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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here: I did not see a full explanation in the previous replies in this thread. I did not ask the name to be changed. I just was seeking to understand why the term has such a negative connotation?

Because people who don't want to address the movement's legitimate grievances deliberately misconstrued it so they could make it about them. If the name was changed, they'd find some other reason not to support it.

No, the legitimate grievances of a movement against police brutality would be best heard if they focused on police brutality and made ALL people feel that they have a stake in specific, concrete changes in policing. Most of these protesters cannot articulate what "change" they want. None of us want untrained cops or choke-holds. I think we all support body cams. We don't want militarized police units and people being SWATTED. We all want our 4th amendment rights protected. We don't want civil seizures of assets. Etc., Etc. If we want these things, and want our police departments to respect all people, than the best way to do it is not to create factions or alienate people by screaming at them while they eat in a restaurant.

Unfortunately, when people say that it is OK to riot, throw things at police, ambush police, etc., you end up with the opposite result. Cops will be more paranoid and quicker to shoot. Police departments will invest more heavily in military style equipment and drones. And unfortunately, police departments are unable to recruit enough talented people to act as cops. All of these things seem to have been exacerbated since BLM started. And let's just say that I don't think the Ferguson or Baltimore riots did much to improve race relations. Do black lives matter, definitely. But this is not the name nor the tactics to achieve what they want. But instead of evaluating their success and failure, they can just blame the lack of change on racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All lives matter.

That is true, but only in theory. Because right now, NOT all lives matter. You can't say "All Lives Matter!" when one part of the ALL is being discriminated against over and over.

We know this is true because time and time again, BLACK people are singled out and killed for simply existing.

Therefore, until BLACK lives matter, all lives DO NOT matter.

All means all.

Lots of these killings are problematic, but please don't scare people into thinking that they are targeted for simply existing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here: I did not see a full explanation in the previous replies in this thread. I did not ask the name to be changed. I just was seeking to understand why the term has such a negative connotation?

Because people who don't want to address the movement's legitimate grievances deliberately misconstrued it so they could make it about them. If the name was changed, they'd find some other reason not to support it.

No, the legitimate grievances of a movement against police brutality would be best heard if they focused on police brutality and made ALL people feel that they have a stake in specific, concrete changes in policing. Most of these protesters cannot articulate what "change" they want. None of us want untrained cops or choke-holds. I think we all support body cams. We don't want militarized police units and people being SWATTED. We all want our 4th amendment rights protected. We don't want civil seizures of assets. Etc., Etc. If we want these things, and want our police departments to respect all people, than the best way to do it is not to create factions or alienate people by screaming at them while they eat in a restaurant.

Unfortunately, when people say that it is OK to riot, throw things at police, ambush police, etc., you end up with the opposite result. Cops will be more paranoid and quicker to shoot. Police departments will invest more heavily in military style equipment and drones. And unfortunately, police departments are unable to recruit enough talented people to act as cops. All of these things seem to have been exacerbated since BLM started. And let's just say that I don't think the Ferguson or Baltimore riots did much to improve race relations. Do black lives matter, definitely. But this is not the name nor the tactics to achieve what they want. But instead of evaluating their success and failure, they can just blame the lack of change on racism.

Mmm-hmmm whatever.
Anyway, name ain’t changing.
Period.

[Anonymous]

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.

And this is exactly why the name needs to be changed to be accepted by all. Because racism doesn't only exist one way.

Racism is about power. Black people can be prejudiced against white people but they lack the power to systemically subjugate white people the way White people have to them. You as a white person have never experienced racism. Prejudice, possibly. Systemic racism based on your color? Impossible.

Please elucidate the "systemic" in systemic racism. Whenever people ask what change is desired, they are told to "do the work." Well, no. We need you to point out what is "systemic" or "institutional" so that it can be changed.

[Anonymous]

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.

And this is exactly why the name needs to be changed to be accepted by all. Because racism doesn't only exist one way.

Racism is about power. Black people can be prejudiced against white people but they lack the power to systemically subjugate white people the way White people have to them. You as a white person have never experienced racism. Prejudice, possibly. Systemic racism based on your color? Impossible.

Please elucidate the "systemic" in systemic racism. Whenever people ask what change is desired, they are told to "do the work." Well, no. We need you to point out what is "systemic" or "institutional" so that it can be changed.

You on the internet already...Google the term systemic racism and educate yourself a little. You obviously ain't got shit else to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All lives matter.

That is true, but only in theory. Because right now, NOT all lives matter. You can't say "All Lives Matter!" when one part of the ALL is being discriminated against over and over.

We know this is true because time and time again, BLACK people are singled out and killed for simply existing.

Therefore, until BLACK lives matter, all lives DO NOT matter.

All means all.

Lots of these killings are problematic, but please don't scare people into thinking that they are targeted for simply existing.

Please go look up the murders. Plenty were killed for simply existing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All lives matter.

That is true, but only in theory. Because right now, NOT all lives matter. You can't say "All Lives Matter!" when one part of the ALL is being discriminated against over and over.

We know this is true because time and time again, BLACK people are singled out and killed for simply existing.

Therefore, until BLACK lives matter, all lives DO NOT matter.

All means all.

Lots of these killings are problematic, but please don't scare people into thinking that they are targeted for simply existing.

Please go look up the murders. Plenty were killed for simply existing.

Like Michael Brown. Hands up, don't shoot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here: I did not see a full explanation in the previous replies in this thread. I did not ask the name to be changed. I just was seeking to understand why the term has such a negative connotation?

Because people who don't want to address the movement's legitimate grievances deliberately misconstrued it so they could make it about them. If the name was changed, they'd find some other reason not to support it.

No, the legitimate grievances of a movement against police brutality would be best heard if they focused on police brutality and made ALL people feel that they have a stake in specific, concrete changes in policing. Most of these protesters cannot articulate what "change" they want. None of us want untrained cops or choke-holds. I think we all support body cams. We don't want militarized police units and people being SWATTED. We all want our 4th amendment rights protected. We don't want civil seizures of assets. Etc., Etc. If we want these things, and want our police departments to respect all people, than the best way to do it is not to create factions or alienate people by screaming at them while they eat in a restaurant.

Unfortunately, when people say that it is OK to riot, throw things at police, ambush police, etc., you end up with the opposite result. Cops will be more paranoid and quicker to shoot. Police departments will invest more heavily in military style equipment and drones. And unfortunately, police departments are unable to recruit enough talented people to act as cops. All of these things seem to have been exacerbated since BLM started. And let's just say that I don't think the Ferguson or Baltimore riots did much to improve race relations. Do black lives matter, definitely. But this is not the name nor the tactics to achieve what they want. But instead of evaluating their success and failure, they can just blame the lack of change on racism.

Mmm-hmmm whatever.
Anyway, name ain’t changing.
Period.

You've posted a lot of cute gifs, but you didn't address WHY people think the name should change. The PP above said it was racism and I was trying to give concrete reasons why someone might not support BLM as an organization. I thought we wanted to have the hard conversations?

[Anonymous]

Lol - they actually think they're gonna tell us what to call our movement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All lives matter.

That is true, but only in theory. Because right now, NOT all lives matter. You can't say "All Lives Matter!" when one part of the ALL is being discriminated against over and over.

We know this is true because time and time again, BLACK people are singled out and killed for simply existing.

Therefore, until BLACK lives matter, all lives DO NOT matter.

All means all.

Lots of these killings are problematic, but please don't scare people into thinking that they are targeted for simply existing.

Please go look up the murders. Plenty were killed for simply existing.

Like Michael Brown. Hands up, don't shoot.

I guess you never "did the work" of finding out what happened there.

[Anonymous]

All races can have racist individuals and for anyone who says otherwise is part of the problem, not solution. I worked for a year in the DC government. I was the only white person there and it was made clear to me they hired me to be their diversity, never gave me any real work to do, were completely inappropriate with their insistence I do things like put up their christmas tree in the office (which I did but they complained I did it wrong - I thought I did great given it was my first Christmas tree and I don't celebrate Christmas), wouldn't give me access or any supplies (fine, I brought my own including a computer) and made all kinds of racial and other comments. My only saving grace was I had some great co-workers who tried their best to shield me from much of it. They won and I quit but I just stayed to get the work experience on my resume even though I did secretarial and cleaning most of the time for them vs. my actual skill set.

I went to work for a county. White supervisor told me she was told not to hire me or any white people as they were looking for specific race but I was the only one qualified so they hired me. It was made clear I'd never be promoted and that my race was an issue. Not sure if it was good or bad she told me but it was clear what was going on in the agency.

These things should not happen to anyone of any race but they do. Its life. You either deal with it or leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All races can have racist individuals and for anyone who says otherwise is part of the problem, not solution. I worked for a year in the DC government. I was the only white person there and it was made clear to me they hired me to be their diversity, never gave me any real work to do, were completely inappropriate with their insistence I do things like put up their christmas tree in the office (which I did but they complained I did it wrong - I thought I did great given it was my first Christmas tree and I don't celebrate Christmas), wouldn't give me access or any supplies (fine, I brought my own including a computer) and made all kinds of racial and other comments. My only saving grace was I had some great co-workers who tried their best to shield me from much of it. They won and I quit but I just stayed to get the work experience on my resume even though I did secretarial and cleaning most of the time for them vs. my actual skill set.

I went to work for a county. White supervisor told me she was told not to hire me or any white people as they were looking for specific race but I was the only one qualified so they hired me. It was made clear I'd never be promoted and that my race was an issue. Not sure if it was good or bad she told me but it was clear what was going on in the agency.

These things should not happen to anyone of any race but they do. Its life. You either deal with it or leave.

Has absolutely nothing to do with the immutability of the name of this movement but thanks for the two cents.
It's Black Lives Matter and it's not changing.

[Anonymous]

This white lady has been saying it's a great name ever since I heard it. It does not reference power, which always creates a struggle. I think it's perfect and meaningful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All races can have racist individuals and for anyone who says otherwise is part of the problem, not solution. I worked for a year in the DC government. I was the only white person there and it was made clear to me they hired me to be their diversity, never gave me any real work to do, were completely inappropriate with their insistence I do things like put up their christmas tree in the office (which I did but they complained I did it wrong - I thought I did great given it was my first Christmas tree and I don't celebrate Christmas), wouldn't give me access or any supplies (fine, I brought my own including a computer) and made all kinds of racial and other comments. My only saving grace was I had some great co-workers who tried their best to shield me from much of it. They won and I quit but I just stayed to get the work experience on my resume even though I did secretarial and cleaning most of the time for them vs. my actual skill set.

I went to work for a county. White supervisor told me she was told not to hire me or any white people as they were looking for specific race but I was the only one qualified so they hired me. It was made clear I'd never be promoted and that my race was an issue. Not sure if it was good or bad she told me but it was clear what was going on in the agency.

These things should not happen to anyone of any race but they do. Its life. You either deal with it or leave.

Has absolutely nothing to do with the immutability of the name of this movement but thanks for the two cents.
It's Black Lives Matter and it's not changing.

That's fine but then the cause is for Black people, not all so stop putting out calls for White people to fix the problem when its not our cause. Our cause would be police brutality for all races. All races are impacted it but no other races who have faced police brutality are important and they probably deserved it according to many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All races can have racist individuals and for anyone who says otherwise is part of the problem, not solution. I worked for a year in the DC government. I was the only white person there and it was made clear to me they hired me to be their diversity, never gave me any real work to do, were completely inappropriate with their insistence I do things like put up their christmas tree in the office (which I did but they complained I did it wrong - I thought I did great given it was my first Christmas tree and I don't celebrate Christmas), wouldn't give me access or any supplies (fine, I brought my own including a computer) and made all kinds of racial and other comments. My only saving grace was I had some great co-workers who tried their best to shield me from much of it. They won and I quit but I just stayed to get the work experience on my resume even though I did secretarial and cleaning most of the time for them vs. my actual skill set.

I went to work for a county. White supervisor told me she was told not to hire me or any white people as they were looking for specific race but I was the only one qualified so they hired me. It was made clear I'd never be promoted and that my race was an issue. Not sure if it was good or bad she told me but it was clear what was going on in the agency.

These things should not happen to anyone of any race but they do. Its life. You either deal with it or leave.

Okay, sure you had one bad experience. But, you can jog without getting shot. You can get pulled over for speeding without getting shot. You can shop in any store without makeup and get a hello (unlike a billionaire like Oprah). Your family hasn't been subject to systemic racism for generations.