Why Is It So Difficult For Some People To Comprehend Black Lives Matter? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Why Is It So Difficult For Some People To Comprehend Black Lives Matter?

A gun shouldn't take the place of words.

21
Why Is It So Difficult For Some People To Comprehend Black Lives Matter?
kvegas

I saw a post the other day discussing the All vs. Black Lives Matter topic. It read, "All Lives Matter is like I go to the doctor for a broken arm and he says, 'All bones matter.' OK, but right now let's take care of this broken one." Yes, the conversation of whether or not All Lives Matter is, to be blunt, kind of dumb considering that yes, in fact, every human being's life is critically important and valuable, but that's not the point. The point isn't whether or not every being matters because the answer is of course they do. The point is that there are human beings who are not being heard, who are being told they do not matter and are being shot in the driver's seat while a 4-year-old girl witnesses it from the back. The point is obvious: black lives matter. Why is this so difficult to comprehend?

It has gone on for too long. The time for it to be addressed seems like a moot point as it should have stopped when it started. Alton Sterling. It is no longer an argument that we should continue having, the battle of words forcing us to a standstill. Philando Castile. Where words ultimately seem to make no movements, we are replacing them with guns, murder, death, anger and hatred. Sandra Bland. If we aren't a part of it, there are those who mock the movement, lusting after the B in BLM and replacing it with nonsense such as WLM. Trayvon Martin. We have been trying to brush something so vitally crucial under the rug that the longer it stays there, the more pieces it gets shattered into, creating a devastating spiderweb in the mirror of our society. Travares McGill. We need to pay attention to the movement before another Dallas devastation occurs and the hand to turn back time, to undo it all, to start over, is missing because it was shot and buried six feet under.

Where do we go from here?

I was in a conversation the other night about the recent events in Texas, and before one girl said her opinion, she led with, "I don't like to talk about these kind of things because they make me uncomfortable, but..." This should not be something that left her mouth. Have an opinion, be brave, be loud, be proud of what you believe in, but do not hide behind something that makes you "uncomfortable" when you are in no way directly affected by it. Do not make excuses to avoid a topic simply because it makes you nervous or it's a "touchy" subject. That should be a time to discuss it, to talk it to death, to figure out what it is and why it's happening.

If we are constantly swerving around the things that we don't like to think about, what does this make us? What happens to the the people who are pleading, demanding, begging to be heard? The ones who are pounding at our front doors to listen, please just listen. Are we to just stare through the peephole and pray they go away, pray they stop, pray they shut their mouths?

This is not an article of police hate or black pride. This is an article of humanity. This is a plea to please stop looking the other way, to stop coming up with excuses, to stop raising a gun where your mouth should be. This is a reminder that yes, all lives will forever matter, but remember the ones whom we are shutting the door on.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
an image of taylor swift standing center stage surrounded by her backup dancers in elegant peacock esque outfits with a backdrop of clouds and a box rising above the stage the image captures the vibrant aesthetics and energy of her performance during the lover era of her eras tour
StableDiffusion

A three-and-a-half-hour runtime. Nine Eras. Eleven outfit changes. Three surprise songs. Zero breaks. One unforgettable evening. In the past century, no other performer has put on an electric performance quite like Taylor Swift, surpassing her fans ‘wildest dreams’. It is the reason supporters keep coming back to her shows each year. Days later, I’m still in awe of the spectacle ‘Miss Americana’ puts on every few days in a new city. And, like one of Taylor’s exes, has me smiling as I reminisce about the memories of the night we spent together.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

74959
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

6239
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments