You're not helping anyone by repeating "All Lives Matter." Please understand that. It's okay to learn new information and change your attitude/speech accordingly.
First, I want to talk about the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, to which an overwhelming number white people have consistently responded with "All Lives Matter" on social media and in real life over the past seven years, especially right now in response to people protesting police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's murder. BLM was created to raise awareness that African Americans are still not safe in America and to prevent further violence toward them. Black people have been dealing with police brutality and murder for centuries.
Centuries.
BLM is a necessary movement that calls attention to this. "All Lives Matter" is an attempt to cover up the fact that blacks are speaking out against injustice. It's used widely as a derailing tactic. Saying it is an attempt at taking the value and validity away from black people's experiences and exasperation. The phrase erases Black voices and causes more harm. BLM has never said that ONLY black lives matter.
I want to share a few quotes from an artist, Lecrae, before getting into America's history of not caring about "all" lives. If what he's saying doesn't make sense to you, I don't know what will.
"The #AllLivesMatter hashtag is like spitting in the face of black folk. It comes off as extremely selfish and unsympathetic to a mourning person. Not because all lives don't matter. Of course they do. But it's very clear that black lives don't to many in this country. No one goes up to lung cancer patients and says "Folks with Breast cancer matter too!" #AllCancerPatients matter. That's Insensitive. True faith stands up for the oppressed and the broken. Obviously many can't see the systemic effects of racism and abused authority. Many can't see that racism has stained this country because they are privileged to not see it."
And when his "fans" try to say he's teaching a divisive message and causing more racial tension:
“There’s a difference between creating division and exposing the division that’s being ignored.”
Now I will list a few times when all lives didn't (and still don't) matter. These are historical facts that simply cannot be denied. Look them up. I will not list every single instance, because there are simply too many, but this list is pretty long and should be informative enough to make you think. You can do more research on your own time, if you like.
all lives didn't matter when non-Christians were slain
From 1095 to 1291, a series of "religious wars" (an oxymoronic statement if I've ever heard one) took place in which Christians—yes, CHRISTIANS—were trying to capture Jerusalem from Muslims who already had control of the region. Crusaders massacred not only Muslims, but Jews and anyone else who wasn't Christian, as well. The opposing forces could have worked together for economic and political harmony, but this particular group of Christians had a different idea. So do not forget that Christianity has had "bad seeds" in the past, present, and future, in addition to ALL OTHER RELIGIONS having them too. If you think radical Christianity doesn't exist just as much as radical Islam or radical anything else, you clearly have not studied Christianity (or history.) And it isn't just in the past. We have Christian hate groups like Westboro Baptist and the Church of Wells in existence today.
all lives didn't matter when explorers put the smallpox disease on blankets and gave them to natives who were trying to help
Yippee for good ole Christopher Columbus sailing that ocean blue in 1492 and claiming to have "discovered" America. Like it didn't already exist as a country with inhabitants. There were many genocides and rapes carried out in the area at the time. Explorers who came after actually infected the natives with smallpox in the form of blankets. AS IF THEY WERE A GIFT. And yet, the natives were trying to show them some hospitality. The explorers only cared about claiming the land as their own. This is called bioterrorism, and it's the earliest and one of the most outrageous examples that I know of.
all lives didn't matter when the declaration of independence stated that "all men are created equal" but slaves were still owned for almost a hundred years more
The Constitution states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". And by "all men", the writers and founders only meant "all free, white, property-owning males". Not all genders or sexes. Not all ethnicities or sexualities or orientations. Not all socioeconomic classes.
A hundred years is quite a long time to continue owning human beings as slaves after writing an entire constitution dedicated to freedom and human rights. But then again, people didn't see Africans as people at all. Some "founding fathers" did oppose slavery, but it seems they didn't do enough to ensure it was abolished in those hundred years, did they?
A hundred years is quite a long time to continue owning human beings as slaves after writing an entire constitution dedicated to freedom and human rights. But then again, people didn't see Africans as people at all. Some "founding fathers" did oppose slavery, but it seems they didn't do enough to ensure it was abolished in those hundred years, did they?
all lives didn't matter when natives were forced from their own land onto the Trail of Tears
In 1830, under the presidency of Andrew Jackson, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act, forcing multiple tribes West, off of their ancestral homelands. It apparently wasn't enough that many of them were already wiped out by colonist disease and genocide hundreds of years before.
all lives didn't matter when white women had to wait until 1920 for the right to vote and women of color had to wait even longer
White feminist icons like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton actually argued against the rights of colored women in order to advance their own goals.
Native American women couldn't vote until 1924.
Asian American women couldn't vote until 1952.
African American women couldn't vote until 1964.
And even then, white people still used methods to prevent them all from being able to vote. Disenfranchisement included poll taxes, literacy tests, fraud, restrictive registration, and violence (threatening included).
Much of the same is happening today, as we have a president, many representatives, and citizens trying to make it impossible for people to vote by mail. Black people are overwhelmingly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, yet they are expected to risk their health to vote in-person, or not be allowed to vote at all. Disenfranchisement. For no valid reason. In addition, many people believe that felons should not be allowed to exercise their right to vote. Why? I have no clue. But I do know that currently, one-third of black men have felony convictions. That's 33% of people who have historically been marginalized, dehumanized, and disenfranchised. 33% whose votes are just as important, if not more so, than yours and mine.
Native American women couldn't vote until 1924.
Asian American women couldn't vote until 1952.
African American women couldn't vote until 1964.
And even then, white people still used methods to prevent them all from being able to vote. Disenfranchisement included poll taxes, literacy tests, fraud, restrictive registration, and violence (threatening included).
Much of the same is happening today, as we have a president, many representatives, and citizens trying to make it impossible for people to vote by mail. Black people are overwhelmingly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, yet they are expected to risk their health to vote in-person, or not be allowed to vote at all. Disenfranchisement. For no valid reason. In addition, many people believe that felons should not be allowed to exercise their right to vote. Why? I have no clue. But I do know that currently, one-third of black men have felony convictions. That's 33% of people who have historically been marginalized, dehumanized, and disenfranchised. 33% whose votes are just as important, if not more so, than yours and mine.
all lives didn't matter when the us *unconstitutionally* threw over 127,000 japanese-americans in internment camps because they "could" be threats
In 1942, barely three months after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt signed an executive order for the "relocation" of all Japanese-Americans living in the country at the time to camps. This was based solely on their racial ties to a certain group of violent people. This stereotyping will always astonish me. These families had to sell their homes, businesses, and most of their belongings because they didn't know if they would ever be able to return. Some camps were active for as long as 3 to 4 years, and although they weren't as harsh as Nazi camps (and Congress tried to apologize about them later,) they showed major faults in the nation's respect for civil liberties and differences between cultures and ethnicities.
all lives didn't matter when the AIDS crisis was associated with gay people and the LGBT+ community had to fight for their rights as human beings (& still do)
Psychologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries defined same-sex attraction and action as a psychological condition, distinguishing homosexuals from “normal” or “healthy” people. LGBT+ (now often GSRM - gender, sexual, and romantic minorities) had to fight hard to gain anti-discrimination protections (gay rights bill), the elimination of harassment at the hands of police, and the elimination of unfair lesbian and gay representations in films and other forms of media. The 1969 Stonewall riots provide an idea of how unfaltering resistance sparked an entire movement.
Discrimination and homophobia both fueled the 1980's AIDS crisis, as people blamed gay men for contracting AIDS instead of working to provide medical help for them. People referred to AIDS as "the gay plague" and called for blood bans on homosexuals. HIV/AIDS do not only affect homosexuals, but they do disproportionately affect Black and Latinx people. HIV is an STD, meaning anyone who engages in sexual activity can pass it on. Homophobia, discrimination, and stigma are STILL barriers to LGBT+ people getting access to HIV prevention, testing, and treatments. Because of that, many LGBT+/GRSM are living with HIV unknowingly, or they are diagnosed too late, making the disease more difficult to treat. If "all" lives matter, stop stigmatizing the community and give them the healthcare they deserve.
Discrimination and homophobia both fueled the 1980's AIDS crisis, as people blamed gay men for contracting AIDS instead of working to provide medical help for them. People referred to AIDS as "the gay plague" and called for blood bans on homosexuals. HIV/AIDS do not only affect homosexuals, but they do disproportionately affect Black and Latinx people. HIV is an STD, meaning anyone who engages in sexual activity can pass it on. Homophobia, discrimination, and stigma are STILL barriers to LGBT+ people getting access to HIV prevention, testing, and treatments. Because of that, many LGBT+/GRSM are living with HIV unknowingly, or they are diagnosed too late, making the disease more difficult to treat. If "all" lives matter, stop stigmatizing the community and give them the healthcare they deserve.
all lives didn't matter when syrian refugees weren't allowed to enter the country just because they're muslims
"All" means everyone, right? Yet, the same people who are saying "All Lives Matter" are the ones against this country letting refugees enter. It's very confusing. You can't claim you support all lives and then demand they be turned away. At the base of the Statue of Liberty, there is a poem that reads, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free". America is a nation full of immigrants and refugees who searched for a safe place to live freely. If you're "white," you are undoubtedly a descendant of immigrants. If all lives truly do matter, let them in.
all lives didn't matter when a white cop raped 13 black women because "people wouldn't care"
Some of you may not remember or have heard of former Oklahoma officer Daniel Holtzclaw, whose sentencing in 2015 ended up totaling more than 260 consecutive years behind bars. He was convicted for 18 of the 36 charges against him. Using his police officer status and white privilege (he is Japanese-American,) he racially profiled and targeted mostly poor black women with criminal histories, and a teen girl. They were "easy" targets for him to sexually assault because if they tried to accuse him, people would be more likely to take a cop's word over theirs. He knew that and tried to use it to his advantage. A prime example of not only blatant racism, classism, and misogyny, but an abuse of power, as well. We must prosecute ALL cops who abuse their power.
all lives didn't matter when a rapist got 6 months in jail and then only served 3
Remember Brock Turner? Long story short, he raped Chanel Miller behind a dumpster on his college campus, the prosecutor recommended he receive 14 years as a sentence (the minimum time for sexual assault), but the judge only gave him 6 months, AND THEN HE GOT OUT IN 3. So no, the victim's life did not matter in either situation, apparently. His daddy pleaded with the judge to reduce his sentencing because he didn't want his fine young upstanding son's life to be "ruined," and he had "a bright future" as an athlete. That boy made his own decisions, he ruined his own life. He chose to violently violate Chanel Miller. HE ruined her life. But oh yeah, he's white. White men never serve as long as black men for the same crimes.
all lives didn't matter when we had #prayfororlando and #prayforparis but no #prayfordhaka or #prayforturkey
Places like Florida and France are predominately white and Christian. When I heard about the Turkish airport attack, one of my first thoughts was, 'Will Facebook even have temporary profile pictures with Turkish flag overlays available like they did for Paris?' Same thing with the cafe attack in Bangladesh. Yes, the hashtags for Dhaka and Turkey existed, but they were not at all trending topics in America. There are mass shootings and attacks every day all around the world and we don't always hear about them because some places apparently matter more than others, especially if those places are predominately white.
all lives don't matter when you think you need a white history month
The other months are already white history months. Most of the history kids learn in social studies classes in their schools every single day in this country is. WHITE. HISTORY. White accomplishments are paraded around all the time. Be glad you don't need an entire month dedicated to them.
all lives don't matter when natives still live in poverty on reservations
Living on a reservation means lower income, unemployment, homelessness and home overcrowding, less access to utilities (such as running water, telephones, and electricity,) and a large gap in adequate healthcare. Why aren't Native AMERICAN citizens not being given access to the same things the rest of us have access to?
all lives don't matter when you associate all East Asian people with COVID-19
It all began with Donald Trump calling it "the Chinese virus." Suddenly, his followers began calling it the same and mistreating those they believed to be Chinese. Anyone who looked even remotely Chinese was targeted with verbal abuse and even threatened with physical violence. A nurse at an Arkansas hospital made an ugly post about how if she heard anyone speaking a language other than English, she wanted them to go away because she assumed they had COVID-19. This is someone who is supposed to be educated, someone who has the responsibility to care for anyone with a health need, someone who minorities are supposed to be able to put their trust in. Their lives certainly do not matter to her if she is going to turn them away simply because they do not speak English or look like her. No one who thinks this way should be working in the medical field, or in any government office, for that matter.
Viruses affect and come from all humans, as well as other animals. It's ignorant to attach them to specific groups of people. Our white ancestors were the ones who introduced disease to this land a thousand years ago, remember?
Viruses affect and come from all humans, as well as other animals. It's ignorant to attach them to specific groups of people. Our white ancestors were the ones who introduced disease to this land a thousand years ago, remember?
all lives don't matter when you're more worried about cops getting hurt or losing their jobs than unarmed black men and women being murdered
Black people can't do anything without their lives being in danger in this country. They can't exercise, they can't go to convenience stores, they can't read a book in their cars, they can't sleep in their own homes without the chance of being murdered by police. Being a police officer is dangerous, sure. However, they chose that career and with that comes an oath and a responsibility to "serve and protect" EVERYONE in their jurisdictions. "Police officer" isn't even on the top 10 most dangerous jobs in America list (the proof is on page 3 of this document.)
Being a police officer means abiding by the law. Police around the country for decades have been breaking laws (and ignoring their training!) as they kill Black people unjustly. If a police officer breaks laws, they deserve to be fired and convicted just like the rest of us. Morally, a police officer's life is not worth more than anyone else's. It's not worth more than a black man's life, it's not worth more than a black woman's life, it's not worth more than a non-binary black person's or trans-black person's life, it's not worth more than a black child's life.
This is not directed at the "good" cops, obviously, and I hate that I feel the need to even write that. But it is directed at every single one of them who actively ignore what the "bad" ones are doing. It is directed at those who have the power to speak up, yet stay silent. It is calling out the ones who stand idly by as their colleagues throw their training out the window and murder innocent people. When we say "police" we are referring to the entire system, which was built on racist ideals. Many of the first police officers hunted down slaves who had run away. Research the history of policing before you assume that I'm saying "all cops are bad." Policing is the overarching issue, not police officers in general.
Being a police officer means abiding by the law. Police around the country for decades have been breaking laws (and ignoring their training!) as they kill Black people unjustly. If a police officer breaks laws, they deserve to be fired and convicted just like the rest of us. Morally, a police officer's life is not worth more than anyone else's. It's not worth more than a black man's life, it's not worth more than a black woman's life, it's not worth more than a non-binary black person's or trans-black person's life, it's not worth more than a black child's life.
This is not directed at the "good" cops, obviously, and I hate that I feel the need to even write that. But it is directed at every single one of them who actively ignore what the "bad" ones are doing. It is directed at those who have the power to speak up, yet stay silent. It is calling out the ones who stand idly by as their colleagues throw their training out the window and murder innocent people. When we say "police" we are referring to the entire system, which was built on racist ideals. Many of the first police officers hunted down slaves who had run away. Research the history of policing before you assume that I'm saying "all cops are bad." Policing is the overarching issue, not police officers in general.
all lives don't matter when black children have to constantly live in fear for themselves, their friends, & their loved ones because of the color of their skin
Imagine being a child and growing up seeing people who look like you being murdered ALL THE TIME, for no reason, and often by police officers (who you thought existed to protect your life, not take it.) Imagine saying goodbye to your father before he goes to the gas station or the park or even to church and never seeing him again. I strongly suggest watching the videos linked below to get some more perspective.
Black Parents Explain How to Deal with the Police: Arriel & Antjuan
Black Parents Explain How to Deal with the Police: Brianna & Roshunda
There are countless young people and children whose fathers, mothers, siblings, grandparents, aunts, and uncles have been wiped out of their lives, but not from their memories. George Floyd's granddaughter will grow up without him in her life. Then, she will fear for her own because she will remember why he died.
Black Parents Explain How to Deal with the Police: Arriel & Antjuan
Black Parents Explain How to Deal with the Police: Brianna & Roshunda
There are countless young people and children whose fathers, mothers, siblings, grandparents, aunts, and uncles have been wiped out of their lives, but not from their memories. George Floyd's granddaughter will grow up without him in her life. Then, she will fear for her own because she will remember why he died.
all lives don't matter when the president praises white people with guns and uses racist phrases against Black people protesting an actual injustice
When white men demanding haircuts and beer during pandemic lock downs took their GUNS to their capitol building in April, Donald Trump tweeted on May 1 that they were "good people, but they are angry" and "They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal."
In late May when people began protesting and rioting over the senseless murder of George Floyd in broad daylight by the police, Trump then tweeted, "these THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen...when the looting starts, the shooting starts." No "good people," no "they want their lives back again," no "see them, talk to them." Interesting.
So when it's white people toting guns over their shoulders, demanding haircuts, they're not threatened with violence at all. But when black people are distraught over yet another murder of an innocent black man, they're labeled as thugs and threatened with BEING SHOT. The phrase "when the looting starts, the shooting starts" was taken directly from a former Miami police chief who said it in 1967 against black people. The last time I checked, shooting someone means you don't think their life matters much at all.
In late May when people began protesting and rioting over the senseless murder of George Floyd in broad daylight by the police, Trump then tweeted, "these THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen...when the looting starts, the shooting starts." No "good people," no "they want their lives back again," no "see them, talk to them." Interesting.
So when it's white people toting guns over their shoulders, demanding haircuts, they're not threatened with violence at all. But when black people are distraught over yet another murder of an innocent black man, they're labeled as thugs and threatened with BEING SHOT. The phrase "when the looting starts, the shooting starts" was taken directly from a former Miami police chief who said it in 1967 against black people. The last time I checked, shooting someone means you don't think their life matters much at all.
all lives don't matter when you care more about property than them.
I'm beginning to see a parallel between people being more concerned with property damage and people owning Black slaves as property in the past. There was an entire war fought so Confederates could keep their "rights" to own people as property. (reminder: they lost)
Why are people up in arms over property damage but silent about the MURDER of a HUMAN BEING? It is very clear that anyone constantly posting about "looting" and the wrongness of it is attempting to shift the focus away from the peaceful protests against police brutality. Police brutality is the focus. Stop ignoring it and stop trying to overshadow it. We cannot forget that an innocent man was murdered in broad daylight by a police officer who was breaking the law and using excessive force while the man was handcuffed, face-down, on the ground. Why aren't people more upset about that? Brian Cornell, the CEO of Target himself, is in full support of the protesters and does not care about one or two Target stores being pillaged because he understands the actual focus.
On top of that, there are multiple videos showing white men (and a few women) dressed in all-black clothing smashing windows and tagging buildings for the heck of it. They are shown destroying property and then walking away as protesters call out, "Why are you doing that? Stop! They're going to blame us!" These people causing more destruction are NOT part of the protests. Stop associating the two. These are instigators of violence trying to tarnish a peaceful movement and demonstration.
Also, as one of my friends mentioned to me, it is not the job of protesters to babysit the few who do break away to commit illegal acts. Black organizers of the protests have called people out for it, but they cannot control everyone. The point here is that the protests happening around the world were never organized with violence in mind. It is often outsiders coming in and inciting violence.
People don't like it when we call out the police brutality and blatant racism of several officers, yet they associate a few protesters with an entire movement to derail and discredit it.
The value of property does not outweigh the value of a human being's life. Rethink your priorities.
Why are people up in arms over property damage but silent about the MURDER of a HUMAN BEING? It is very clear that anyone constantly posting about "looting" and the wrongness of it is attempting to shift the focus away from the peaceful protests against police brutality. Police brutality is the focus. Stop ignoring it and stop trying to overshadow it. We cannot forget that an innocent man was murdered in broad daylight by a police officer who was breaking the law and using excessive force while the man was handcuffed, face-down, on the ground. Why aren't people more upset about that? Brian Cornell, the CEO of Target himself, is in full support of the protesters and does not care about one or two Target stores being pillaged because he understands the actual focus.
On top of that, there are multiple videos showing white men (and a few women) dressed in all-black clothing smashing windows and tagging buildings for the heck of it. They are shown destroying property and then walking away as protesters call out, "Why are you doing that? Stop! They're going to blame us!" These people causing more destruction are NOT part of the protests. Stop associating the two. These are instigators of violence trying to tarnish a peaceful movement and demonstration.
Also, as one of my friends mentioned to me, it is not the job of protesters to babysit the few who do break away to commit illegal acts. Black organizers of the protests have called people out for it, but they cannot control everyone. The point here is that the protests happening around the world were never organized with violence in mind. It is often outsiders coming in and inciting violence.
People don't like it when we call out the police brutality and blatant racism of several officers, yet they associate a few protesters with an entire movement to derail and discredit it.
The value of property does not outweigh the value of a human being's life. Rethink your priorities.
all lives don't matter when you try to deny them their basic human rights
How difficult is this to understand? We are all humans, we all want the same things: love, security, respect, understanding, basic rights. That includes access to healthcare, education, housing, voting, equal pay, employment, job security, equal sentencing for crimes, the list goes ON.
We still have people being detained by ICE and children being locked in cages. Their lives absolutely do not matter to anyone saying "all lives matter," or else they wouldn't be separated from their families and locked in cages.
We still have people toting guns around as "necessities," more like accessories, to incite more fear as mass shootings continue.
We still have people, especially minorities, left without the proper healthcare during a worldwide pandemic.
We still have people who say "all lives matter," yet, they are publicly declaring that they will plow their vehicles into crowds. That is appalling and contradictory.
We still have people being detained by ICE and children being locked in cages. Their lives absolutely do not matter to anyone saying "all lives matter," or else they wouldn't be separated from their families and locked in cages.
We still have people toting guns around as "necessities," more like accessories, to incite more fear as mass shootings continue.
We still have people, especially minorities, left without the proper healthcare during a worldwide pandemic.
We still have people who say "all lives matter," yet, they are publicly declaring that they will plow their vehicles into crowds. That is appalling and contradictory.
All lives didn't matter until we said black lives matter
When you say "All Lives Matter", you're defending the ones who killed those lives that you claim matter.
When you say "All Lives Matter", you're dismissing a movement meant to bring awareness to a minority group that is being treated unjustly.
When you say "All Lives Matter", you're distracting from all the real struggles that Black people and other minority groups face.
When you say "All Lives Matter", you're saying that we should go back to ignoring institutionalized and systemic injustice.
When you say "All Lives Matter", you're leaving out BLACK lives, as well as countless more, even if you think you're including them.
Stop refusing to see the harm you are causing Black people and many more minorities!
All lives don't matter, and it's made clearer every time you make the ignorant remark that they "all" do. It is clear that our justice system was built not to care about "all" lives. It is clear that many people today still do not believe that "all" lives DO matter.
[A religious analogy: Christians seem to be forgetting Matthew 18 and Luke 15, in which a shepherd leaves 99 sheep to go after one that is in danger. Don't the 99 matter, you ask? Well, yeah, but only one was in imminent DANGER. Black lives are in danger in our society. Leave your white fragility behind and fight for their protection.]
Black people, Indigenous people, Hispanic/Latinx people, Asian people, Middle Eastern people, mixed people, GSRM, differently-abled people, womxn, etc. are beyond TIRED of seeing and hearing that phrase. To them, it is demeaning and insensitive. They don't believe you when you say it, no matter what your intentions are. You cannot dispute the history of a phrase created to silence Black people. Listen to their concerns and realize your mistake, if you truly care.
Continually saying "ALL LIVES MATTER" is ignorant and harmful to many communities who have been systemically and systematically oppressed throughout this nation's entire history. With as much information as we have at our fingertips, we have zero excuse to not know American history and we have zero excuse to not know about the true origins of movement slogans.
Systemic and institutionalized racism has devalued many lives over others. It is our duty, as those deemed "more worthy" by the system, to stand up and speak out against it. BLACK LIVES MATTER.
When you say "All Lives Matter", you're dismissing a movement meant to bring awareness to a minority group that is being treated unjustly.
When you say "All Lives Matter", you're distracting from all the real struggles that Black people and other minority groups face.
When you say "All Lives Matter", you're saying that we should go back to ignoring institutionalized and systemic injustice.
When you say "All Lives Matter", you're leaving out BLACK lives, as well as countless more, even if you think you're including them.
Stop refusing to see the harm you are causing Black people and many more minorities!
All lives don't matter, and it's made clearer every time you make the ignorant remark that they "all" do. It is clear that our justice system was built not to care about "all" lives. It is clear that many people today still do not believe that "all" lives DO matter.
[A religious analogy: Christians seem to be forgetting Matthew 18 and Luke 15, in which a shepherd leaves 99 sheep to go after one that is in danger. Don't the 99 matter, you ask? Well, yeah, but only one was in imminent DANGER. Black lives are in danger in our society. Leave your white fragility behind and fight for their protection.]
Black people, Indigenous people, Hispanic/Latinx people, Asian people, Middle Eastern people, mixed people, GSRM, differently-abled people, womxn, etc. are beyond TIRED of seeing and hearing that phrase. To them, it is demeaning and insensitive. They don't believe you when you say it, no matter what your intentions are. You cannot dispute the history of a phrase created to silence Black people. Listen to their concerns and realize your mistake, if you truly care.
Continually saying "ALL LIVES MATTER" is ignorant and harmful to many communities who have been systemically and systematically oppressed throughout this nation's entire history. With as much information as we have at our fingertips, we have zero excuse to not know American history and we have zero excuse to not know about the true origins of movement slogans.
Systemic and institutionalized racism has devalued many lives over others. It is our duty, as those deemed "more worthy" by the system, to stand up and speak out against it. BLACK LIVES MATTER.