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I'm Sick of "All Lives Matter"!

12/15/2014

6 Comments

 
Lately, I've had White friends and colleagues come to me for guidance on how to be a good ally in the wake of recent events involving the murder and brutalization of unarmed and innocent Black men, women and children around the country. To be honest, I am happy that they trust me and my views enough to come to me with their questions and concerns.

One thing that I have been asked about is the hashtag, all lives matter, that is appearing all over Twitter and Facebook. I have been asked if I like it and should it be used. The short answer to both is NO!

On it's face, it seems good, but let me tell you why it's not good and why it is so offensive to me.

All lives matter was created in response to #BlackLivesMatter by White folks who were offended by that hashtag and wanted to try to say that the murder by police of Black men, women and children was not about race.

Let me tell you why this is highly offensive. All lives matter seeks to erase, indeed, obliterate Black voices in the conversation that IS about us. It is a derailing tactic used to take the focus off of us and make it all about them by equalizing things. It is a manifestation of the discomfort, guilt and defensiveness that many White folks harbor when the conversation is about race.

Look, folks, there is a reason why there is the hashtag, #BlackLivesMattter. That is because Black folks know that all lives matter, but lots of folks don't realize or care that Black lives matter, too. We are dealing with an epidemic that is only recently being realized and understood - that Black folks - men in particular, but also, many women and children - are having our lives ended at the hands of mostly White cops and vigilantes who see us as demons, threats, etc.

Some time ago, I wrote a blog post that I got pushback from the mostly White disability community because we were making the events in Ferguson all about us, instead of centering it where it belonged - on Black lives. I see this same thing happening with White supposed allies, both nondisabled and disabled, around the whole "all lives matter" issue because most cannot acknowledge that this isn't about equality because equality doesn't exist, nor did it ever, no matter how much we want it to. There are some lives that matter far more than others and trying to erase that fact by saying all lives matter isn't going to work.

Here's the deal: I don't do all lives matter because YOURS already matters - it's MINE that doesn't matter! It's ME as a BLACK person who has to assert and prove my humanity time after time. I'm the one who will be murdered for living while Black, then, demonized and blamed for my own death. I have said it before and I'll say it again: I endure FAR more discrimination because of my Black skin than I do as a disabled lesbian!

So, White allies and others, take note: We, as Black people know that all lives matter. Now it's time for you and everyone else to realize that ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter,‬ and let the focus and centering be on us, where it belongs!
6 Comments
George Oothoudt
12/20/2014 02:04:11 am

Well said.

Reply
Patrick
7/2/2020 05:25:07 am

You are just f##king liars just like HANDS UP DON'T SHOOT BULLSHIT. There is no sense in arguing with a fool. You the pot is simmering now. When white get good and tired of your lying bullshit. You black assholes will be the first to know.

Reply
JJ law
12/21/2014 04:25:41 am

If blacks do not value black lives themselves how can others value it? Think of emphasizing school, eliminating the thug culture, pulling other blacks down, promote better parenting, etc.

Reply
AngryBlackWomyn link
12/21/2014 05:29:18 am

Miss me with that dumb crap, OK? Blacks and Whites are just about the same in all these areas according to the statistics, except that Whites are much more likely to get away with the crimes that they commit. Take your ish elsewhere!

Reply
Donna Bianco
6/30/2017 08:39:19 pm

Credible links to actual statistics showing white people "getting away with" crimes they actually committed, please. While you're there, have a look at the rate of violent crime by black males. And while you're at it, more than just anecdotal claims of similarity in aforementioned "areas".

Reply
Henry
2/4/2018 06:30:31 pm

I'm sick all of all this black stuff. The reason there us so much racism in this country is because they push the black issue. Black lives matter, black history month, black entertainment tv. If i wanted to start a white entertainment tv station, I'd be called racist Enough of this shit already. Can't we just be Americans?

Reply



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