Our Values Are

Historical Context

The phrase "Black Lives Matter" emerged in 2013 as both a hashtag and a rallying cry following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida. After the verdict, activist Alicia Garza wrote what she called "a love letter to Black people" on Facebook, which included the phrase "black lives matter." Her friend Patrisse Cullors added the hashtag, and together with Opal Tometi, they created Black Lives Matter as an organized movement.1

While the movement itself began in 2013, it addresses systemic racism and violence that has deep historical roots in American society. The United States was built on stolen land with stolen labor, with the enslavement of African people creating the economic foundation for the nation's development. Even after the formal abolition of slavery in 1865, Black Americans continued to face violence, discrimination, and systematic oppression through Jim Crow laws, lynching, segregation, redlining, mass incarceration, and police brutality.2

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s fought against legal segregation and discrimination, culminating in landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Malcolm X employed various strategies to challenge racism and advocate for Black liberation.3 While these efforts achieved significant legal changes, they did not eliminate the underlying structures of systemic racism.

The 1991 beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers, captured on video by a bystander, brought police violence against Black Americans to national attention. When the officers were acquitted despite the video evidence, Los Angeles erupted in uprisings that expressed long-simmering frustrations about racial injustice.4 This incident foreshadowed how video documentation would play a crucial role in the Black Lives Matter movement decades later.

Black Lives Matter gained national prominence in 2014 following the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Protesters in Ferguson faced militarized police responses, bringing attention to both police violence and the increasing militarization of law enforcement. The movement continued to grow as more Black Americans died at the hands of police or in police custody, including Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, and many others.5

The movement reached unprecedented global scale in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Floyd's killing, captured on video as he repeatedly said "I can't breathe" while Chauvin knelt on his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds, sparked what may have been the largest protest movement in U.S. history. An estimated 15 to 26 million people participated in demonstrations across the United States, with solidarity protests occurring in over 60 countries worldwide.6

Throughout its evolution, Black Lives Matter has been characterized by several key features:

1. Decentralized leadership that emphasizes grassroots organizing and collective action rather than relying on traditional hierarchical leadership structures.7

2. Intersectionality that recognizes the interconnected nature of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of oppression. The movement was founded by three Black women, two of whom identify as queer, and has explicitly included the experiences of Black LGBTQ+ people and Black women in its advocacy.8

3. Digital organizing that leverages social media and online platforms to rapidly share information, mobilize supporters, and document incidents of police violence and racism.9

4. Broad agenda that goes beyond opposing police violence to address various manifestations of systemic racism in housing, education, healthcare, employment, environmental justice, and other areas.10

Black Lives Matter represents not just a specific organization but a broader movement and affirmation of the value of Black lives in a society that has often treated Black people as disposable. The phrase itself is a deceptively simple assertion—that Black lives have value and matter—which should be self-evident but has been contradicted by centuries of policy and practice in the United States and globally.

Current Challenges

Despite increased awareness and some policy changes following years of activism, the movement for Black lives continues to face significant challenges:

Persistent Police Violence and Limited Accountability

Despite greater scrutiny, police killings of Black Americans have not significantly decreased since Black Lives Matter emerged. According to the Washington Post's database, police have killed about 1,000 people per year since 2015, with Black Americans being killed at more than twice the rate of white Americans.11 The Mapping Police Violence project found that officers were charged in only 1.7% of these killings from 2013-2020.12

While some high-profile cases like Derek Chauvin's murder of George Floyd have resulted in convictions, many families of victims never see justice. Qualified immunity, which shields government officials from civil liability for actions performed within their official capacity, remains a significant barrier to holding officers accountable.13

Legislative Backlash

Following the 2020 protests, many states passed legislation restricting protest rights and increasing penalties for demonstrators. Between January 2021 and June 2022, at least 45 states considered over 230 bills that would restrict protest rights, with 38 such bills enacted across 20 states.14

Additionally, as policies addressing systemic racism gained traction in various institutions, a backlash emerged against what opponents labeled "Critical Race Theory" (CRT), often mischaracterizing any discussion of racism as CRT. By August 2022, at least 42 states had introduced bills or taken other actions to restrict teaching about racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression.15

Disinformation and Mischaracterization

The Black Lives Matter movement has been subject to considerable disinformation and mischaracterization. Critics often falsely frame the statement "Black Lives Matter" as implying that other lives don't matter, despite repeated clarifications that it means Black lives matter too, not exclusively.16

Additionally, right-wing media and politicians have frequently attempted to discredit the movement by spreading unsubstantiated claims about violence at protests, misrepresenting the movement's goals, or conflating the broader movement with specific organizations or individuals.17 These efforts have contributed to polarized public perception of the movement.

Exhaustion and Trauma

Continuous exposure to videos of police violence, coupled with the emotional labor of fighting for change against persistent resistance, has taken a psychological toll on many activists and Black communities. Research has documented the mental health impacts of racial trauma, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms.18

This exhaustion is compounded by the slow pace of change, with many activists experiencing burnout after years of organizing without seeing the transformative changes they seek.

Sustaining Momentum

Like many social movements, Black Lives Matter has experienced fluctuations in public attention and support. While the 2020 protests represented a peak in visibility and engagement, maintaining that level of momentum has proven challenging, particularly as media attention has shifted to other issues.

Converting mass mobilization into sustained political power and concrete policy changes requires ongoing organization, resources, and strategy. Movement leaders continue to work on building infrastructure for long-term advocacy beyond moments of crisis.19

Economic Justice and Reparations

Racial wealth disparities remain stark in the United States. As of 2023, the median white family has approximately eight times the wealth of the median Black family.20 These disparities reflect centuries of economic exploitation, discrimination, and exclusion.

While calls for reparations have gained increased attention, concrete policies to address historical and ongoing economic injustice face significant political resistance. Economic justice remains a central but challenging aspect of the movement's agenda.21

What We Can Do

Advancing the principle that Black Lives Matter requires action at multiple levels:

Individual Actions

• Educate yourself about the history of racism and anti-Black violence in your country and community through books, documentaries, and other resources created by Black scholars and activists.

• Amplify Black voices and perspectives by sharing, citing, and promoting the work of Black creators, journalists, researchers, and activists.

• Support Black-owned businesses by intentionally directing your consumer spending to support Black entrepreneurs and communities.

• Have difficult conversations about racism with friends, family, and colleagues, challenging racist ideas and practices when you encounter them.

• Recognize and address your own biases through ongoing self-reflection and education, understanding that unlearning racism is a lifelong process.

Community Actions

• Join or support local racial justice organizations working to address racism in your community through advocacy, mutual aid, and community organizing.

• Attend community forums and meetings where decisions affecting policing, housing, education, and other key issues are discussed and decided.

• Create or join community accountability projects that monitor police activity, document incidents of misconduct, and advocate for community-centered safety approaches.

• Support initiatives for community investment that direct resources to historically marginalized neighborhoods and address inequities in infrastructure, green space, food access, and other areas.

• Participate in community education efforts that raise awareness about local history, current challenges, and opportunities for collective action.

Political and Policy Actions

• Vote in all elections, including local ones, which often have more direct impact on criminal justice policies, education, and community investment.

• Support candidates who demonstrate meaningful commitment to racial justice through their platforms, records, and campaign practices.

• Contact elected officials to advocate for specific policies addressing police accountability, economic justice, voting rights, and other issues central to racial equity.

• Advocate for policy changes at all levels of government, including:

  • Police accountability measures like civilian oversight boards, body cameras with appropriate policies, and restrictions on qualified immunity

  • Investment in community resources like education, healthcare, housing, mental health services, and non-police emergency response

  • Economic policies that address racial wealth gaps through targeted investment, reparations, and opportunity creation

  • Voting rights protections that ensure equal access to the ballot

• Run for office or support others from your community running for positions where they can directly influence policy.

Workplace and Institutional Actions

• Advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that go beyond superficial representation to address institutional culture, decision-making processes, and power dynamics.

• Support unionization efforts and labor policies that protect workers' rights, as labor protections particularly benefit workers of color who are often concentrated in vulnerable employment.

• Push for pay equity audits and transparency that can help identify and address racial and gender pay gaps.

• Advocate for equitable hiring and promotion practices that actively work to counter bias and create pathways to leadership for employees of color.

• Support Black colleagues without overburdening them with emotional labor or expectations to educate others about racism.

Media and Cultural Actions

• Challenge misrepresentations of the Black Lives Matter movement and racial justice efforts in media and public discourse.

• Support media created by and centering Black perspectives, including journalism, film, literature, music, and visual art.

• Advocate for accurate historical education that honestly addresses slavery, segregation, and ongoing systemic racism rather than presenting sanitized narratives.

• Monitor local media coverage of crime, protests, and racial issues, providing feedback when coverage perpetuates stereotypes or lacks context.

• Create and share content that contributes to understanding and addressing racism rather than perpetuating harmful narratives.

Organizations Working for Racial Justice

If you're looking to support or learn more about racial justice initiatives, these organizations are doing important work:

Black Lives Matter and Affiliated Organizations

• Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation - Works to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities

• Movement for Black Lives - Coalition of organizations creating a national agenda for Black communities

• Black Youth Project 100 - Member-based organization of Black youth activists working for justice and freedom

• Dream Defenders - Organization of youth organizing to build power in Florida and beyond

• Black Visions - Minnesota-based organization centering Black liberation and building transformative movements

Civil Rights and Legal Organizations

• NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund - America's premier legal organization fighting for racial justice through litigation, advocacy, and public education

• Equal Justice Initiative - Works to end mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and racial inequality

• Advancement Project - Multi-racial civil rights organization working on racial justice issues

• Color of Change - Online racial justice organization helping people respond effectively to injustice

• NAACP - Nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization

Community-Based and Educational Organizations

• The Bail Project - Combats mass incarceration by disrupting the money bail system through bail payment and advocacy

• National Black Justice Coalition - Civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black LGBTQ+ people

• Black Mamas Matter Alliance - Organization working to ensure Black maternal health, rights, and justice

• Campaign Zero - Platform of research-based policy solutions to end police violence

• Race Forward - Catalyzes movement building for racial justice through research, media, and practice

Conclusion

The statement "Black Lives Matter" represents a profound affirmation of the humanity, dignity, and value of Black people in a society that has systematically devalued Black lives. From its origins as a hashtag following Trayvon Martin's killing to its global resonance after George Floyd's murder, the phrase has catalyzed a movement demanding fundamental transformation in how our society treats Black people.

The movement's persistence despite backlash, mischaracterization, and the slow pace of change testifies to both the urgency of its cause and the commitment of its supporters. By challenging not just individual acts of racism but the systemic and structural nature of racial injustice, Black Lives Matter has expanded public understanding of how racism operates in contemporary society.

As we display the Our Values Are image with its declaration that "BLACK LIVES MATTER," we affirm our commitment to this fundamental principle. We acknowledge that this statement is simultaneously simple and complex—simple in its basic assertion of human value, complex in its challenge to deeply embedded systems of oppression.

By understanding the historical context of anti-Black racism, recognizing current challenges, and taking concrete actions at multiple levels, each of us can contribute to building a world where Black lives truly matter—not just in principle but in policy, practice, and lived experience. This work requires not just moments of outrage and protest but sustained commitment to transforming our institutions, communities, and ourselves.

In a time when racial justice continues to face significant challenges, visibly declaring that Black Lives Matter represents not merely a statement of belief but a commitment to action. It invites us to examine how we can contribute to creating a world where all people are truly treated with equal dignity and respect.

References

1. Khan-Cullors, P., & bandele, a. (2018). When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir. St. Martin's Press.

2. Alexander, M. (2010). The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. The New Press.

3. Joseph, P. E. (2006). Waiting 'Til the Midnight Hour: A Narrative History of Black Power in America. Henry Holt and Company.

4. Sastry, A., & Bates, K. G. (2017, April 26). When LA Erupted in Anger: A Look Back at the Rodney King Riots. NPR. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2017/04/26/524744989/when-la-erupted-in-anger-a-look-back-at-the-rodney-king-riots

5. Lowery, W. (2016). They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America's Racial Justice Movement. Little, Brown and Company.

6. Buchanan, L., Bui, Q., & Patel, J. K. (2020, July 3). Black Lives Matter May Be the Largest Movement in U.S. History. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/03/us/george-floyd-protests-crowd-size.html

7. Ransby, B. (2018). Making All Black Lives Matter: Reimagining Freedom in the Twenty-First Century. University of California Press.

8. Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color. Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241-1299.

9. Jackson, S. J., Bailey, M., & Foucault Welles, B. (2020). #HashtagActivism: Networks of Race and Gender Justice. MIT Press.

10. Movement for Black Lives. (2020). Vision for Black Lives: Policy Demands for Black Power, Freedom, & Justice. Retrieved from https://m4bl.org/policy-platforms/

11. Washington Post. (2023). Fatal Force: Police shootings database. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/investigations/police-shootings-database/

12. Mapping Police Violence. (2023). Police Violence Map. Retrieved from https://mappingpoliceviolence.org

13. Schwartz, J. (2020). How Qualified Immunity Fails. Yale Law Journal, 127(1), 2-76.

14. PEN America. (2022). Restrictions on Protest Rights. Retrieved from https://pen.org/issue/restrictions-on-protest-rights/

15. UCLA School of Law. (2022). CRT Forward Tracking Project. Retrieved from https://crtforward.law.ucla.edu

16. Garza, A. (2014, October 7). A Herstory of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement. The Feminist Wire. Retrieved from https://thefeministwire.com/2014/10/blacklivesmatter-2/

17. Neiwert, D. (2021). Red Pill, Blue Pill: How to Counteract the Conspiracy Theories That Are Killing Us. Prometheus Books.

18. Comas-Díaz, L., Hall, G. N., & Neville, H. A. (2019). Racial Trauma: Theory, Research, and Healing. American Psychologist, 74(1), 1-5.

19. Taylor, K. Y. (2016). From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation. Haymarket Books.

20. Federal Reserve. (2023). Survey of Consumer Finances. Retrieved from https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/scfindex.htm

21. Darity, W., & Mullen, A. K. (2020). From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century. University of North Carolina Press.