I'm nobody, but even nobodies should speak up in times like these.
Yes, #BlackLivesMatter. Now ask yourself: which black lives matter, and to whom?
ALL black lives matter to me. But do they ALL matter to everyone saying #BlackLivesMatter?
THREAD! 1/?
Yes, #BlackLivesMatter. Now ask yourself: which black lives matter, and to whom?
ALL black lives matter to me. But do they ALL matter to everyone saying #BlackLivesMatter?
THREAD! 1/?
So then, WHICH black lives matter?
When the video of #GeorgeFloyd came out almost everyone agreed that what happened was unjust and horrendous. George's life mattered, no matter what he did that led him into police custody. George's life mattered and it ended too soon. 2/?
When the video of #GeorgeFloyd came out almost everyone agreed that what happened was unjust and horrendous. George's life mattered, no matter what he did that led him into police custody. George's life mattered and it ended too soon. 2/?
According to the FBI, in 2018 over 7,000 black people were murdered in the USA. Think about that number for a minute. Murdered. Those black victims account for over half of the total murder victims in 2018. Do their lives matter?
3/?
ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u…
3/?
ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u…
> 6,000 of 2018's known murder offenders were also black (mostly male), disproportionately exceeding white offenders despite being a minority population.
What leads black men toward violent crime and murder? Can we address it? Do their lives matter?
4/?
ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u…
What leads black men toward violent crime and murder? Can we address it? Do their lives matter?
4/?
ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u…
You've probably heard about the gang violence problems in large urban areas, like Chicago. It's bad. Real bad.
Gangs disproportionately attract members from black and other minority populations. Can we address that? Do their lives matter?
5/?
abcnews.go.com/Nightline/full…
Gangs disproportionately attract members from black and other minority populations. Can we address that? Do their lives matter?
5/?
abcnews.go.com/Nightline/full…
One major issue in the black community is fatherless homes, which have a number of ill effects. Only about 1 in 3 black children live in a home with both parents.
The magnitude of problems these children face is staggering. Do their lives matter?
6/?
afro.com/census-bureau-…
The magnitude of problems these children face is staggering. Do their lives matter?
6/?
afro.com/census-bureau-…
Growing up is a challenge with both parents and in a stable environment. If you were fortunate to have both of your parents involved in your life growing up, try to imagine the confusion, sadness, and anger these children feel. Do their lives matter?
7/?
7/?
How about the black lives that don't get to grow up? This thread is controversial enough without another hot button issue, but know this: black women are more than 5x as likely as white women to get an abortion. Do black babies lives matter?
8/?
blackgenocide.org/black.html
8/?
blackgenocide.org/black.html
Naturally folks are angry about George Floyd's death, but are destructive riots and looting in black neighborhoods helping black lives?
How about the owners of businesses in those neighborhoods? Do their lives matter?
9/?
How about the owners of businesses in those neighborhoods? Do their lives matter?
9/?
Go ahead. Listen to her. I'll wait.
Does her life matter?
10/?
Does her life matter?
10/?
How about the black folks who relied on the businesses in their neighborhood that have been looted and burned over the past week?
They need groceries, and clothes, and medicine, and community, and a sense of security. Do their lives matter?
11/?
They need groceries, and clothes, and medicine, and community, and a sense of security. Do their lives matter?
11/?
What about black cops? Do their lives matter?
12/?
12/?
We've certainly heard a from a lot of folks lately that #BlackLivesMatter but do they all mean it?
How about leftist media, celebs, and politicians with an agenda or vested (often financial) interest in fomenting racial division? Do black lives matter to them?
13/?
How about leftist media, celebs, and politicians with an agenda or vested (often financial) interest in fomenting racial division? Do black lives matter to them?
13/?
Think particularly hard about the media. Do you suppose their ratings go up or down in the midst of chaos in multiple major US cities?
A peaceful solution is a boring headline. There's money to be made for the media! Do black lives matter to them?
14/?
A peaceful solution is a boring headline. There's money to be made for the media! Do black lives matter to them?
14/?
What about the looters and rioters themselves? There are a couple of sub-groups here. Let's start with the looters, whether they are part of the protests or vultures descending on soft targets.
Do black lives matter to them?
15/?
Do black lives matter to them?
15/?
I've noted the damage done to businesses and the black folks who rely on them. Consider the looters calling it all necessary collateral damage, or the price of progress, or the only way to make their voice heard.
Do black lives matter to them?
16/?
Do black lives matter to them?
16/?
How about the #AntifaTerrorist surge? It is made up of mostly middle class or affluent young white people that do not live where they are actively rioting.
Do black lives matter to #Antifa?
17/?
Do black lives matter to #Antifa?
17/?
What would you call giving money to black men to commit a crime that you don't have the courage to commit yourself and thereby potentially face the consequences?
Do you think black lives matter to this guy?
18/?
Do you think black lives matter to this guy?
18/?
I think this young lady says it pretty well, albeit with some colorful language.
Do you think black lives matter to the instigators in the car?
19/?
Do you think black lives matter to the instigators in the car?
19/?
Can't leave out the political elements feeding racially charged narratives for their benefit. They feed false information to the black community for generations. For money. For votes. Some of them even say "you ain't black!" if you disagree.
Do black lives matter to them?
20/?
Do black lives matter to them?
20/?
How about the police and teachers' unions? The bosses make a great living, all while protecting bad cops and moving backwards in inner city schools with no choice for residents. They have massive political pull too!
Do black lives matter to them?
21/?
Do black lives matter to them?
21/?
It's all about narrative. How about the narrative that has driven this all? That police are systematically and disproportionately targeting, oppressing, and killing black people. The data simply doesn't bear it out.
Do black lives matter to those selling that narrative?
22/?
Do black lives matter to those selling that narrative?
22/?
I will say it publicly with no hesitation: ALL #BlackLivesMatter to me.
I want you to go think long and hard about whether everyone saying black lives matter actually think that ALL black lives matter, or just the black lives which are convenient for them to exploit.
THE END.
I want you to go think long and hard about whether everyone saying black lives matter actually think that ALL black lives matter, or just the black lives which are convenient for them to exploit.
THE END.
Can't believe I missed this one!
Here's the video from tweet 10 from a source that's still available:
