Are you tired of BLM?
(I posted this on Medium last week and sadly got few views, so i am adding it to my blog too)
This time was going to be different. Maybe it still will. But I worry we are already beginning to lose. By “we” I mean the vast majority of Americans that know we desperately need to eradicate racism. Finally.
Just two month’s ago a Medium article about the flood of new white supporters asked, ”Where were you? Where have you been all this time?”
My response,
“You go to war with almost no support. Fighting and losing battle after battle, year after year.. Now, finally, you have an army of millions. Your questions are of course valid. But is the more important (and scary) question ‘Will today’s army still be there tomorrow?’ This time, this has to be just the beginning. Many miles to go….”
The vision… obscured
Black Lives Matter is a beautiful message. A sad and common sense statement. A rallying call. But already today, the army is smaller by the day.
A friend said this morning, “I am so tired of hearing Black Lives Matter.” This was from a good person… after just a few months… tired. I said, “Imagine how our black neighbors have felt, living the opposite for lifetimes?”
But my friend’s weariness wasn’t really BLM. And it might just cause us to fail again.
So, how do we lose?
Diminish the message. Obfuscate. Radicalize it. Change the message. Introduce fear.
The BLM (loose) organization has quickly become part of the problem. Every single social cause has been brought under the BLM tent. Now, when you say you support BLM there is growing confusion. Do you mean the beautiful and long overdue message of eradicating racism? Or the the Marxist goals of the BLM founders? Or what some local “BLM leader” says on today’s video?
“Defund the police. Burn it all down. Kill cops.” All diminishing the message from within.
Add the Portland style anarchists and Antifa. Coopting BLM to foment violence. Mixed in with those intent to fight, do harm, and destroy… come the looters. Useful idiots. And of course the “Proud Boys” and other hate groups arrive. All amidst an insane upcoming election. The vast middle siphoned off. Choose a side… Law & Order… or Change. Each side painted as radically as possible by the other side.
But wait! What about Black Lives Matter? That pure, sad but hopeful message almost all American’s can rally around?
I fear we will not see BLM purely soon. Or already don’t. Forget the flawed organization, the anarchists, Antifa and hate groups for a moment. BLM is a righteous movement. A movement under attack.