Introduction
Black Lives Matter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc. is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combatting and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centring Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.
What does BLM mean?
The BLM movement was founded to protest and raise awareness against police brutality enforced upon 'The Black Community'. The purpose of The Black Lives Matter movement is to bring attention to the countless innocent Black people killed by racist police officers in North America ; initially in 2013. In light of recent measures, this movement has expanded from North America, encompassing the whole world. The major turning point that triggered the rise of this movement was the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American who was killed on 25th May, 2020 by police officers Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, Thomas K. Lane, and J. Alexander Keung.
This act of agression triggered protests worldwide for justice to be served for George Floyd and the police officers guilty of his death to be penalised. This event also sparked many campaigns for justice to be given to many other innocent black lives lost because of such brutality. Blackout Tuesday 02nd June, 2020 was a global protest against police brutality and for peace and justice to victims like Ahmud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd by posting black screens all over social media platforms, and donating towards The Black Lives Matter movement.
To oppose this, the U.S government enforced the Marshall Law to counter the numerous protests all over America. Whiteout Wednesday, an act of racism to counter BLM protests was launched but was allegedly scarred and 'demolished' by K-Pop fans , who posted fancams of their idols to counter this event.
What is the difference Between BLM and ALM?
ALM or All Lives Matter is a counter protest set by people who believe in white supremacy (superiority of white people). To break this down, a lot of people started with an ALM movement to stop the BLM protests stating that all lives matter and not just Black lives. Now let me give you an example, If five children are playing, and one gets hurt , will you help everybody or just the injured kid ? One will usually help the injured kid solely because rationally, why does one need to tend to everyone when only one is injured? Similarly, black people represent 'the injured kid' and all other races are represented by the kids who are perfectly fine in this situation.
‘ALL LIVES CANNOT MATTER UNTIL BLACK LIVES MATTER’
This is the major difference between the BLM and the ALM movement.
ALM movement was solely initiated has to counter The Black Lives Matter protests ; In a disappointing effort to deteriorate the effect of the BLM movement, a testimony, to the ideas of racial discrimination present in widespread amounts even today.
Why is it such a big deal?
White privilege. That’s the reason. People all over the world have come together through this movement to speak out and raise awareness against racism in all shapes and forms. All of us need to come together and help each other in times like these. Just because of difference in skin tone, many fall victim to discrimination and prejudice, but ultimately, we must realise all of us our human beings. Black people have been racially mocked for centuries and this unjust behaviour has been prevalent for centuries. The citizens of the 21st century, especially the youth, as we head into the future, must unite together, and fight racial discrimination once and for all
Till Next Time,
The Alpha Theory
~Author : Ananya Mehta
~Editor : Nehal Singhal
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