Introduction
Racism and racial segregation are significant issues in the USA despite the revolution and political changes that have occurred in the past decades. People of color still face challenges navigating through the political and social spheres due to racial stereotypes. To provide equality and end racism, especially in the legal and political field, street demonstrations and the organization of movements have been put in place.
For instance, the Black Lives Matter movement moved the American political and social justice systems and remains relevant today. Although it might not have fully achieved its objectives, this movement restructured how the systems work. Its attempts to seek justice and end racism received a backlash but also gained power, much popularity, and influence.
Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter is a movement that was organized in 2014 following the death of poor black people. There were recurrent and increasing deaths among the black residents, especially those living in poor neighborhoods(Kinghorn, 2019). The police committed these criminal offenses, and little or no action was taken to serve justice. Although the initial intention of the movement was to seek justice, it was viewed as a class struggle, especially by those in political power, thus creating much tension. However, the goal of making an anti-capitalist vision a reality kept sinking.
The Black Lives Matter movement sought liberal police reforms following the police violence against black Americans. George Floyd’s Rebellion particularly showed the meaning of rejecting a capitalist social order that disregards human life. The Black Lives Matter movement transformed the American political landscape and shaped the terrain for future protests.
Some street protests that significantly benefited from this movement include the #NODAPL, #MeToo, and the Virginia Wlidact, among others. Additionally, the movement exposed the contradictions of the post-racial democracy, highlighting the increasing racialized police violence under the first American black president(Kinghorn, 2019). However, although the Black Lives Matter movement greatly revolutionized the political and social administration, most of its leaders used it as a stepping stone for individual political gain.
The Black Lives Matter movement has received very little support from white Americans. The political leaders publicly expressed the backlash from the white Americans, thus creating a contrast in the democratic values. In 2016, only 40% of white Americans expressed any kind of support for the Black Lives Matter movement(Drakulich et al., 2021). This article shows evidence of a huge racial gap between these two ethnic groups. Unlike White Americans, Black Americans have shown great support for the movement by joining the physical street demonstrations and sharing information about the movement on social media. 65% of Black Americans supported the Black Lives Matter movement, with 41% strongly supportive(Drakulich et al., 2021).
Social Movement Information
The Black Lives Matter movement is a reform movement that aims to restore social justice and democratic rights to black American citizens. The rampant killings and police violence against black citizens led to the formation of this movement, although its activities are not as many as during its initial years. This movement uses non-violent approaches to present its agenda. For instance, they have conducted peaceful street demonstrations and created a social media wave with #Black Lives Matter after the death of George Floyd, a black American.
The BLM movement is maturing (Buchanan et al., 2020). The backlash from the political leaders and leadership changes has stagnated its growth despite the movement being in existence for several years. The use of technology and social media hashtags has enabled the movement to gain popularity across the world.
News Article
A recent CNN news article highlights the sad state of the Black Lives Matter movement as a financial crisis leads to seeking legal action. A coalition of 26 BLM grassroots chapters filed a lawsuit against the BLM Global Network Foundation. In the filed case, the executive director of GNF Shalomyah was accused of ‘siphoning’ more than $10 million from donors. Some public commentators argue that the movement is highly decentralized and loose.
The GNF non-profit organization aims to raise funds channeled to support BLM’s grassroots chapters’ work. Unfortunately, the organizational leadership changes led to a pressure buildup(Tensley, 2022). The criticism of the poor management of resources led Garza and Tometi, some senior leaders, to dissociate from the group. Rapid financial growth, mainly aided by the donor funds, has stirred the grassroots chapter leaders, as some feel the money is channeled to individual uses.
Current Status of the BLM
The Black Lives Matter movement is currently in a crisis as the lawsuit filed by twenty-six grassroots chapter leaders is still in court. This followed the event when two of its leaders, Garza and Tometi, stepped down due to managerial issues. The unfolding of these events has significantly challenged the progress of the movement, considering the poor support from white Americans. Nevertheless, the movement’s members still support its actions and are willing to walk along(Tensley, 2022).
The BLM Global Network Foundation is a sister movement that partners with BLM. The GNF sister movement raises funds to support grassroots chapter activities throughout the organization.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Black Lives Matter movement is a reform movement that seeks to restore social justice, reduce racial discrimination, and fight for democratic human rights. This paper analyses this movement in light of its purpose, issues arising, and current status.
References
Buchanan, L., Bui, Q., & Patel, J. K. (2020). Black Lives Matter may be the largest movement in U.S. history. The New York Times. Web.
Conerly, T., Holmes, K., & Tamang, A. (2021). OpenStax. Web.
Drakulich, K., Wozniak, K. H., Hagan, J., & Johnson, D. (2021). Whose lives mattered? How White and Black Americans felt about Black Lives Matter in 2016. Law & Society Review, 55(2), 227–251. Web.
Kinghorn, A. (2019). Using the information on ART costs and benefits to mobilize resources – comparing different methods and contexts. African Journal of AIDS Research, 18(4), 289–296. Web.
Tensley, B., & CNN. (2022). BLM infighting has been brewing for years, but the movement’s mission “isn’t finished”. CNN. Web.