Black Lives Matter

Written by Faisal Khan, Nixon Law Group Senior Attorney

Black Lives Matter. What does it mean? Does supporting the cause imply that all lives do not matter? That police do not protect us? That taking a knee during the playing of the National Anthem is a sign of disrespect towards our Nation? Sure, anyone could interpret the cause to mean any one of those things and more. However, if you ask most Black Americans what Black Lives Matter means, you are likely not to get a philosophical or complex answer – you are going to hear a basic human right. Quite simply, Black Americans want human dignity, self-respect, and self-determination; the right to exist and be treated the same as White Americans. 

Black Lives Matter is not a new cause nor should it be interpreted as an un-American concept. It has existed since this country has and has been furthered throughout the course by people of all races, gender, socioeconomic status, and other demographics. It is the reality that Black Americans were property, not people, when they were taken from Africa and brought to this country as slaves; that for almost 250 years in this country Black Americans were NOT Americans – they were objects to be used by slaveowners and had NO rights; that for almost a CENTURY after the ratification of the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, many local governments, particularly in the South, established laws and policies designed to make the 13th Amendment a fiction – that slavery was abolished but Black Americans could, and should be treated inferiorly economically, politically, and with less liberty than White Americans and should be segregated from them; that the Civil Rights Act was only enacted a little over 50 years ago; and that since the enactment of the Civil Rights Act, Black Americans still have far less power politically, economically, and culturally; that Black Americans have far worse health outcomes than White Americans; that Black Americans suffer disproportionately when it comes to arrests and convictions compared to other minority groups; and that Black Americans continue to exist in this country with these heavy burdens. In short, Black Lives Matter is the continued struggle for liberty and freedom from oppression. Not oppression from police, White Americans or any other ethnic group; from oppression caused by systemic racism. 

This is America, like it or not. These are facts; this is both history and reality. For those that do not want to recognize or believe this, I implore you to go talk to the Black community. If you do not live near Black Americans, go find a Black place of worship and talk to the leaders. You will hear stories from the past and present that will enlighten you that the recent events and deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police in the Nation’s eye are not something new – that they have always existed; but now they are exacerbated due to current technologies and social media. The question is what Americans are going to do now that we have witnessed these tragic deaths and resulting protests and actions. Are we going to continue the fight for equality or are we going to turn our backs on our fellow Americans who we know are struggling in their fight for dignity and liberty? How can we help?

It starts with listening and recognition of the real problem; that Black Americans need all of us as Americans to fight with them for equality. That collectively we can make a meaningful difference; whether it means giving money to causes that support Black Lives Matter, donating your time to march or protest, speaking with or writing to your local, state, and federal leaders, going to Black places of worship and learning about their experiences and educating others on their stories, not supporting businesses that devalue equality and discriminate, creating businesses in Black communities, providing mentorship to Black businesses, advocating for healthcare services, education and facilities within Black communities, advocating for educational policies that do not have a disparate impact on Black communities, etc. There are so many things that we as a society can do; collectively we can make a huge impact with just small steps. We can change laws, policies, and the hearts and minds of Americans who do not believe in the current cause. We can promote economic prosperity, liberty, love, and compassion. We can make the opportunities this country has to offer more readily available to Black Americans. We can better ourselves and others. Let us rise to the occasion as every generation in this country has done in the continued fight for equality. Let us continue to fight for a better society, for a better America – because Black Lives Matter.