Black Lives Matter: The Story of a Hashtag and Movement
Context and Origin: The Case of Dakota Bright
The Incident in Chicago: Dakota Bright was a -year-old black teenager shot dead by the Chicago police on the city’s South Side. This area is described as predominantly black, poor, and one of the most violent regions in a violent country.
Police Account vs. Maternal Perspective: Pansy Edwards, Dakota’s mother, asserts that her son was a "baby" killed "for no reason" and that law enforcement provided multiple excuses for the shooting. The police maintained that Dakota Bright was in possession of a gun, and an investigation into the matter was ongoing three years after the fact.
Shifting Atmosphere: Pansy Edwards notes a significant change in the American social atmosphere. Initially, she felt alone in her marches and protests; however, she now believes the country is listening due to the national highlighting of police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Foundation: The Case of Trayvon Martin
2012 Catalyst: The death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager in Florida, served as the initial catalyst for the movement. Martin was shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who was patrolling the area despite having no official job to do so.
The 2013 Verdict: George Zimmerman was found not guilty of murder. This verdict prompted Alicia Garza, a black activist in California, to post on Facebook: ‘Black people, I love you. Our lives matter.’
Birth of the Hashtag: Alicia Garza, along with two fellow activists (including Opal Tometi), co-founded the phrase #BlackLivesMatter.
Organization and Platform: Opal Tometi explained that the hashtag was created to channel disappointment and devastation into community organizing for racial justice. It evolved from a social media platform into an organization and a wider protest chant.
Chapter Two: Ferguson and the Death of Michael Brown
August 2014: The shooting of -year-old Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri, transformed the movement into a national phenomenon.
Disputed Narrative - The Father's Account: Michael Brown Sr. recounts receiving a call that his son was "laying in the middle of the street dead." He maintains his son was shot as he attempted to surrender with his hands up.
Disputed Narrative - The Police Supporter Account: Jeff Ruder, a friend of officer Darren Wilson, claims Brown engaged in a struggle for the officer’s gun inside the police car, during which two rounds were fired ( grazing Brown's hand). Ruder asserts that Brown then "charged headlong" at Wilson, leaving the officer with a "kill or be killed choice."
The Scene of the Incident: Musician and activist Tef Poe described the aftermath as "combustible." He reported that police dogs (German Shepherds) were brought into the community and that one dog urinated on roses placed in the street to commemorate where Brown died.
Legal Outcomes: In November 2014, a grand jury decided not to indict Darren Wilson. A federal investigation later concluded that Wilson’s self-defense claims were sufficient to avoid a trial. These decisions led to widespread riots and protests, sometimes referred to as the "Black Spring."
The War on Police: Jeff Ruder, who wrote the book The War on Police, acknowledged that Michael Brown became emblematic of a larger social struggle, even though he believes Darren Wilson acted correctly.
Chapter Three: Statistical Landscape
Total Police Killings: According to studies by The Guardian, consistent with US policing being local and decentralized, well over people were killed by US police in 2015. While a majority of those killed were white, black people were disproportionately affected.
Disproportionality: Young black men are more likely than the average American to be shot or killed by law enforcement.
Twitter Usage Statistics: * First three months of 2015: The phrase was used . * Freddie Gray (Baltimore): Approximately messages reached during this spike. * Late Summer 2015 Peak: Activity reached over tweets per month following the death of Sandra Bland in Texas and the anniversary of Michael Brown's death.
Chapter Four: Chicago and Laquan McDonald
The Dashcam Video: In late 2015, the city of Chicago released footage of the 2014 shooting of -year-old Laquan McDonald. The video showed an officer emptying his clip into McDonald’s body, firing shots in total. McDonald was reportedly high on PCP and carrying a small knife, but was moving away from officers when shot.
Political Fallout: The video sparked an international uproar and targeted Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a powerful political figure and ally of the Clintons and President Barack Obama.
The "Tale of Two Cities": Activist Jamal Green contrasted the wealth and resources of Ravenswood (where the mayor lives) with the boarded-up businesses and lack of after-school programs in Englewood.
New Activism: William Calloway, executive director of the non-profit Christianaire, demands transparency and the release of further police tapes, such as the one involving Cedric Chapman.
Chapter Five: Old vs. New Guard
Generational Divide: There is tension between the 1960s civil rights leaders (e.g., Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton) and the current #BlackLivesMatter activists.
Critiques of the Old Guard: Young activists like Christiana Ray Colon view the older leadership as too male-dominated, hierarchical, and overly reliant on religious institutions. The new movement is decentralized, queer-inclusive, and digital-first.
Reverend Jesse Jackson’s Response: Jackson, who has Twitter followers and leads Rainbow Push, warned that a movement without "accountability and responsibility" is not sustainable. He stated, "History is on broken continuity; an actor may be new, but the struggle is not new."
Barbara Reynolds’ Critique: Longtime activist Barbara Reynolds criticized the use of aggressive chants like "pigs in a blanket, fry them like bacon" directed at the police, arguing that emotion must be paired with strategy.
Chapter Six: Blue Lives Matter and the Ferguson Effect
The Police Perspective: Dean Angelo Sr., President of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge number , argues that the movement has created a "Ferguson Effect," where officers are less proactive in their work due to fear of scrutiny.
Violence Statistics: In Chicago, by the end of January 2016, more than people had been shot, and nearly had died. Police argue their aggression is directed at crime, not race.
Chapter Seven: Solutions and Radical Visions
Campaign Zero: A 10-point plan for policy change, including: * Ending "broken windows" policing (cracking down on minor crimes). * Establishing community oversight boards. * Empowering independent investigators. * Increasing the number of black police officers. * Mandating body cameras for all officers.
The Let Us Breathe Collective: Organizers like Christiana Ray Colon advocate for radical goals such as prison and police abolition. She argues that if society cannot imagine safety without these institutions, it has failed in its humanity.
Chapter Eight: Tactics and Respectability
Black Brunch: A protest tactic where activists enter restaurants in upper-middle-class areas and interrupt meals by reciting names of those killed by police (e.g., Rakia Boyd, , Chicago).
Violence vs. Non-violence: While the movement is largely non-violent, some activists, like Tef Poe, do not condemn "justified rage." He noted that Ferguson would not have become a national story if the QuikTrip gas station had not burned.
Chapter Nine: Charleston and the Confederate Flag
The Mother Emanuel Massacre: In June 2015, white supremacist Dylann Roof killed members of the Mother Emanuel church in Charleston, including State Senator Clementa Pinckney.
The Confederate Flag Controversy: The flag was flying at the State House at the time of the murders. Dot Scott (President of the local NAACP) and activists like Mohi Yodin DeBaha pushed for its removal.
The Role of Digital Activism: Radio host Karen Hunter started a petition on MoveOn.org that gained signatures. Under this pressure, Governor Nikki Haley called for the flag’s removal, and legislation was passed within weeks.
Critique of Victory: Mohi Yodin DeBaha argued that taking down a flag was a minor concession that did not change systemic issues.
Questions & Discussion
Question: Do you feel the atmosphere in America has changed regarding racial injustice? * Response (Pansy Edwards): Yes. People are getting tired, and where I was once alone, I now feel America is listening.
Question: Can the movement really change America without centralized leadership? * Response (Jesse Jackson): Leaders matter because they arouse the troops; social media alone may not be sustainable.
Question: How can society function without prisons or police? * Response (Christiana Ray Colon): It is a long-term goal that requires a reconstruction of our sense of imagination and humanity to ensure everyone is safe and fulfilled.
Question: Is the 2016 election an opportunity for the movement? * Response (Kenny Murdoch): Yes. We are forming a Black Lives Matter PAC to aggregate information on judges and prosecuting attorneys to show candidates that our issues matter.
Question: Are voters still hopeful after the presidency of Barack Obama? * Response (Tef Poe): Many who voted for Obama now feel discontent because electoral politics is out of touch with the reality of the people.
Question: What happens if the current system does not change? * Response (Mercutio Southall): Americans are taught to rebel if they see their rights and equality are not being upheld. If things remain the same, it could tear the country apart.