Problematic Responses to the BLM Movement

With the recent events sparking massive support for the Black Lives Matter Movement, the black community is finally being heard. At the same time, it seems like everyone has something to say. And I mean everyone. 

There's been a lot of support. But on the other hand, there's been a lot of backlash, and there's been a lot of deflecting. Don't get me wrong, white people should be using their white privilege to speak on these issues. But it's important to give the black community the stage. Many statements being made are well-intended, but can actually do more harm than good. Stay educated and make sure you aren't speaking over black voices. 

1. "All Lives Matter"

"All lives matter" is a notorious way of redirecting attention away from the black community's struggles. It's true, all lives do matter. But what part about Black Lives Matter suggests that all lives don't matter? Saying that all lives matter may seem like a noble cause, but it's rooted in a behavior that constantly invalidates the struggles of black people. Pointing out that Black Lives Matter doesn't mean that ONLY black lives matter. Black people are killed by police at a disproportionate rate, which is an indicator that black lives are undervalued in America. BLM was created to say, "black lives matter, too." Yet, this is perceived as a threat by white America. 

An example I've seen a lot lately that perfectly conveys the foolishness of saying "all lives matter" is to imagine a house is on fire. Should the fire department focus on the house on fire, or should all houses get hosed down? All of the houses matter, but there's a certain house that needs special attention

The point is: of course all lives matter. We are just focusing on the black ones right now. 

2. "What about black on black crime?"

People often say, "If black lives matter, why isn't black on black crime addressed?" People who say this typically miss the entire point of the BLM movement. This isn't just about the crime against black people. This is about racism. When a black person kills another black person, it isn't racially motivated. As for police brutality against black people, it is not uncommon for it to be racially motivated. Historically, the police has stood on the wrong side of the civil rights movement. 

But pointing our black on black crime actually substantiates that racism is still a huge problem in America. There are high rates of black on black crime. This isn't a separate issue, but a symptom of a much larger problem. Individuals are more likely to commit more crime when they are in poverty, and increased poverty in black communities is a result of systemic racism. The BLM movement is all about dismantling systemic racism. One of the factors that holds systemic racism in place is over-policing. Black neighborhoods are over-policed, causing more criminals to be caught, thus more arrests are made. With more arrests made within the community, poverty is held in place. It's a vicious cycle. Holding police officers accountable and advocating for police reform is part of the process of dismantling systemic racism, which would, in turn, reduce black on black crime. 

Asking us, "Why don't you protest black on black crime?" indicates that you don't understand the complexity of the issue. So when we protest the black community being targeted by cops, we are protesting systemic racism, which is protesting poverty, which would reduce black on black crime.

 

3. "...But violence is never the answer!"

After the murder of George Floyd, riots and protests swept through the country, some of which involved looting, starting fires, and vandalism. Many critics of BLM initially responded to the events with disdain towards violent protestors 

But we've seen one of the most significant turning points for the BLM movement. BLM has been taken more seriously than ever before. Most people, from both the left and the right, prefer peaceful protests. But what else is left to do when Colin Kaepernick is shunned for simply kneeling? Violent demonstrations may not be ideal, but the black community's cries have fallen to deaf ears all of this time. Perhaps violence was the extant to which the protests needed to be brought to in order for racial injustice to get attention from the media. And in that case, it's clear the ends justify the means. Buildings can be rebuilt, but the lives lost due to racism cannot be brought back. And in that case, the ends justify the means. This situation might have proved that something as severe as violent protests may have been what we needed to get enough attention to bring about change

Yes, we are frustrated at another black person killed at the hands of police. But if you condemn condemn violence before condemning the loss of a Black man's life, your attention is in the wrong place. The resulting outrage is not the focal point of the issue. Violence is simply a side effect of a much larger issue. 

4. "But not all cops are bad"

For those who have a family member who is a police officer-- I'm sure your uncle who is a cop is a cool guy. ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards) doesn't mean every individual cop is a bad and racist person. It means they support a system that is bad. The police force is, historically, racist. The job itself is bad, not the individual. 

5. "But George Floyd was a criminal."

This response is inherently racist. No one wants to justify Floyd's death, because they know that makes them sound outright heartless. Unfortunately, those on the right tend to find a way around the cruelty of this to discredit the BLM movement. Bringing up Floyd's past is a way of saying, "Yeah well, he kind of deserved it" without actually saying it. Candace Owens said, herself, "I do not support George Floyd" after doing completely useless research about Floyd's past. The thing is, it doesn't matter who he was. The lack of justice George Floyd received is what prompts these protests. His character is totally irrelevant to this. He could be a mass murderer and he still would deserve justice. It doesn't matter what he did. What matters is he was brutally murdered by a police officer and he didn't need to be. 

The logic behind this kind of statement is ridiculous. No matter how much dirt you have on Floyd, you can't change that he was murdered over $20. The issue is not about innocence. No amount of innocence can exempt black people from police brutality, as proven by the murder of Elijah McClain. Even if the black person is guilty of a crime, they shouldn't be killed by the police force. Innocence is irrelevant to the injustice. 

It's a telling fact about America that the people who are supposed to protect us are a detriment to certain groups. George Floyd could be any black person. What matters is that the police unjustifiably killed another black person