While some doubt the value of the phrase “Black Lives Matter,” time and time again we are reminded that black bodies are not respected by far too many Americans. Race matters, not because we discuss it, but because racism exists whether we opt to talk it or not. While some of us can exist in our lives without being experiencing racism, it is only when we broaden our worldview we understand the disparate experience of far too many black bodies.
“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“We live in a world where a lot of white people will shrug off those stories as isolated incidents, rather than products of a culture that unfairly, unrelentingly conflates blackness with criminality.
We live in a world where a white woman answers her door to a black teen and doesn’t even hear his words. She sees his skin color, and she screams. Her husband decides he must be shot.
We live in a world where black men waiting at Starbucks — something I’ve done in my white skin more times than I can count — are assumed by management to be up to something.
We live in a world where a lot of white people need to be reminded that black lives matter — and yet they receive that reminder as an insult. A provocation. A punch line.
Black Trucks Matter.”
Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune
Stirring Up Trouble by DrVLoLil 
Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (Acts 10:33-35)
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is NO RESPECT OF PERSONS with God. (Romans 2:10-11)
What I think, or what I believe, matters nothing. In the final analysis, what matter, is only what God has said.
Every life matters to God regardless of color or culture. The scriptures never mention “race” to define humans. Adaptive traits, such as skin color, have frequently been used to define races in humans, but such adaptive traits reflect the underlying environmental factor to which they are adaptive and not overall genetic differentiation, and different adaptive traits define discordant groups. There are no objective criteria for choosing one adaptive trait over another to define race.
Race within a SPECIES defines the type of that species.
Example: The bear species; in particular, polar bears and panda bears. While both are bears there are some major differences. A panda bear only chews on bamboo and greens his entire life, whereas a polar bear eats meat only. If a panda would eat meat, it would, in fact, get sick and die. A panda comes in many shapes and fur patterns; yet, the polar bear is of one color. These fundamental differences define the race within a species.
We do find such key differences in the human species; therefore, there is only one race within the human species; that being Homo Sapiens.
The word race is misused in the sense of it not making any sense when applied to human beings. However, the majority of the world keeps using it to define the issue of racism. Racism will cease to exist if we stop acknowledging its excitants. When as a collective we stop to use something, usually it disappears from excitants. For the need for it is gone.
When referencing my family and friends I do not refer to them as my black, brown, red, white, etc.; sister, brother, cousin, etc. They are my family and friends. Period!
And yes, I was reared by a person of a different skin color and culture and I am married to a person of a different skin color and culture. My wife and I live in her home country. Upon watching the news with our friends, and seeing the banner “Black Lives Matter”, they quip, “Maybe we should start carry banners that read ‘Brown Lives Matter.'” We then all smile, because as Christians we know that God is “No respecter of persons.”
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Edit: The sentence should read, “We do NOT find such key differences in the human species;
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I agree about the final accounting, but while we are here on earth, there are some things we must address. This is provides us with an opportunity to provide evidence of the experience of African Americans in the US. I am happy these are not your experiences, but they do exist and “somebody ought to do something.” Ignorance is not bliss.
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Oh, I know full well the experience of my fellow citizens as I lived in Arkansas during the late 50’s. It was a painful experience for me because our parents taught had always taught us Christian values; to accept every person with love and compassion.
As I began to study the scriptures in preparation for the ministry, I discovered that Jesus Christ, nor his disciples, ever involved themselves in the politics of the day. As Christians, they led by example; giving food to the hungry, drink to thirsty, clothing to the naked, shelter to the homeless and comfort to sick. They never encouraged others to participate in demonstrations to provide evidence as to their experiences under oppressive Roman rule.
The followers of Jesus and the early church never publicly addressed the wickedness of the Roman government.
Any person living in America can eat and receive medical attention. There are no persons dying of starvation. Such is not the case in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Asia, because while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 children died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition.
Ever here where over the past two years more than 12,000 of my wife’s countrymen have died at the hands of Extra Judicial Killings, we, as Christians, remain focused on all lives. So we redeem the time by feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, providing clothing to the naked and offering shelter to the homeless.
True believers realize that all lives matter.
Godly examples of faith will bring change.
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I completely agree with this article although I am a Latino from a Mexican and Spanish background I know racism still exists in this country and not only with African Americans but also with other minority groups such as Hispanics. In fact, some white people (although not all) still fear a black man approaching near by because they automatically assume that he is a criminal trying to attack when most of the times he is just another individual on his way to home or to the store.
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It is both sad and frustrating that our society is divided because of the different ideals or point of views each individual has developed over time. Like the article states, some people grew up with the luxury of never experiencing racism but seeing it affect others lives. While others grow up in fear not knowing if how they’re viewed by others as a threat. Not knowing if the next person they might come across could take away their lives because of a person’s racist point of view. I agree how people not personally affected by the movement of “black lives matter” need to be aware of the consequences and traumatizing events that can occur due to people not understanding the importance of this social issue.
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“Black Lives Matter”, just like the concept of racism is a term and movement that affects all of us even if we think we are not apart of the movement. In my personal experience, the term has pushed me to have uncomfortable conversations and reflect on how my actions can hurt or aide the movement being a Latinx woman. The movement needs members from all communities and walks of lives to help and understand their actions. Even ignoring your communities “anti-black” tendencies can disrupt and diminish what BLM is trying to accomplish. Knowing this I use my platform to educate those around me about their potential harmful action even if the actions come across as harmless to them.
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Love it! Keep up the work. “Use your platform; Use your voice!”
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It is extremely disappointing to see racism continue to exist in our modern society. It’s disheartening to see an immense number of African Americans being targeted and killed for no understandable reason. At this point, I feel that racism will never completely die off until people’s perceptions about racism change. There are many Americans that believe racism is not an issue, yet it is reflected in our socioeconomic inequality and mass incarcerations. Also, it can be harder to ever escape racism now when we have a president who holds strong values against people of color and constantly makes racial remarks to the public. Our current president is not setting a good example in putting racism to an end, yet is only intensifying the issue with his actions and bigotry. I feel that the Black Lives Matter Movement is a reminder that racism is still alive and in order to tackle the situation more people, especially those that are opposed on the issue, should become more knowledgeable and informed that race plays a big part.
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I believe leaders have a moral imperative to use their platforms and voice to advance society. We have some major current challenges, but it up to each of us to ensure our democracy and values prevail.
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