The PROBLEM with the #BlackLivesMatter movement
As a daughter, sister, grand-daughter, niece, cousin, and friend to many black men believe me when I say the love I have for black men is unconditional but can the reverse be said for them? ; Is the root of this topic.
Never in my mind would I have ever thought I’d be criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement. This critique of the movement has no intention of questioning whether the movement is valid or worthwhile having. I 100% SUPPORT THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT. Again: As a daughter, sister, grand-daughter, niece, cousin, and friend to many black men believe me when I say the love I have for black men is unconditional. In no way shape or form am I here to promote #AllLivesMatter or take away from the national INTERNATIONAL attention this movement has generated. I am here to question a deep issue that is widely overlooked in regards to this movement.
The thought to question the movement comes from a twitter thread from a user who many may call a “black feminist”, but I don’t think labels are necessary for an unspoken topic that is as plain as day.
The main point in this twitter thread was: black men do not support black women in the same way black women support black men.
(She also goes into detail stating that black women should essentially cut ties with the movement and let “becky” advocate for the black man —however, this is where my opinion differs. Although I don’t agree with all of her tweets I think it is important to bring light to the root of the issue she is speaking on)
Did you know Black Lives Matter was started
by three Black Women?
That’s right. Three. Black. Women: took time out of their lives to start a movement to bring awareness for black men.
How many times have we seen posts like these?
On the contrary, where are the posts celebrating the black women? When Lebron James posted online about “colored women” the internet rioted. When was the last time you can remember a black man outwardly praising or uplifting black women to the point of an international movement? I’ll wait
Now I thank God for men like Lebron James, Barack Obama, even Cameron from Love is Blind for publicly uplifting and showing black women the love they are looking for.
Now back to the Black Lives Matter Movement founders.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: ALICIA GARZA, OPAL TOMETI, PATRISSE KHAN-CULLORS
Patrisse Khan-Cullors
Alicia Garza
Opal Tometi
What I am going to say is going to be very controversial, and I am okay with that.
Two of the founders are advocates of queer love (Source 1, Source 2). Nothing wrong with that (culture-wise) but my over-analyzing self likes to think deeper of this and says: “Wow. Two black women that ride so hard for black men MAY have not been able to find black men to ride hard for them; so they look to women for love.” I’m not here to condemn or judge. Their sexual preference is: 100% their business!
But I’d be lying if I said I can’t personally help but to wonder why. Maybe for personal preference or maybe because black women feel like they have been completely dogged out so badly to the point where they feel like the only place they can find love is from other women who have been oppressed and mistreated like they have.
Now AGAIN I may be and probably am absolutely 100% wrong but on behalf of black women who may have felt like this before, I have to point this out. Women are advocating for men who aren’t even remotely interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with them. WHY?
The third founder who is an absolute goddess (all of them are) is not even married to a black man. Fact check me please, but I don’t think she’s married.. AND MARRIAGE DOES NOT MEAN ACHIEVEMENT but what I am saying is :this woman is in her 30s and not even in a covenant relationship with a black man and has devoted a large part of her life to this movement.
Malcom X said it best:
“The most disrespected person in America is the black woman.
The most unprotected person in America is the black woman.
The most neglected person in America is the black woman.”
Ladies, I am not here to question the movement or stop the movement. I am here to question you (Black Women): Do you know that you are the legs and life of this movement? Do you know how powerful you are? Seriously. I don’t think people understand how powerful it is for black women to fight and advocate for a movement that may, in hindsight, not even serve.. them. And that is THE problem.
More quotes from Malcolm X:
Who taught you to hate the color of your skin? Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair? Who taught you to hate the shape of your nose and the shape of your lips? Who taught you to hate yourself from the top of your head to the soles of your feet? Who taught you to hate your own kind? Who taught you to hate the race that you belong to so much so that you don't want to be around each other? You know. Before you come asking Mr. Muhammad does he teach hate, you should ask yourself who taught you to hate being what God made you.
“Why [does] your skin look like gold next to his [white] skin”
“There was a time when we used to drool in the mouth over white people. We thought they were pretty 'cause we were blind, we were dumb.”
Read more excerpts here: http://www.shoppbs.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/malcolmx/filmmore/pt.html
Black Women: We started an international movement that is largely, overwhelming focused on black male lives. We don’t get a medal for this either. We often still receive more hate from our own black men than love due to their ignorance of how much we love them. That’s powerful, but what is even more powerful is the resilience of a black woman.
This critique of the movement was more of a question to black women rather than focusing on the actual issues within the movement.
My question to black women is: Do you know how powerful you are? Just take a moment to internalize your power and your worth.
It’s important for us to speak up but we need more men to advocate for us like Serena Williams’ dad did in this interview.
To every black women reading this: YOU are strong. YOU are powerful. YOU are change.
To every black man reading this: step up and show Love + Appreciation to the women who birthed you and will unconditionally love and fight for you.
With love,
xo —Shannon Ashley
P.s. I know the black men in my family love me. And I thank God to be born into a family that represents and honors black love.