Black Lives Matter, Chapter One: Who Are They?

Black Lives Matter is quickly becoming a nation-wide movement; unfortunately recognized as legitimate by seemingly an increasing number of Americans.  Well, BLM is a complete farce.  A whole book could be written on this, however I will attempt to cover the issue in a short series of posts.  This first post will primarily focus on the manifesto and basic beliefs espoused by BLM.  Who are they? Who are they to tell Americans whose lives matter and whose do not?

Let us be clear from the outset: in no way does BLM have the kind of credibility worthy of attention or acknowledgement from any average American, much less major cable news networks and well-respected politicians.  If the irony of the racially exclusive moniker is not enough to demonstrate this, then let us take a closer examination of BLM.

Upon visiting the website of BLM, one will find the movement is considerably vague in terms of what its goals and principles are.  The most specific answer you will get can be found on their “About Us” page where it states what Black Lives Matter Means.  There you will find what amounts to a list of grievances, primarily against “the state.”  These grievances include, but are not limited to, the following:

• “How Black poverty and genocide is state violence”
• “ How Black girls are used as bargaining chips during times of conflict and war.”
• “ How Black folks living with disabilities and different abilities bear the burden of state sponsored Darwinian experiments that attempt to squeeze us into boxes of normality defined by white supremacy, and that is state violence.”
• “How 2.8 million Black people are locked in cages in this country is state violence.”
• “How Black women continue to bear the burden of a relentless assault on our children and our families and that assault is an act of state violence.”

These grievances are mentioned multiple times throughout their loosely defined manifesto.  The overall conclusion BLM makes is, “Black people are intentionally left powerless at the hands of the state.”  In other words, the United States intentionally targets Black people for persecution.  The states that make up our nation hunt down Black people to lock them up, enslave them (yes, this is mentioned in the manifesto), and outright murder them.  Genocide of Black Americans by the United States is the ultimate goal here.  What a crock.  Believe it or not, this is the basis on which BLM is formed.  It is important to mention at this point, for several reasons, that BLM has been invited into the White House.

BLM is entirely disorganized, hypocritical, and unscrupulous.  They seem to lack any kind of hierarchical or organized structure. Instead, they are based in a confederation of various chapters spread throughout the country.  BLM acknowledges each chapter has varying requirements for admittance into the group.  Collectively, BLM chapters give this disclaimer “before you contact a #Black Lives Matter chapter”:

“Please note that #BlackLivesMatter is a network predicated on Black self-determination, and BLM Chapters reserve the right to limit participation based on this principle.”

By stating this, BLM effectively admits they are potentially a racially exclusive group.  They rationalize it by stating, while all lives matter, it is Black lives that do not matter equally.  Little or no factual evidence is given to demonstrate their understanding of this, or to help others to understand it.  Ironically, BLM suggests that it is a bad thing to drop the Black and simply to say “Lives Matter.” BLM argues that if you do this, you are:

“intentionally or unintentionally, erasing Black folks from the conversation or homogenizing very different experiences.”  

Apparently BLM has a monopoly on all victimized minority claims and no other victims of prejudice could possibly relate to them.  Indeed, BLM says for a non-Black to try and relate their experience(s) of prejudice is to insult Black people and BLM.  This is racist in and of itself.  How does BLM expect to garner support from more than just Black people if they put their “suffering” on a pedestal and the suffering of others in a shoe box?  This goes to show how disorganized and narrow minded the group truly is.

None of this is to say BLM does not have at least a few mentionable and credible goals.  They seek to empower “Black queer women” (their words).  This is all well and good.  They also seek to empower Black transgender and disabled people.  Indeed, one could point out various legal and emotional obstructions these groups face, or have very recently faced.  However, all of this is overshadowed by the irrational claim that “the state” purposefully subjugates all groups listed by BLM.

It is further overshadowed by the overwhelming lack of credibility BLM possesses.  The first thing you will likely see on their website is pictures of Trayvon Martin, Philandro Castile, and Alton Sterling.  Trayvon Martin’s homicide was ruled justifiable by all fair and legal means.  The incidents involving Philandro Castile and Alton Sterling have yet to be fully investigated, yet BLM presumes their innocence.  All the while, they presume the guilt of “the state,” without affording the due process to the state that they would have done for themselves, if the positions were exchanged.

This is just a basic review of BLM’s basic principle and beliefs.  The disorganized nature of the group makes it difficult to go beyond this in terms of detail.  BLM demonstrations have been held all over the nation and internationally.  It is difficult to determine whether BLM officially embraces all demonstrations carrying the #BLM slogan.  What we do know is this group, its followers, and its mentality, has been embraced by many of our most important political leaders.  Thusly, it poses a problem for all Americans when such an irresponsible group is allowed to weigh in on national policy.  More to follow on this.