The Wrong Debate: #blacklivesmatter vs. #alllivesmatter

Alton Sterling. Philando Castile. Michael Smith. Lorne Ahrens. Michael Krol. Patrick Zamarripa. Brent Thompson.

Seven men. Seven sons. Seven brothers. Seven men who probably woke up less than a week ago excited and ready to celebrate our nation’s birthday with family and friends. Seven men who had no idea that this would be their last 4th of July, their last time to watch fireworks light up the sky, their last time to smile and share a special moment with their loved ones. Seven men who tragically are no longer with us — Alton Sterling and Philando Castile both shot by police, and five Dallas police officers gunned down by an angry man.

We’ve all heard the news. We’ve all seen the videos. We’ve all read the articles and seen the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts. We’ve all formed our own opinions (whether they are actually informed or not). The debate over #blacklivesmatter and #alllivesmatter is inescapable as the hashtags fill up our social media feeds. Celebrities, athletes, and politicians have chimed in with their two cents, as have many of our friends and family members.

I am a 33 year old white male who grew up in a nice middle class family in the suburbs. I have no idea what it is like to be black, nor could I even begin to understand the experience of being black in America. This is exactly why I couldn’t enter the debate over #blacklivesmatter and #alllivesmatter even if I wanted to (which I don’t). It’s not about me and never was. That a debate even exists seems ludicrous to me.

The civil rights movement of half a century ago made significant headway towards ending bigotry and racism in the U.S., eventually leading to our first black president who is now living out his swan song after two terms if office. Progress? Most definitely.

However, the #blacklivesmatter movement building up the past few years shows us that something is seriously wrong in our country. Racism still exists, and it runs deep. Now I can’t speak for black people, but from everything I’ve heard and seen it seems to me that they are tired of it. They are tired of people crossing over to the other side of the street while they’re walking along the sidewalk just so they don’t have to get close to them. They are tired of having to fear being pulled over by the police because of what the police might do or say to them, even if it is just for a broken tail light. Black people everywhere are rising up and letting their voices be heard, and #blacklivesmatter is their rallying cry against all of the injustice. It’s what they can unite around.

That, in itself, should be enough. The fact that so many black people feel like victims, whether you believe it to be true or not, should be enough to support #blacklivesmatter. No group of people should ever have to feel like they have no worth and don’t matter.

Do #alllivesmatter? Of course. But this isn’t about all lives. This is about black people, their experience living in America today, and how they will no longer be the silent victim. The rest of us shouldn’t be trying stealing their voice.