What is Black Lives Matter?
The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement started in the United States in 2013. The movement speaks against systemic racism, racial injustice, and police brutality. The aim of the BLM is to stand against the violence, hatred, and discrimination that is faced by black communities all across the United States. The BLM Global Network has become a powerful force all over the world, and its various chapters, organizations, and groups have been actively fighting for freedom and justice.
Racial Injustice in the US
Racial injustice is one of the major issues that the BLM movement hopes to tackle. The United States has a long history of racism and discrimination in various aspects of life such as employment, education, and housing. People of color continue to face racism on a daily basis and these disparities have long-lasting effects on black and brown communities.
Socioeconomic Disparities Faced by People of Color in America
The disparities faced by people of color in the United States can be seen more clearly when analyzing socio-economic indicators. According to the US Census Bureau, black households made up 38.1% of people living in poverty in 2019, which is nearly double the rate for white households. Furthermore, the poverty rate for black preschoolers was over 50%, while the rate for white preschoolers was only 13%.
In terms of educational attainment, black adults are more likely than whites to have not completed high school. Additionally, black men earn 63% of what white men median earnings, and the gap is even wider for black women earning less than 80% of what white women earn.
The Impact of Police Brutality on Black Communities
Police brutality has also been a major source of oppression for black communities in the United States. Police officers use excessive force and violence against people of color, which often results in death or serious injury. Reports from the NAACP show that police officers have killed over 3,500 black people between 2015-2020.
Additionally, police officers discriminate against black people through profiling, which is when individuals are targeted for their race or ethnicity. For example, black drivers are nearly three times more likely than white drivers to be searched during vehicle stops even though they are less likely to be found in possession of contraband.
How the BLM Movement is Confronting Systemic Racial Injustice
The BLM movement is actively fighting to bring an end to racial injustice in the US and they have had numerous successes such as conducting protests, engaging in political dialogues, and raising public awareness in order to bring attention to these urgent issues.
The BLM has also formed numerous collaborations with other organizations and has been using innovative strategies such as online campaigns and fundraising events to support their efforts. They have also been advocating for social and economic reforms in order to break down barriers for black and brown communities.
Following are the specific ways in which the BLM movement is advocating for social and economic reforms to eliminate systemic racism:
•Protecting Voting Rights: The BLM movement is rallying for policies to end racial gerrymandering, increase voter access, and protect the rights of incarcerated people so that people of color can have a more meaningful say in the political process.
•Investing in Education: The BLM movement is advocating for increased governmental spending on public education, specifically prioritizing funds for education in impoverished communities in order to create an equal playing field for students of color.
•Police Reforms: The BLM movement has been instrumental in pushing for police reform measures. They are calling for the defunding of police departments and the allocation of resources towards mental health services, education, and job training, in order to create safe and equitable communities.
•Ending Discrimination in the Workplace: The BLM movement is fighting for the elimination of workplace discrimination, including workplace racism, by implementing policies such as pay equity, job trainings, and parental leave policies. Additionally, they are advocating for better hiring practices, such as targeting diverse hiring pools and eliminating implicit biases in the recruitment process.
•Investing in the Health and Wellness of Black Communities: The BLM movement is working towards greater access to health care, especially in underserved communities, in order to reduce health disparities for black and brown people. They are also advocating for more investment into human services, such as mental health services and social services, especially in impoverished and marginalized communities.
The BLM movement stands for freedom, justice, and equality for all. It endeavors to create a more equitable and just world, free from systemic oppression, racial injustice, and police brutality. The BLM movement is actively advocating for social and economic reforms and is continuing to fight for racial equity.
