#blacklivesmatter

I was just recently discussing the movement with some of the youth I work with and just about word for word this is the definition I gave and also what we created as the definition of the black lives matter movement.

The black lives matter movement is about drawing attention to police brutality and police killing black men and women. It started as a social media hashtag but has become an entire organization and movement that are involved in advocating for black men and women and participating and leading protests. Their goal is to draw attention to the issues going on in our everyday life that America has become numb to. They are not saying other lives do not matter and are not encouraging the death and violence against police officers but are asking for justice for those who have suffered and experienced injustice.

I'm fairly familiar with the movement, who they are, and what they stand for so I'm not sure I have any questions in the traditional sense. However, after watching the Superbowl on Sunday and the riots that broke out in Philly afterwards I just don't understand how those "fans" could light fires in the streets, flip cars and caused overall chaos in the city but when a group wants to peacefully protest and march for the lives taken by police shootings they are faced with teargas, military enforcement and arrest. Why do we allow one but not the other? And unfortunately I do know the answer because it has to do with race and how we view groups of people and what we value more in this country.

Here's a link that talks about just that.