Lives Matter and must be stopped. Although the Black Lives Matter movement has made some progress, it won’t be able to make lasting changes to its structure. If they don’t make quick changes, the movement’s disorganization will gradually fade. They are still more than that as a group, and can learn from their mistakes in order to keep their movement going. One must be against racism. Someone must be able to bridge the gap between different races. Leaders today can learn from the brilliant strategies of civil rights leaders. It is important to recall their strong commitment to Black communities and acknowledge that inequality is the enemy. Let’s not forget about the last: learning how live together as families and living up Martin Luther King’s vision.
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