Alicia Garza: co-creator of the #BlackLivesMatter movement (BLM) advocates that -“Black Lives Matter doesn’t mean your life isn’t important – it means that Black lives, which are seen as without value within White supremacy, are important to your liberation. Given the disproportionate impact state violence has on Black lives, we understand that when Black people in this country get free, the benefits will be wide-reaching and transformative for society as a whole. When we are able to end the hyper-criminalisation of Black people and end the poverty, control and surveillance of Black people, every single person in this world has a better shot at getting and staying free. When Black people get free, everybody gets free.” (The Conversation,2017). On that note; does ‘Black Lives Matter’ mean that only black lives matter; or is it the concept that Black lives mattering is a precondition for all lives mattering?
The movement was created by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman for Trayvon Martin’s death. It underlines the “racism and policing that shatters the illusion of a colour-blind , post racial United States” (Keeanga-Yamahtta, T., 2016). It demands an explanation as to why, people are so quick to press a trigger? Why is it so easy for some people to disregard human life with no to little remorse or the thoughts of no repercussions, if equality is there? And objectifies to the progress of a world, where Black lives are no longer systematically targeted for demise (Black lives Matter