Below, we’ve included a list of questions with responses written by our staff with connections to this movement. Our hope is that by addressing common questions we offer a better understanding of Black Lives Matter and the fight against racism. We also encourage you to facilitate conversations in your homes, workplaces, and beyond.

• What is Black Lives Matter?

  Justice. An end to all forms of discrimination and the full recognition of human rights for Black people are what the movement includes in its vision for a “New America.” The movement calls upon the United States government to acknowledge structural violence and institutional discrimination, and to recognize the full spectrum of human rights and obligations under international law. The focus is an end to police brutality and the murder of people of color and the oppressed, mass incarceration, and a call to demilitarize U.S. police departments.

  Other objectives from Black Lives Matter include:

  • Full, living wage employment
  • Decent and affordable housing fit for the shelter of human beings
  • An end to the school-to-prison pipeline by providing quality education for all;
  • An aggressive attack against all laws, policies, and entities that disenfranchise any community from expressing themselves at the ballot box

  Ultimately, the goal is to address harm and conflict in Black communities through community based, restorative solutions.

• Don’t All Lives Matter?

  Yes, the principles of Black Lives Matter call us to recognize “the inherent worth & dignity of every person,” to promote “justice, equity and compassion in human relations,” and to work for “the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.” But at this time in history, a spotlight is being projected onto serious issues of systemic injustice towards Black people specifically. Our principles call us to support this cause without negating the value of other causes. We need to break from the “either/or” mentality and embrace “both/and” understandings.

• Why is George Floyd being held up as a Martyr or a hero?

  There have been comments in the media asking why George Floyd is being held up as a hero/martyr. No supporters of protests, anti-racism, or Black Lives Matter have argued heroism or martyrdom. George Floyd was not a martyr. He is a victim. His past record is often cited as a way to justify the violence and excessive force used against him. George Floyd’s death is a representation and demonstration of the widespread injustice, and the existence of systemic racism in policing in America.

• What Role Can I Play in the Stand Against Racism?

  We all have roles to play in ending racism. To start, don’t remain silent about racism when you see it. Speaking out is one way to make substantive change. Seek to understand, learn, educate, and move others in your lives to also speak out and seek change. Make conscious decisions to notice, call out, and challenge institutional and cultural racism. No effort is futile; every action counts.

• We Keep Hearing About White Privilege. What Does It Mean?

  White privilege is uncomfortable to discuss but it is hard to ignore its existence. This country has a history of framing whiteness and people of color. One good, one bad. One with the assumption of innocence and the other with the assumption of guilt. We all witnessed the video of Amy Cooper as she called the police on a Black man in Central Park. This is an example of white privilege. Amy Cooper assumed her lies would be seen as more credible than his truth. She knew that because of her race she would have the presumption of innocence and he, a Black man, would have the presumption of guilt. Amy knew she could exploit the system’s prejudice against Black people. She knew that if he protested his innocence, the system would work in her favor. Amy’s actions were not premeditated; rather, they were a reflex driven by collective thoughts, fears, beliefs, practices, and history. This is what is meant by systemic racism and white privilege.

  Understanding privilege is difficult for many. But avoiding and sugarcoating the truth and remaining silent is driving racism, inequality and even the killing of people of color.  

  It is important to recognize this privilege in order to stop the perpetuation of systemic racism. Consuming educational content from Black creators provides a fruitful foundation for these necessary and seemingly uncomfortable conversations; being uncomfortable provokes growth. Conversation is incredibly important in this fight for equality. Once you are educated, talk to the people around you; silence is damaging. To quote Desmond Tutu, “If you are neutral in times of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

• Why Doesn’t Black Lives Matter Focus on Black-on-Black crime?

  We felt the need to address this question since it is often used to suggest that Black people and their supporters don’t have the right to be outraged about police violence. The idea that Black-on-Black crime is not a significant political conversation among Black people is patently false. The Black Lives Matter movement acknowledges the crime problem, but it refuses to locate that crime problem as a problem of Black pathology. Black people are not inherently more violent or more prone to crime than other groups. But Black people are disproportionately poorer, more likely to be targeted by police and arrested, and more likely to attend poor or failing schools. All of these social indicators place one at greater risk for being either a victim or a perpetrator of violent crime. To reduce violent crime, we must fight to change systems rather than demonizing people. Eliminating institutional racism and policies that deprive communities of essential resources will serve to address the root cause of violent crime in Black communities.

• Is One Too Old or Too Young to Get Involved in Fighting for Social Justice?

  Making the excuse that one is too old or too young is unacceptable. Black children learn from the start of their lives that the color of their skin will affect more than one aspect of their being. Children are arguably the most important factor in this movement, as they will grow up and directly affect the future on a global scale.

  Many people make the excuses, “that’s how they grew up,” or “that’s just who they are and who they’ve always been.” People are never beyond the age of being challenged regarding their prejudices. Have these conversations with them in an appropriate manner, making sure they understand that it’s okay to change their perspective upon learning and experiencing new things.