(ThyBlackMan.com) Let me begin by saying I am more than willing to hear anyone that can explain my concerns about an organization that I thought stood against police brutality. It is always okay for a movement to expand its scope while remaining focused on its core values. I understand that this movement was organized by three black women. I respect their passion to move to action when our people were dying in the streets at the hands of police officers. The issue that I have is yes they organized it…but it was founded in the blood of black men. Michael Brown’s death would see this organization take on a true face, and voice in movement.
I had given a lot of thought to the idea of do I support Black Lives Matter. Without full understanding of an organization I tend to be slow to join. After hearing rumors that this organization alienates heterosexual black men I decided to go to the website, http://blacklivesmatter.com/guiding-principles/, and see for myself. What I found as an explanation of Black Lives Matter, and the guiding principled was first confusing…then upsetting.
“Black Lives Matter is a unique contribution that goes beyond extrajudicial killings of Black people by police and vigilantes. It goes beyond the narrow nationalism that can be prevalent within some Black communities, which merely call on Black people to love Black, live Black and buy Black, keeping straight cis Black men in the front of the movement while our sisters, queer and trans and disabled folk take up roles in the background or not at all. Black Lives Matter affirms the lives of Black queer and trans folks, disabled folks, Black-undocumented folks, folks with records, women and all Black lives along the gender spectrum. It centers those that have been marginalized within Black liberation movements. It is a tactic to (re)build the Black liberation movement.”
The “About” reads as though the heterosexual black man has been disregarded in this definition of the organization. I need clarity. I take issue with the statement because history has taught me about MANY sistahs that have been at the forefront on our movements. Everyone was not on a sideline…and where is the stance against police violence which is what launched this movement. I am simply trying to understand. This can lead one to ask was the blood, of the heterosexual black man used to further a different agenda. The site goes to great lengths to speak of queer black women. I don’t know of Sister Bland’s orientation…all that matters is she is a black woman.
I acknowledge that Black Lives Matter has help shine a bright light on our oppressors, but I am concerned about the kind of black community they are trying to build. Would I be valued there as I am not a single mother? Would my husband be valued? How can we fight about injustice against our young men, and yet there is no plan clear plan to protect them in the guiding principles? Are the lives of heterosexual black men valued alongside homosexual and transgendered black men? I thought all black lives mattered. To have to ask these questions is disturbing to me.
Below are some quotes that define their guiding principles. Black men have been left out of the construct of collective values, black village and black family. Sisters this is not okay. Since black women founded this, as a black woman I feel this is cause for concern. We cannot speak of building without black men…period. We need black men in the homes; there can be no true protection of young black males without black men.
I am open to an explanation, but I must admit I was disappointed. I feel that Black Lives Matter on paper is not what it presents to the public. I don’t think a lot of their followers are aware of these stances. As a black woman, daughter of a black man, wife to a black man, and mother to a black boy that one day will be a man I am uncomfortable with feeling that the blood of black men was merely misused. History did that enough to our men…sistahs we have no right to misuse them any further. Until someone explains that to me I simply cannot stand in support of Black Lives Matter. Yes, we need to be united, but it needs to be right and in truth. It’s time to build a movement that will protect, defend and honor All black lives equally in truth.
“Collective Values: We are guided by the fact all Black lives, regardless of actual or perceived sexual identity, gender identity, gender expression, economic status, ability, disability, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, immigration status or location”
“Black Village: We are committed to disrupting the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, and especially “our” children to the degree that mothers, parents and children are comfortable.”
“Black Families: We are committed to making our spaces family-friendly and enable parents to fully participate with their children. We are committed to dismantling the patriarchal practice that requires mothers to work “double shifts” that require them to mother in private even as they participate in justice work”
Staff Writer; Christian Starr
May connect with this sister over at Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/christian.pierre.9809 and also Twitter; http://twitter.com/MrzZeta.