Speaking about the agenda which the Black Lives Matter movement adheres to, it is difficult to overlook the contradictory nature of their statement that the police are the number one threat to black people in America. In confirmation of this stance, Mitchell C. Shaw (2016), the author of the article “Making Black Lives Matter,” provides evidence of why this idea does not correspond to reality.
In this piece, he argues that, by tragic irony, the main enemies of the African American population in the United States are the members of this population group themselves (Shaw, 2016). This outcome is underpinned by the description of cases of violence against one another within this category of citizens, which are hidden under the specified movement, which is initially intended to protect these people (Shaw, 2016). As a result, it is no wonder that the scholar doubts that Black Lives Matter in its current form is a positive phenomenon.
Looking at the shocking statistics, the above statement regarding the caused unintentional damage does not seem so much different from the truth. In real life, one police officer harms the black population statistically 40 times less than a generalized black person (Shaw, 2016).
This fact proves the correctness of the above considerations and evokes concerns of other population groups regarding the possibility of supporting minorities under such circumstances. Since no such phenomenon can exist isolated from society as a whole, their worries seem reasonable. In turn, the presentation of criminal activity in social media reflects a clear focus on the actions of white people as opposed to black citizens (Shaw, 2016). Since the former’s improper conduct is more frequently discussed, it creates an impression that they are the ones to be blamed for the perceived injustice. In this situation, the statistics are frequently neglected, whereas they are significant for grasping the actual meaning of events and learning the truth.
In continuation of the article, the author expands this thesis from a broad historical perspective. He goes so far as to argue that racism “does not put black people down” after the abolition of slavery (Shaw, 2016). Citing the assertion of black police officers as evidence, the article states that cities heavily populated by African American citizens are in gradual decline (Shaw, 2016). This circumstance, in turn, serves as the proof of the manipulation of the surrounding order by the democratic regime, imposing rebellious aggression on the black man. According to Shaw (2016), the movement is guided only by the desire for power, acting on the principle of “divide and conquer,” thus fostering a stereotypical culture of hatred.
Therefore, the above facts allow concluding on the lack of positive motivation in the participants of the movement whatsoever. Instead, it is clear that the only intentions guiding people’s actions are related to gaining more influence in society on a global scale.
At last, the article under consideration states that real justice should be a priority in forming opinions of the population. Meanwhile, as per the author’s claims, it is rarely achieved since the representatives of minorities, such as black people, are unwilling to admit that their counterparts might be guilty of committing crimes (Shaw, 2016). In this situation, racism is widely discussed, whereas it should not be applied to the cases when one performs illegal acts, regardless of their personal characteristics. It means that the only way to ensure the safety of all population groups is to thoroughly examine the cause-and-effect relationships on different occasions, such as shootings or other types of violence.
In Robert Berry’s Reading for the Main Idea, it is said that to obtain information and not pleasure most people seek, one should read only the first sentence of each paragraph in a book.
Janice Amlin’s article “The Pink Factor” describes gender discrimination against women who are at the bottom of the hierarchy in relation to male bosses who hinder their advancement in work.
The Black Lives Matter movement aims to spread awareness of the fundamental injustice of police in America towards the African American population. The movement demands the limitation of the use of firearms, the equality of blacks relative to other races before the courts, and an end to the police violence that plagues American youth. However, it can be said that many strategies of the movement are questionable. Part of the movement focuses strictly on the racial side of the issue, while the other requires a complete dispersal of the police.
The movement’s radical demands are often combined with lack of awareness of the basic principles of the movement. Coupled with promises of undeserved financial privileges and poor coordination, this movement risks becoming a breeding ground for chaos and violence. The struggle for basic rights by members of the movement is often accompanied by robbery and vandalism, which is alarming given the young age of most of the participants. While the movement’s theoretical strategies fight for blacks’ right to institutions of their own, the selfish aspirations of some members undermine their unity and moral purity.
Reference
Shaw, C. M. (2016). Making Black Lives Matter. The New American, 32(18). Web.