There is a misconception amongst people in this country that black lives matter is a racist and violent movement. This is not true, this is a false image that the media and racism have created. Black lives matter does not mean that all lives don’t matter, it simply means that black lives matter too. There are some people that are afraid of black people because we have been portrayed as a violent race when that is not the truth. Yes, there are some black people that are violent, just like there are some people of every racial group in America that are violent. It is necessary that people understand that one person is not a representation of an entire group of people. Yes, there are people who have taken the Black Lives Matter movement in a radical manner but that is not all of us. Those that choose to continue to peacefully protest should be granted their right to do so. Do not lump us all in with people who choose to act in a radical manner, we do not support or condone their actions. We are also grieving for the victims of their violence, our hearts hang heavy when we hear news of anyone being wrongfully murdered, no matter their race.

The purpose of the black lives matter movement is to end inequality and racism. Both inequality and racism are things that should be antiquated. We have learned that history has a tendency to repeat itself. Yet somehow people are still choosing to ignore the fact that we are headed back towards the way things were in the 1960’s. Sure, racism is not as blatant but it is still just as prevalent. Yes, Jim Crow laws have been outlawed and I no longer have to drink out of a separate water fountain, use a different restroom, walk through a different door, or sit in the back of a bus simply because of the color of my skin. But racism is still just as prevalent. People in class still turn around to look at the black kids in the class at the first mention of slavery. People still lock their car doors when a black person walks by. People continue to expect black people to live in their own communities and expect everyone who lives in the “hood” to be black. People are still using the color of someone’s skin as a reason to treat them differently. Racism is still very much alive and if you refuse to see that then you are part of the problem. Of course people are thankful for the improvements that have been made but it is important for people to understand that the end of segregation was not the end of racism because if it had been black lives matter would not be a movement that would have had to have been started.

Black lives matter is not a movement that was started because black people are still angry about slavery. One thing that some people have yet to understand is that there are people that support the black lives matter movement whose ancestors don’t have any ties to slavery or Jim Crow laws. There are supporters of the movement who are not even black. If the black lives matter movement was truly racist then its members wouldn’t be accepting of anyone who looked different. But if you look around you will find people of all races who instead of being threatened by the black lives matter movement, or providing a counter response by saying all lives matter, are supporting the black lives matter movement because they realize that what the movement is really saying is “yes all lives do matter, but right now we need to take care of and protect the black ones because those are the lives that are in danger and need help right now.” I hope that one day this country can come together and love each other and help to end inequality and racism. I hope that one day we can stand together united, as one, regardless of the color of our skin.