9.3 Black Lives Matter and contemporary civil rights activism

Black Lives Matter emerged in 2013, sparked by the acquittal of George Zimmerman in Trayvon Martin's death. The movement gained momentum after high-profile police killings of unarmed Black individuals, fighting systemic racism and police violence against Black communities.

BLM uses social media, peaceful protests, and policy advocacy to push for change. It differs from earlier civil rights movements with its decentralized structure and digital organizing, while facing challenges like backlash and maintaining momentum across its network.

The Black Lives Matter Movement

Origins of Black Lives Matter

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• Founded in 2013 by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin
• Gained national attention and momentum following high-profile cases of police brutality and killings of unarmed Black individuals
  • Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri (2014)
  • Eric Garner in New York City (2014)
  • Tamir Rice in Cleveland, Ohio (2014)
  • Walter Scott in North Charleston, South Carolina (2015)
  • Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Maryland (2015)
• Aims to combat systemic racism, racial profiling, and police violence against Black communities
• Advocates for racial justice, police accountability, and the dismantling of structural inequalities that disproportionately affect Black people (housing discrimination, education disparities, economic inequality)

Strategies of BLM activists

• Utilizes social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) to organize protests, share information, and raise awareness
  • Hashtag activism: #BlackLivesMatter, #SayHerName, #ICantBreathe
• Engages in peaceful protests, marches, and demonstrations to draw attention to the movement's goals and demands
  • "Die-ins" where participants lie on the ground to symbolize lives lost to police violence
  • Blocking traffic and staging sit-ins to disrupt daily life and draw attention to the cause
• Advocates for policy changes at local, state, and federal levels to address systemic racism and police brutality
  • Campaign Zero: a comprehensive platform for police reform and accountability
  • Calls for the reallocation of funds from policing to community services (mental health support, education, housing) and support systems
• Forms coalitions with other social justice movements and organizations (LGBTQ+ rights, immigration reform, environmental justice) to amplify their message and impact

BLM vs previous civil rights movements

• Similarities to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s
  • Focus on racial equality, justice, and the dismantling of systemic racism
  • Use of nonviolent civil disobedience and direct action tactics (sit-ins, marches, boycotts)
  • Mobilization of communities and allies to effect change
• Differences from previous civil rights movements
  • Decentralized leadership structure, with emphasis on local chapters and grassroots organizing rather than a single figurehead or organization
  • Utilization of digital technologies and social media for organizing and communication
  • Intersectional approach, acknowledging the interconnectedness of various forms of oppression (race, gender, sexuality, class)
• Impact on contemporary discourse
  • Increased public awareness and conversations about systemic racism, white privilege, and the need for racial justice
  • Sparked a global movement, with Black Lives Matter protests and solidarity demonstrations in countries around the world (UK, France, Australia)
  • Influenced political platforms and policy proposals of candidates and elected officials (police reform, reparations, equity in education and housing)

Challenges and impact of BLM

• Challenges
  • Resistance and backlash from those who view the movement as divisive or anti-police (Blue Lives Matter counter-movement)
  • Infiltration and surveillance by law enforcement agencies seeking to undermine the movement
  • Difficulty in maintaining momentum and unity across a decentralized network of chapters and activists
• Criticisms
  • Accusations of promoting violence or being a "hate group" despite the movement's commitment to peaceful protest
  • Claims that the movement's focus on Black lives is exclusionary or dismissive of other forms of injustice
  • Debates over the effectiveness of the movement's strategies and tactics in achieving lasting change
• Ongoing influence
  • Continued advocacy for police reform, racial justice, and the dismantling of systemic inequalities
  • Increased representation and visibility of Black voices and experiences in media, politics, and public discourse
  • Inspiration for other social justice movements and activism, both in the United States and globally (Indigenous rights, climate justice, gender equality)