General Discussion

brush

(53,785 posts)

78. Sometime well-intentioned "allies" need to just listen and learn

Tue Jul 21, 2015, 10:06 PM

Jul 2015

Last edited Tue Jul 21, 2015, 11:39 PM - Edit history (3)

We live in the United States. Everyone who calls themselves even somewhat progressive knows that white lives have always been valued (matter) more than black lives or there would never have been enslavement, lynchings, the KKK, sharecropping, redlining, jim crow . . . and I could go on and on and on.

"Black lives matter" is a huge, life and death issue in the AA community and should not be co-opted and thus, minimized by tone death allies using "all lives matter".

Besides, it came from racist right wingers trying to take the strength and focus from the "black lives matter" movement.

If you are really allies, get a clue by taking our word on this as we feel strongly about it.

And please stop whitesplaining how we should feel about it, and how, condescendingly, "all lives matter" is a better and more inclusive term — like white lives haven't always mattered.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

88 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

OMG!!!. Watching Bloomberg, Bill and Melinda Gates along with Warren Buffet say "ALL LIVES MATTER" [View all] still_one Jul 2015 OP

This is what happens when you miss a meme. n/t PoliticAverse Jul 2015 #1

yup, all they needed to do was put a simple (CC) in the mass email or better yet, "respond to all" still_one Jul 2015 #2

Yeap... They don't realize ALM goes without saying uponit7771 Jul 2015 #36

Wow! marym625 Jul 2015 #3

I will never understand why "All lives matter" invalidates "Black lives matter". SolutionisSolidarity Jul 2015 #4

It is because the BLM movement feels that by saying "all lives matter" one is not CTyankee Jul 2015 #5

I'm condescending to people who think "All lives matter" is a response to "Black lives matter". SolutionisSolidarity Jul 2015 #17

OK, I see your point now...sorry for my misunderstanding...next time I'll read more closely... CTyankee Jul 2015 #43

Do we need an additional movement for "Hispanic lives matter"? lostnfound Jul 2015 #75

I don't see why they can't march under the same umbrella. SolutionisSolidarity Jul 2015 #81

I agree. And it is black lives that are being taken in large numbers. So Black Lives Matter is jwirr Jul 2015 #29

It's simple and not that hard to understand brush Jul 2015 #7

I understand the anger at using "All lives matter" as a dismissive response. SolutionisSolidarity Jul 2015 #21

I don't think "all lives matter" when used by progressives is an attack on "black lives matter" brush Jul 2015 #52

"brutalized and killed almost daily by racist cops." Lizzie Poppet Jul 2015 #62

Just a side note . . . brush Jul 2015 #65

Wrong. Not exaggerating at all heaven05 Jul 2015 #68

White lives are taken by the police as well madville Jul 2015 #28

And there are 5.89 times as many whites as blacks in this country . . . markpkessinger Jul 2015 #30

Whites are not targeted because of race brush Jul 2015 #31

Whites aren't 21 times more likely to be shot by police though... uponit7771 Jul 2015 #33

I'm going to get in trouble leftynyc Jul 2015 #45

Can't believe you came in here with this tired crappola brush Jul 2015 #47

I'm well aware leftynyc Jul 2015 #50

Those that weigh the black lives matter movement with black-on-black crime are not allies brush Jul 2015 #51

Well, if you can find leftynyc Jul 2015 #54

So you pivot to this . . . brush Jul 2015 #55

Oh for Heaven's sake leftynyc Jul 2015 #56

It is BS when you bring up that tired old black-on-black meme . . . brush Jul 2015 #64

It would be more like you saying the wine was from Bordeaux gollygee Jul 2015 #10

You are right. I thought about changing it afterward but decided to leave it. SolutionisSolidarity Jul 2015 #22

You are right, it does NOT invalidate it still_one Jul 2015 #13

It is letting the right wing define the conversation. We let them own the Mojorabbit Jul 2015 #27

"All lives matter" is an attempt to divert attention away from the racial component . . . markpkessinger Jul 2015 #32

It's called HughBeaumont Jul 2015 #48

Excellent mocking of the Concerns of the AA community. zappaman Jul 2015 #6

You are so full of it still_one Jul 2015 #15

No really. zappaman Jul 2015 #16

I just watched Montel Williams say all lives matter... CANDO Jul 2015 #41

Don Lemon and Montel Williams? brush Jul 2015 #71

Oh, now even more exclusivity? CANDO Jul 2015 #77

Sometime well-intentioned "allies" need to just listen and learn brush Jul 2015 #78

I get it CANDO Jul 2015 #80

No one is excluding anyone from the "black lives matter" movement brush Jul 2015 #82

Are you mocking Black Lives Matter and their objection to the phrase KittyWampus Jul 2015 #8

No, but I am responding to some posts on DU that strongly imply that when a still_one Jul 2015 #14

Ahhh . . . it is kinda insensitive . . . brush Jul 2015 #72

God damn if reading DU anytime something race-related comes up... Spider Jerusalem Jul 2015 #9

No doubt. n/t gollygee Jul 2015 #11

It is a good article, and as you say worth reading, but that really wasn't my point still_one Jul 2015 #19

Try this explanation to understand. antiquie Jul 2015 #86

What's to disagree with? Henryville Jul 2015 #12

The minimizing of the fact that in practice Black lives don't matter and all... uponit7771 Jul 2015 #37

Black lives matter. Glassunion Jul 2015 #18

My point was if someone says that "all lives matter", does not mean that person is insensitive still_one Jul 2015 #23

+1 Very well said. /nt RiverLover Jul 2015 #26

ALM started on Storm Front iirc either way its minimizing seeing that's not reality uponit7771 Jul 2015 #34

yes they did restorefreedom Jul 2015 #20

Not only do hey say it, but those 3 live it! Township75 Jul 2015 #24

yes they do still_one Jul 2015 #25

Wingers who came up with the phrase to minimize the reality that black lives do NOT matter in the US uponit7771 Jul 2015 #35

Semantics. moondust Jul 2015 #38

Their use of ALM is tone deaf, like saying to aids patients that ALM diseases matter... uponit7771 Jul 2015 #39

BLM moondust Jul 2015 #42

ALM meaning is clear and still minimizing the fact that Black's are disproportionally shot by cops uponit7771 Jul 2015 #44

exactly still_one Jul 2015 #40

That's why "all lives matter" needs to be avoided brush Jul 2015 #74

Melendez !? WTF? n/t wildbilln864 Jul 2015 #46

It was the autocorrect. I just edited it. Thanks still_one Jul 2015 #49

thank you... wildbilln864 Jul 2015 #70

#WordsMatter... kentuck Jul 2015 #53

All the money they send to Coke & Exxon Mobile JonLP24 Jul 2015 #57

Do you even know what the foundation does? This is about the foundation and who it helps. still_one Jul 2015 #58

Who is it helping is my question? JonLP24 Jul 2015 #61

Whatever still_one Jul 2015 #63

All lives matter. hamsterjill Jul 2015 #59

Are you suggesting...? kentuck Jul 2015 #67

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2015 #60

Privilege at its, whitest, richest and best heaven05 Jul 2015 #66

Now billionaires are okay? BainsBane Jul 2015 #69

Superrich White Elite are SENDING THE MEMO daredtowork Jul 2015 #73

This f---g political correctness is redicuous "yes all lives matter"! doc03 Jul 2015 #76

All Lives Matter goes without saying, Black Lives Matter does NOT go without saying in practice uponit7771 Jul 2015 #79

No, it does not go without saying. kentuck Jul 2015 #83

Context matters, here and they should know the context... They're not uninformed uponit7771 Jul 2015 #85

The Horror of hearing that all lives matter instead of specific lives seveneyes Jul 2015 #84

I'm not surprised. Baitball Blogger Jul 2015 #87

Gosh darn them! NaturalHigh Jul 2015 #88