Black Lives DO Matter

Black Lives Matter is a movement that became popular after the killing of an unarmed black man Trayvon Martin 5 years ago. Many people thought that his death was racially motivated, yet the shooter, George Zimmerman, was acquitted.  Although he was a security guard – and not a police officer – it was immediately followed by two similar shootings that did involve police officers, who were also acquitted.  This left unrest in the black community,  because the feeling was that they were being systematically targeted by the police,  and that black lives did not seem to matter when it came to our legal justice system.

Black Lives Matter protests were heavily criticized by much of white America. You started hearing other tags that dismissed this movement, such as “All Lives Matter” or “Blue lives Matter” – as if the phrase “Black Lives Matter” meant that black lives were the ONLY lives that matter. But that was not the case at all. Much of the black community feel like their lives do not mean us much as white police officers' lives. They are NOT saying that white lives or police lives do not matter as much as theirs.

Let me give you an example: Let’s say I’m sitting down at Thanksgiving dinner, and the gravy boat is being passed around. When it gets to my cousin on my right, he reaches over me and passes it to my brother on my left. Now, I’m going to feel like my need for gravy did not matter as much as others'.  I might say, “Hey, I want gravy!” I’m not implying that  others don’t want gravy.  I’m simply pointing out that I was overlooked.  Now, if my dad from across the table said, “Well, actually we ALL want gravy”, I’m going to feel like he is dismissing my point that I was skipped.  Of course we all want gravy. That was exactly my point!

When we rebuttal “Black Lives Matter” with “All Lives Matter,” we are dismissing the feelings of the protesters – while at the same time, proving their point – that they don’t actually matter to us.  You may not believe black people are being systematically targeted by police officers, but the problem is that it’s how the black community feels – and that’s a problem! Instead of dismissing their feelings, we should be trying to mend that relationship.

In the midst of all of this controversy is the famous moment when football player, Collin Kaepernick took a knee during The National Anthem to protest the injustice of the unarmed black men’s killers being found innocent of any crime.  Once again, we had a huge outcry against him and other players for doing this. How dare they not stand for our country’s
anthem!  How dare they practice our freedom of free speech! It’s almost like we are saying “Shut up, and go play football like we pay you to do! Entertain us!”

This poem that has recently been floating around social media really says it all.

I stand to honor the promise the flag represents.
You kneel because that promise has been broken.

I stand to affirm my belief that all are created equal, and to fight alongside you for that promise.
You kneel because too few stand with you.

I stand because we can be better.
You kneel to remind us to be better.

I stand to honor all that have fought and died so that we may be free.
You kneel because not all of us are.

I stand because I can.
You kneel for those who can’t.

I stand to defend your right to kneel.
You kneel to defend my right to stand.

I stand because I love this country.
You kneel because you love it too.

Let’s remember why our country is great. Let’s remember what that flag actually stands for. Let’s remember that it represents the equality of all – no matter gender, religion, or race. Let’s remember that it stands for freedom to speak out against our government without being persecuted for it!