Black Lives Matter and Political Engagement

The effects of the Black Lives Matter movement on politics on a global scale

Why is the Black Lives Matter (BLM) is so vital in the political world today? Often, we forget to care for humanity no matter what age size or colour, as children we are raised to not even care about our gender or who we play with, todays reality is somewhat complex. The ethnic minorities, no matter where in the world are being treated less than humans.  Seeing black people of all ages killed for the most minor of offences should not be the norm of what we see on social media or the news. The BLM created an understanding to those who did not know the severity of this topic and it did come with a lot of backlash, with people saying all lives should matter. Yes, this is true all lives matter however, it has been made evident that in actual fact black lives do not seem to matter in the eyes of the law. Black Lives Matter (BLM) was launched in July 2013 after George Zimmerman was acquitted by the Florida Jury, in the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, and unarmed black man. The BLM movement has attempted to change public discourse regarding police brutality to the black community. With a history of such cruel and undermining factors, the BLM movement was created in hopes of minimizing the police brutality we see almost every day in the black community.

 

#BlackLivesMatter

                          You would think that by 2018 we would be living in a society where race is not an issue. Reality says otherwise, with social media being such a vital part of day to day life for a majority, we see endless cruelty towards the black Afro – Caribbean ethnic minority. Age and gender does not change the treatment they receive. And what is its relevance to politics I hear you ask!

Laws and legislations on a global scale do not benefit those of ethnic minorities the way it benefits people with a European decent. Black history is something which is recognised on a wide scale now however, only after the world realising how badly this particular group are treated.

 

                             Only a few years ago, in 2011, the riots ignited by the police shooting of young black man, Mark Duggan, this tainted Britain’s self-image as a diverse and complete society. Throughout police investigations and in media illustrations of the events, rioters were relabelled “looters,” and pictures spread on social media were used to prosecute a number of young people of colour. The BLM has led to young people being more aware of laws and legislations not due to the fact that they are interested but because people of colour now have to be up to date with politics in aims of protecting themselves, in a society where they feel is attacking them.                        When a minority feel as though they are being wrongfully convicted in all nations, it rings alarms bells as to how democratic our world is. It is fair to say that the afro black ethnic minority do not see the justice other races or cultures do, no matter where they go in the world. From the years of 2pac and Biggies smalls in the early 90’s this community has been represented as dangerous and problematic for society either due to the way they dress or the kind of music they make. The BLM has become a unifying project for black people all over the world. This union has changed the world of politics for black people as they are now able to voice their opinions on how they are treated, whether it be male or female, child or not black people are victims to police brutality.

The Hill’s article noted that, 43% of voters have a positive view of Black Lives Matter, compared with 57% who have a negative view of the movement, only 35% of whites have a favourable view of the movement, while 83% of blacks have a favourable view. These statistics support the idea that that not very many care about this particular group and as it is a majority of white people who do vote against the movement this reemphasises why there is a lack of political engagement on the matter.

Being from the UK, I am aware of all the institutional racism that resides within our criminal justice system. Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr and many other historical characters of our history did not spend their lives trying to create harmony among the human race for the state to go against human rights. The BLM movement is union of hope which will continue to flourish to put a stop to this horrific treatment of the black community.

A documentary worth watching! I hope you guys have enjoyed this as much as I have creating them! again any comments please do not hesitate to post!

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