All Lives Matter. Wait! Hear me out.
I've come to the conclusion that the Black Lives Matter organization is going to have to collaborate with other community organizations to be taken seriously. People don't trust them. I also understand that a lot of people won't want to get involved with them and that's OK too. At least they will have tried. It's like when Jesus sent the disciples to spread the gospel. He told them that if the message wasn't received wherever they preached, to shake the dust off and move along.
I'm paraphrasing of course, but I'm sure you understand. Anyway, if BLM is what they claim to be, a righteous organization, it shouldn't be a problem.
It's my understanding that BLM was formed to combat police brutality although there is conspiracy concerning its founders and funding, I'm calling it a conspiracy because I haven't researched it, I'm not getting into that. One of three co-founder's Alicia Garza, an activist, and writer from Oakland California, is described on the BLM website as a "Queer woman challenging the misconception that only cisgender Black men encounter police and state violence." Garza believes that the movement should focus on race, gender, sexual orientation, and gender equality. The site also describes BLM as a globally recognized organizing project, focused on combating anti-Black state-sanctioned violence and the oppression of all Black people.
My point is that the masses are questioning the intentions and integrity of the movement, and the majority of Americans want to know why BLM won't address violence and poverty in disenfranchised Black communities.
I challenge those that question BLM to raise their voices and bring the receipts. Share the information if that's how you feel but the hearsay has to stop. It's too many “I heard” theories out there for me. I know that I don't know enough so I tread lightly on the subject. I will say this to the “All Lives Matter” crowd though. I've heard them say that white men get killed at higher rates than black men. If that's true, why haven't you rang the alarm before now? Why did it take Black Americans speaking out, for you to share that fact? Also if this is true, do you plan to organize a movement in protest or just continue to harass BLM? I figure if you can't add to a thing, you should leave it alone. If it doesn't serve you, you should move along.
While I don't subscribe to any group or theory, my thoughts are these. I hate that the culture of Black America is displayed in the mainstream as overly-sexual, overly-violent, and uneducated. Always the butt of the joke. We have to understand that sometimes the media is the only representation that we have of each other too. Believe it or not, some of us have never mixed and mingled, funny I know. I want the world to know that Black America is not monolithic and we have to stop being treated as such. We don't always agree nor do we desire the same things. I'm certain that it is the same for any nationality and I suggest we all broaden our horizons.
I'd like to think of myself as a product of Malcolm X, Assata Shakur, and her godson the immortal Tupac Shakur.
Brother Malcolm taught me that preaching hate went against the true glory of God, but that self-preservation was vital. Assata taught me to use my head and my voice and never stand down. Tupac taught me to love and protect my people and I thank the spirit of peace and protection that guides me through it all.
I do unto others as they do unto me. I return whichever energy is presented, but I like to believe that I have self-control, lol. The moral of the story just be good to people. We aren't the enemy of each other, it's all a distraction. What are we missing out on while we're fighting?
I'm going to dedicate some time to research their website. If you care to join me, you can visit the website here: https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-matters-2020/
Until next time... Belle Heiress