The BLM movement needs to new name to be accepted by all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about “ALL Lives Matter”?

Let's see: What about "With Liberty and Justice for All?" How's that been going for Black Lives these last 300 years or so?

It’s not about the last 300 years. Look at today. We had a great black president. We have many successful black folks. But, they don’t count.

[Anonymous]

If the name “Black Lives Matter” is what’s tripping you up, then you wouldn’t support the goals of the movement anyway. Shameful that you won’t fight police brutality because of a name!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know what it feels like. I am a white person who was bussed in the 60s to a black elementary school. I was bullied and threatened constantly because I was white.

You are a tone deaf boomer to think it is appropriate to post this at this time.

DP. Why do you think it is okay for you to be intolerant but you expect tolerance from others? You're a hypocrite (and probably other things …). If you expect tolerance then you need to practice tolerance. Until you realize that no one will be willing to listen to you.

I don’t need you to listen to me. You are the one claiming BLM is unfair because you were bullied in elementary school. It’s a ridiculous position.

You don't think that happened? You are racist and obnoxious. Its not about being unfair but don't expect everyone to follow one movement especially when there are not clear leaders, it is equally rooted in violence and if you look at statistics, whites, hispanics and unknown races are also murdered and no one seems to care about that.

I believe it happened. I don’t care. You can say you don’t support BLM and that is your choice. I’m not pretending your elementary school bullying is = to enduring hundreds of years of systemic oppression and violence.

DP. And that is your problem. You believe that racism occurred with another person but you choose not to care. Some day hopefully you'll mature and you'll understand why your attitude is holding you back. If you can't be tolerant then you can't expect tolerance.

Again, elementary kids bullying another kid is not on the level of oppression Black people as a whole have endured by every system in this country. Have a great day.

It kind of is because those children learned hate of white people at home.

You don't think it's possible for children to learn hate from actual white people? Children listen and learn from all of their experiences -- which, for most, include a lot more than "home".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the name “Black Lives Matter” is what’s tripping you up, then you wouldn’t support the goals of the movement anyway. Shameful that you won’t fight police brutality because of a name!

I wish it was just the name that’s tripping them up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The BLM needs to condemn looting and violent protests and stop being so pissed about every little thing (I don’t mean their main cause, but rather about people not being woke enough in their eyes). [/quote

Who hurt your feelings? I'm serious. It's hard for me to imagine that the BLM movement somehow officially complained about "people not being woke enough". If they have, please provide some quotes or something. As for the rest, it's not BLM who are looting or being violent. It is not solely up to them to "condemn" behavior that they are not responsible for and do not advocate for. In fact. BLM advocates for justice and peace. We do, however, need more people to condemn looting and violence. Perhaps, OP, you could take this on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a couple of PPs have already articulated well, black lives matter does not mean that all races do not matter. Nowhere in the movement's title does it say "only" black lives matter. Nowhere. Since this country's founding, black people have suffered discrimination and oppression, both at the individual and, most importantly and enduringly, systemic level. Just about every institution that this country holds dear - the police, schooling, higher education, government - upholds the legacy of racism through its discriminatory systems. This is not an opinion, it is a fact. Black lives matter does not mean that your non-black life does not matter (and really, it's not about you and is somewhat insensitive to make it about yourself). It means that at every level of our society, black lives are devalued. It is a cry for equality.

Furthermore, I think it is important to address the notion of white privilege, which can be tricky for some people to understand. This is a concept that takes a good deal of introspection. White privilege does not mean that your life isn't hard, or that you don't face other forms of systemic oppression (being a woman, being poor, being gay, being Jewish). BUT, it means that your race does not make your life harder and that there are certain privileges that come from being white. You are more likely to be hired for a job. You are more likely to be believed by doctors. You are more likely to receive a loan. You are more likely to see people who look like you on TV and in movies. You are more likely to be accepted to college (despite what you might say about affirmative action, which works to narrow a preexisting gap, this is absolutely true, and I don't want to hear anyone try to say that being a URM gives you an advantage in college admissions processes; that statement is ill-informed and frankly racist). And, as is particularly relevant now, you are less likely to be arrested, incarcerated, or killed by the police. Please do not try to say that white people commit fewer crimes. White people commit the same "crimes" for which black people are most routinely arrested and imprisoned, such as marijuana possession. In the eyes of the law, white people are simply given the benefit of the doubt. So, here comes what is perhaps the hardest pill to swallow: all white people are racist. This does not mean that you are some sort of Klan-like figure who hates every black person he sees (although these people still exist). It means that you actively benefit from the systemic oppression of black people. And it is our responsibility as non-black people, and particularly white people, to confront our privilege and do something about it.

So, what can we do? We can educate ourselves - books such as White Fragility, The Fire Next Time, and How to be an Anti-Racist are all good starting places. Listen to black organizers in your community (of which there are countless many in DC) and figure out how best to support them. Engage online and offline. One of the best and most meaningful things you can do is give money; a quick Google search will direct you to bail funds, community outreach programs, and more. Talk to your family members and kids about race. Write your representatives. Go campaign - it is an election year, after all. Sign petitions. Make better hiring choices. Don't call the police because you feel "threatened" by someone who is just minding their own business. Listen to and believe black voices. Read up on your American history, and look at how black perspectives have historically been ignored. Examine some of our cultural imaginaries, such as the idea that the Boston Tea Party was a Patriotic Act of Revolution, but these riots are "thuggish." (Hint: the Boston Tea Party resulted in lots of property loss and was hardly popular with the British and bystanding colonists alike. How do we remember them now?). And please don't invoke MLK's name when trying to criticize these uprisings. As he himself said, "rioting is the language of the unheard." That double standard is precisely why we need to encourage the notion that black lives matter. Because black people are criminalized, criticized, and subjugated as the result of this country's racist history. And why does property damage upset you more than the murder of innocent people?[b] Think deeply about that.

If you're on this thread, you probably have the privilege to do something. Instead of thinking about how much the rioting upsets you, think about what you can do to address the underlying causes. These riots don't happen in a vacuum - they are because black people have been crying out (peacefully often) for people to help them, and still yet they are derided and their oppression continues. This is why they say "black lives matter" and not all lives - because "all" lives do not face the discrimination they do.

Please, I urge you, try to understand what it means for black lives to matter, and what you can do to make it so.

Black lives matter, and too few people know and show it.

TL;DR: Black lives matter doesn't mean that white lives don't. It just means that white lives don't ever face the same oppression that black ones do. And it white people's responsibility to stop that.

+1

But instead if stating it as their responsibility to change it, more like white people Acknowledge their privilege.

Yeah, why don’t you ask some unemployed coal minor to check his white privilege?

And why don't you read Hillbilly Elegy -- and note how quickly the white guy's prospects improved once he got the right girlfriend, networked a little bit, and worked on his table manners. That kind of transformation is a privilege that is pretty much reserved for white people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This thread could be a great opportunity to bring new people into the movement. But it seems like a lot of people just prefer to call other people racist instead of trying to explain the movement to someone asking questions. [/quote

True. But a lot of people aren't asking genuine questions -- they're criticizing a name instead of focusing on values and goals. If people are really concerned about equality and justice and peace and ending police brutality, I would hope that they would already be working for these goals in some way.

Having said that, what questions do you have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The name comes across as "only black lives matter" and I know that is not the intention.

OP, you don’t have to join a BLM club or carry BLM merch.
All you need to do is try to be an anti-racist and do what you kind to prevent racial injustice.
That’s all. It can be our secret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about “ALL Lives Matter”?

Let's see: What about "With Liberty and Justice for All?" How's that been going for Black Lives these last 300 years or so?

It’s not about the last 300 years. Look at today. We had a great black president. We have many successful black folks. But, they don’t count.

Great. A very small number of people have managed to succeed in the face of almost insurmountable odds. I think that's wonderful. I also think that's not enough. What part of "for All" do you not care about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a couple of PPs have already articulated well, black lives matter does not mean that all races do not matter. Nowhere in the movement's title does it say "only" black lives matter. Nowhere. Since this country's founding, black people have suffered discrimination and oppression, both at the individual and, most importantly and enduringly, systemic level. Just about every institution that this country holds dear - the police, schooling, higher education, government - upholds the legacy of racism through its discriminatory systems. This is not an opinion, it is a fact. Black lives matter does not mean that your non-black life does not matter (and really, it's not about you and is somewhat insensitive to make it about yourself). It means that at every level of our society, black lives are devalued. It is a cry for equality.

Furthermore, I think it is important to address the notion of white privilege, which can be tricky for some people to understand. This is a concept that takes a good deal of introspection. White privilege does not mean that your life isn't hard, or that you don't face other forms of systemic oppression (being a woman, being poor, being gay, being Jewish). BUT, it means that your race does not make your life harder and that there are certain privileges that come from being white. You are more likely to be hired for a job. You are more likely to be believed by doctors. You are more likely to receive a loan. You are more likely to see people who look like you on TV and in movies. You are more likely to be accepted to college (despite what you might say about affirmative action, which works to narrow a preexisting gap, this is absolutely true, and I don't want to hear anyone try to say that being a URM gives you an advantage in college admissions processes; that statement is ill-informed and frankly racist). And, as is particularly relevant now, you are less likely to be arrested, incarcerated, or killed by the police. Please do not try to say that white people commit fewer crimes. White people commit the same "crimes" for which black people are most routinely arrested and imprisoned, such as marijuana possession. In the eyes of the law, white people are simply given the benefit of the doubt. So, here comes what is perhaps the hardest pill to swallow: all white people are racist. This does not mean that you are some sort of Klan-like figure who hates every black person he sees (although these people still exist). It means that you actively benefit from the systemic oppression of black people. And it is our responsibility as non-black people, and particularly white people, to confront our privilege and do something about it.

So, what can we do? We can educate ourselves - books such as White Fragility, The Fire Next Time, and How to be an Anti-Racist are all good starting places. Listen to black organizers in your community (of which there are countless many in DC) and figure out how best to support them. Engage online and offline. One of the best and most meaningful things you can do is give money; a quick Google search will direct you to bail funds, community outreach programs, and more. Talk to your family members and kids about race. Write your representatives. Go campaign - it is an election year, after all. Sign petitions. Make better hiring choices. Don't call the police because you feel "threatened" by someone who is just minding their own business. Listen to and believe black voices. Read up on your American history, and look at how black perspectives have historically been ignored. Examine some of our cultural imaginaries, such as the idea that the Boston Tea Party was a Patriotic Act of Revolution, but these riots are "thuggish." (Hint: the Boston Tea Party resulted in lots of property loss and was hardly popular with the British and bystanding colonists alike. How do we remember them now?). And please don't invoke MLK's name when trying to criticize these uprisings. As he himself said, "rioting is the language of the unheard." That double standard is precisely why we need to encourage the notion that black lives matter. Because black people are criminalized, criticized, and subjugated as the result of this country's racist history. And why does property damage upset you more than the murder of innocent people?[b] Think deeply about that.

If you're on this thread, you probably have the privilege to do something. Instead of thinking about how much the rioting upsets you, think about what you can do to address the underlying causes. These riots don't happen in a vacuum - they are because black people have been crying out (peacefully often) for people to help them, and still yet they are derided and their oppression continues. This is why they say "black lives matter" and not all lives - because "all" lives do not face the discrimination they do.

Please, I urge you, try to understand what it means for black lives to matter, and what you can do to make it so.

Black lives matter, and too few people know and show it.

TL;DR: Black lives matter doesn't mean that white lives don't. It just means that white lives don't ever face the same oppression that black ones do. And it white people's responsibility to stop that.

+1

But instead if stating it as their responsibility to change it, more like white people Acknowledge their privilege.

Yeah, why don’t you ask some unemployed coal minor to check his white privilege?

And why don't you read Hillbilly Elegy -- and note how quickly the white guy's prospects improved once he got the right girlfriend, networked a little bit, and worked on his table manners. That kind of transformation is a privilege that is pretty much reserved for white people.

Yeah because deprived trailer park to Yale Law is so common. Which is why Yale Law is just filled with dudes from trailers every year. He's totally a representative sample, great logical reasoning here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a couple of PPs have already articulated well, black lives matter does not mean that all races do not matter. Nowhere in the movement's title does it say "only" black lives matter. Nowhere. Since this country's founding, black people have suffered discrimination and oppression, both at the individual and, most importantly and enduringly, systemic level. Just about every institution that this country holds dear - the police, schooling, higher education, government - upholds the legacy of racism through its discriminatory systems. This is not an opinion, it is a fact. Black lives matter does not mean that your non-black life does not matter (and really, it's not about you and is somewhat insensitive to make it about yourself). It means that at every level of our society, black lives are devalued. It is a cry for equality.

Furthermore, I think it is important to address the notion of white privilege, which can be tricky for some people to understand. This is a concept that takes a good deal of introspection. White privilege does not mean that your life isn't hard, or that you don't face other forms of systemic oppression (being a woman, being poor, being gay, being Jewish). BUT, it means that your race does not make your life harder and that there are certain privileges that come from being white. You are more likely to be hired for a job. You are more likely to be believed by doctors. You are more likely to receive a loan. You are more likely to see people who look like you on TV and in movies. You are more likely to be accepted to college (despite what you might say about affirmative action, which works to narrow a preexisting gap, this is absolutely true, and I don't want to hear anyone try to say that being a URM gives you an advantage in college admissions processes; that statement is ill-informed and frankly racist). And, as is particularly relevant now, you are less likely to be arrested, incarcerated, or killed by the police. Please do not try to say that white people commit fewer crimes. White people commit the same "crimes" for which black people are most routinely arrested and imprisoned, such as marijuana possession. In the eyes of the law, white people are simply given the benefit of the doubt. So, here comes what is perhaps the hardest pill to swallow: all white people are racist. This does not mean that you are some sort of Klan-like figure who hates every black person he sees (although these people still exist). It means that you actively benefit from the systemic oppression of black people. And it is our responsibility as non-black people, and particularly white people, to confront our privilege and do something about it.

So, what can we do? We can educate ourselves - books such as White Fragility, The Fire Next Time, and How to be an Anti-Racist are all good starting places. Listen to black organizers in your community (of which there are countless many in DC) and figure out how best to support them. Engage online and offline. One of the best and most meaningful things you can do is give money; a quick Google search will direct you to bail funds, community outreach programs, and more. Talk to your family members and kids about race. Write your representatives. Go campaign - it is an election year, after all. Sign petitions. Make better hiring choices. Don't call the police because you feel "threatened" by someone who is just minding their own business. Listen to and believe black voices. Read up on your American history, and look at how black perspectives have historically been ignored. Examine some of our cultural imaginaries, such as the idea that the Boston Tea Party was a Patriotic Act of Revolution, but these riots are "thuggish." (Hint: the Boston Tea Party resulted in lots of property loss and was hardly popular with the British and bystanding colonists alike. How do we remember them now?). And please don't invoke MLK's name when trying to criticize these uprisings. As he himself said, "rioting is the language of the unheard." That double standard is precisely why we need to encourage the notion that black lives matter. Because black people are criminalized, criticized, and subjugated as the result of this country's racist history. And why does property damage upset you more than the murder of innocent people?[b] Think deeply about that.

If you're on this thread, you probably have the privilege to do something. Instead of thinking about how much the rioting upsets you, think about what you can do to address the underlying causes. These riots don't happen in a vacuum - they are because black people have been crying out (peacefully often) for people to help them, and still yet they are derided and their oppression continues. This is why they say "black lives matter" and not all lives - because "all" lives do not face the discrimination they do.

Please, I urge you, try to understand what it means for black lives to matter, and what you can do to make it so.

Black lives matter, and too few people know and show it.

TL;DR: Black lives matter doesn't mean that white lives don't. It just means that white lives don't ever face the same oppression that black ones do. And it white people's responsibility to stop that.

+1

But instead if stating it as their responsibility to change it, more like white people Acknowledge their privilege.

Yeah, why don’t you ask some unemployed coal minor to check his white privilege?

And why don't you read Hillbilly Elegy -- and note how quickly the white guy's prospects improved once he got the right girlfriend, networked a little bit, and worked on his table manners. That kind of transformation is a privilege that is pretty much reserved for white people.

Yeah because deprived trailer park to Yale Law is so common. Which is why Yale Law is just filled with dudes from trailers every year. He's totally a representative sample, great logical reasoning here.

Nobody's saying that that man wouldn't face discrimination or hardship on the basis of class, which is of course important and warrants addressing but that is not the discussion at hand.

That man wouldn't face oppression and discrimination BECAUSE he is white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about “ALL Lives Matter”?

Let's see: What about "With Liberty and Justice for All?" How's that been going for Black Lives these last 300 years or so?

It’s not about the last 300 years. Look at today. We had a great black president. We have many successful black folks. But, they don’t count.

Great. A very small number of people have managed to succeed in the face of almost insurmountable odds. I think that's wonderful. I also think that's not enough. What part of "for All" do you not care about?

Actually many people have... many of all races and ethnicities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a couple of PPs have already articulated well, black lives matter does not mean that all races do not matter. Nowhere in the movement's title does it say "only" black lives matter. Nowhere. Since this country's founding, black people have suffered discrimination and oppression, both at the individual and, most importantly and enduringly, systemic level. Just about every institution that this country holds dear - the police, schooling, higher education, government - upholds the legacy of racism through its discriminatory systems. This is not an opinion, it is a fact. Black lives matter does not mean that your non-black life does not matter (and really, it's not about you and is somewhat insensitive to make it about yourself). It means that at every level of our society, black lives are devalued. It is a cry for equality.

Furthermore, I think it is important to address the notion of white privilege, which can be tricky for some people to understand. This is a concept that takes a good deal of introspection. White privilege does not mean that your life isn't hard, or that you don't face other forms of systemic oppression (being a woman, being poor, being gay, being Jewish). BUT, it means that your race does not make your life harder and that there are certain privileges that come from being white. You are more likely to be hired for a job. You are more likely to be believed by doctors. You are more likely to receive a loan. You are more likely to see people who look like you on TV and in movies. You are more likely to be accepted to college (despite what you might say about affirmative action, which works to narrow a preexisting gap, this is absolutely true, and I don't want to hear anyone try to say that being a URM gives you an advantage in college admissions processes; that statement is ill-informed and frankly racist). And, as is particularly relevant now, you are less likely to be arrested, incarcerated, or killed by the police. Please do not try to say that white people commit fewer crimes. White people commit the same "crimes" for which black people are most routinely arrested and imprisoned, such as marijuana possession. In the eyes of the law, white people are simply given the benefit of the doubt. So, here comes what is perhaps the hardest pill to swallow: all white people are racist. This does not mean that you are some sort of Klan-like figure who hates every black person he sees (although these people still exist). It means that you actively benefit from the systemic oppression of black people. And it is our responsibility as non-black people, and particularly white people, to confront our privilege and do something about it.

So, what can we do? We can educate ourselves - books such as White Fragility, The Fire Next Time, and How to be an Anti-Racist are all good starting places. Listen to black organizers in your community (of which there are countless many in DC) and figure out how best to support them. Engage online and offline. One of the best and most meaningful things you can do is give money; a quick Google search will direct you to bail funds, community outreach programs, and more. Talk to your family members and kids about race. Write your representatives. Go campaign - it is an election year, after all. Sign petitions. Make better hiring choices. Don't call the police because you feel "threatened" by someone who is just minding their own business. Listen to and believe black voices. Read up on your American history, and look at how black perspectives have historically been ignored. Examine some of our cultural imaginaries, such as the idea that the Boston Tea Party was a Patriotic Act of Revolution, but these riots are "thuggish." (Hint: the Boston Tea Party resulted in lots of property loss and was hardly popular with the British and bystanding colonists alike. How do we remember them now?). And please don't invoke MLK's name when trying to criticize these uprisings. As he himself said, "rioting is the language of the unheard." That double standard is precisely why we need to encourage the notion that black lives matter. Because black people are criminalized, criticized, and subjugated as the result of this country's racist history. And why does property damage upset you more than the murder of innocent people?[b] Think deeply about that.

If you're on this thread, you probably have the privilege to do something. Instead of thinking about how much the rioting upsets you, think about what you can do to address the underlying causes. These riots don't happen in a vacuum - they are because black people have been crying out (peacefully often) for people to help them, and still yet they are derided and their oppression continues. This is why they say "black lives matter" and not all lives - because "all" lives do not face the discrimination they do.

Please, I urge you, try to understand what it means for black lives to matter, and what you can do to make it so.

Black lives matter, and too few people know and show it.

TL;DR: Black lives matter doesn't mean that white lives don't. It just means that white lives don't ever face the same oppression that black ones do. And it white people's responsibility to stop that.

+1

But instead if stating it as their responsibility to change it, more like white people Acknowledge their privilege.

Yeah, why don’t you ask some unemployed coal minor to check his white privilege?

And why don't you read Hillbilly Elegy -- and note how quickly the white guy's prospects improved once he got the right girlfriend, networked a little bit, and worked on his table manners. That kind of transformation is a privilege that is pretty much reserved for white people.

Yeah because deprived trailer park to Yale Law is so common. Which is why Yale Law is just filled with dudes from trailers every year. He's totally a representative sample, great logical reasoning here.

You brought up the "privilege" of a white coal miner. I gave you an example of how such privilege might work. I even gave you a real life example -- including an easy to access memoir. I never stated that this was a "totally representative sample" or any type of sample. And, of course, you did not request this in your jibe. Logical propositions usually garner logical responses. Peace out!

[Anonymous]

I come from a family of immigrants. My grandparents all came here when they were little, all escaping poverty or pogroms. Our last names were changed by Ellis Island officials because you couldn’t get a job with an obviously Jewish or Japanese name. My grandfathers fought in WWII, one after being in an internment camp. My mother was called a Jap on the streets of New York City. My father was told by a man in Virginia “if you was a Jew I would kill you.” He prayed the man didn’t realize he is Jewish.

They worked their way up from East Side tenements, and my parents are now rich New Yorkers.

None of the suffering my family faced—or the discrimination Jews face—comes close to what Black Americans have faced, and continue to face.

The Jewish-American house has a fire, but the Black American house has the biggest blaze of all and it’s been burning for 400 years. It’s up to all of us to help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The name comes across as "only black lives matter" and I know that is not the intention.

OP, you don’t have to join a BLM club or carry BLM merch.
All you need to do is try to be an anti-racist and do what you kind to prevent racial injustice.
That’s all. It can be our secret.

Winner here!!!!!!👏