Johnhain, "black-lives-matter-justice-fairness-5310901," Pixabay, 2020 June. Free download, Unrestricted use.
The Black Lives Matter movement was founded in 2013, in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin. The movement was initiated by Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi, who initially developed and promoted the use of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media. The three women then began to organize other forms of protest against the systematic violence against Black people, and the devaluing of their lives. Black Lives Matter (BLM) is now a recognized international organization that seeks to dismantle structural racism and eradicate systematic violence against Black people, and build a more just and open society. 'Black Lives Matter' can also refer to a larger social movement incorporating many different organizations that have similar or related aims.
This guide is intended to be a resource for the Atlantic Cape community to learn more about the Black Lives Matter movement, and about the social structures and conditions from which the movement emerged. While it is impossible within the scope of a single guide to cover all of the concepts and resources that relate to racism, African American history, White supremacy, and other interlocking ideas, the reader is encouraged to use this guide to gain a deeper understanding of structural racism and its history (primarily in the United States), and to look for ways to become part of the solution to the problem.
The following social media links have been suggested as ways to keep up-to-date on developments in the broader movement.
Use these hashtags to follow the conversations:
#Ferguson
#BlackLivesMatter
#ICantBreath
#EricGarner
#ShutItDown
#CrimingWhileWhite
#SayHerName
#PhilandoCastile
These are just a handful of recommended accounts to follow for updates, analysis and information:
@Nettaaaaaaaa
@sarahkendzior
@elonjames
@ShaunKing
@marclamonthill
@ryanjreilly
@YourAnonGlobal
@OpFerguson
@boundtoferguson
Adopted from Julie Gilbert, Black Lives Matter Guide, Gustavus Adolphus College, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Murtha, L. (2020). CC BY SA. For attributions, view alt-text.
The most immediate, and perhaps the most urgent issue that has provoked the current wave of civil rights activism is the unchecked violence experienced by Black people at the hands of law enforcement officers. While it is imperative to address this situation, at both the local and national levels, so is it also imperative to address the underlying structural racism that supports, condones, forgives, or ignores these behaviors and many others that position Black people as Other and lesser. The incidents below illustrate the need through reporting on current and recent events, but represent only a fraction of the toxic interactions between police and Black citizens.
This guide was developed by Leslie Murtha, Atlantic Cape Community College Libraries.
Published February 2021.