Chapter 12: Black Lives Matter
CHAPTER 12: Black lives matter
Companion Website by: Samuel Ellyson and Katelyn Bennett
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- More About the Participants
- Chapter Study Resources
- Chapter Summary
- General Resources
- Resources Prompted by Samaria Rice’s Section
- Resources Prompted by Megan Castillo’s Section
- Resources Prompted by Terrell Kahn Douglas-Williams’s Section
- Contribute Resources!
MORE ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS:
Cleveland, US
Los Angeles, US
Samaria Rice
CHAPTER STUDY RESOURCES:
USE THESE TO HELP FURTHER YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHAPTER!
CHAPTER SUMMARY:
The Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman who shot and killed teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida. The movement began as a hashtag created by three African American women Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi. #BlackLivesMatter went viral and soon transformed into a general movement of people fighting for the freedom and liberation of all Black people. The point was to create a movement that would fight for all Black people, including the most marginalized members of the Black community. It is designed to be intersectional- affirming the lives of Black people within all spectrums of gender identity, sexuality, ability, nationality, ethnicity, age, all shades, those with or without a criminal past, various religious groups, etc. who are all valid and deserving of support. The overall goal is to create a world where all Black people can live free, liberated, joyous lives without the presence of white supremacist oppression.
The affirmation that Black lives are valuable and that they do matter has mobilized individuals and groups around the world to fight against systemic racism and state violence. The movement has sparked conversations centuries-long history of racism and violence against the Black community in the US as well as current systemic racism, police brutality, and white supremacy in the US and around the globe. Members of BLM have called for accountability for past and current abuses as well as the abolition of racist institutions, unlearning, and healing. For instance, the continued killings of unarmed Black people by police officers in the US has brought into question the efficacy of the police force as we know it, and more people are proposing defunding or abolishing law enforcement agencies and to reimagine the purpose of law enforcement.
The Black Lives Matter movement is part of the bigger fight against racism and has done incredible work and will continue to do so with the support and leadership of people like the ones you will hear from below: Samaria Rice, Megan Castillo, and Terell Kahn Douglas-Williams. It is important to listen to and support Black voices when fighting against structural and individual racism. Anti-racism work does not start and stop with this chapter. We hope that you will continue to research and learn; because ending racism is a continuous journey that takes all of us. We thank all the Black men, women, and nonbinary persons that have come before us and made sacrifices to fight racism.
GENERAL RESOURCES:
More on the founding of the Black Lives Matter Movement:
PODCASTS:
BOOKS/FILMS:
VIDEOS:
TEACHER RESOURCES:
Resources Prompted by Samaria Rice’s SECTION:
VIDEOS:
WHITE PRIVILEGE:
POLICE BRUTALITY:
Resources Prompted by Megan Castillo’S SECTION:
POLICE BRUTALITY:
COVID-19:
COURT CASES CONCERNING THE MOVEMENT:
Resources Prompted by Terrell Kahn Douglas-Williams’S SECTION:
