9.3 Black Lives Matter and contemporary civil rights activism

Black Lives Matter is a social movement advocating for the rights and dignity of Black individuals, primarily in response to police violence and systemic racism. It seeks to address the injustices faced by Black communities and promote policies that support equality and justice. The movement has galvanized contemporary civil rights activism and highlighted the persistent issues of mass incarceration, economic disparities, and health inequalities affecting Black Americans.

Systemic Racism: The complex interaction of culture, policy, and institutions that perpetuates racial inequality and discrimination against Black individuals and communities.

Mass Incarceration: The significant increase in the number of individuals imprisoned in the United States, disproportionately affecting Black men due to harsh drug laws and policing practices.

Civil Rights Movement: A historical movement aimed at ending racial discrimination and promoting equal rights for African Americans, laying the groundwork for modern activism like Black Lives Matter.

George Zimmerman is known for being the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teenager, in Sanford, Florida in 2012. This incident sparked nationwide protests and discussions about race, gun laws, and self-defense, ultimately fueling the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement and contemporary civil rights activism.

Trayvon Martin: An unarmed African American teenager whose shooting by George Zimmerman in 2012 became a focal point for discussions on racial profiling and violence.

Stand Your Ground Law: A self-defense law in Florida that allows individuals to use force without retreating when they believe they are in imminent danger, which was central to Zimmerman's defense.

Black Lives Matter: A decentralized movement that seeks to address systemic racism and violence against Black individuals, which gained momentum following Trayvon Martin's death and the subsequent trial of George Zimmerman.

Trayvon Martin was a 17-year-old African American teenager who was fatally shot in 2012 by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Florida. This tragic event sparked nationwide protests and discussions about racial profiling, gun control, and the systemic racism prevalent in the United States, becoming a pivotal moment in contemporary civil rights activism.

Black Lives Matter: A social movement advocating for the rights and lives of Black individuals, formed in response to incidents of police violence and systemic racism.

Stand Your Ground Law: A law in some U.S. states that allows individuals to use deadly force in self-defense without the duty to retreat when they perceive a threat.

Racial Profiling: The discriminatory practice of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on their race or ethnicity rather than any specific evidence.

Systemic racism refers to the ingrained policies, practices, and cultural norms within societal structures that create and maintain racial inequality. This form of racism is embedded in the fabric of institutions, affecting areas such as education, housing, employment, and criminal justice. It perpetuates discrimination against marginalized groups, particularly African Americans, through both overt and subtle means, leading to disparities in wealth, health, and opportunities.

Institutional Racism: A form of racism that is embedded in the laws and regulations of a society or an organization, leading to systemic disadvantage for certain racial groups.

White Privilege: The societal privileges that benefit white people over non-white people in some societies, often without the awareness of those who benefit from it.

Discrimination: Unjust treatment of different categories of people, particularly on the grounds of race, age, or sex, resulting in unequal opportunities and outcomes.

Alicia Garza is a civil rights activist, writer, and community organizer known for co-founding the Black Lives Matter movement in 2013. Her work has played a crucial role in contemporary civil rights activism, bringing attention to systemic racism and police violence against Black individuals in the United States. Through social media and grassroots organizing, she has mobilized communities and influenced national conversations about race and justice.

Black Lives Matter: A social movement founded in response to police violence and systemic racism, advocating for the rights and dignity of Black people.

Patrice Cullors: One of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement alongside Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi, known for her activism and work in criminal justice reform.

Systemic Racism: A form of racism that is embedded as normal practice within society or an organization, leading to discrimination against marginalized groups.

Patrisse Cullors is a prominent activist, artist, and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, which seeks to address systemic racism and police violence against Black individuals. Her work has played a crucial role in contemporary civil rights activism, fostering awareness and mobilization around issues of racial injustice in the United States and beyond. As a key figure in this movement, she has utilized her platform to advocate for social change and empower marginalized communities.

Black Lives Matter: A decentralized social and political movement advocating against violence and systemic racism towards Black people, founded in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

Activism: The efforts of individuals or groups to promote, impede, or direct social, political, economic, or environmental change, often through campaigns and organized movements.

Intersectionality: A framework for understanding how various forms of social stratification, such as race, gender, sexuality, and class, intersect and contribute to unique experiences of oppression.

Opal Tometi is a Nigerian-American activist and one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, which emerged in response to systemic racism and police violence against Black individuals. Her work emphasizes the importance of grassroots organizing, social justice, and amplifying marginalized voices, making her a pivotal figure in contemporary civil rights activism.

Black Lives Matter: A decentralized movement advocating for the rights and lives of Black people, addressing issues like police brutality, racial inequality, and systemic oppression.

Grassroots Organizing: A method of mobilizing individuals at the local level to create change by leveraging community strengths and building collective power.

Intersectionality: A framework for understanding how various forms of social stratification, such as race, gender, and class, intersect and impact individual experiences and systemic inequality.

Police brutality refers to the excessive and unlawful use of force by law enforcement officers, often disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. This term highlights systemic issues within policing practices, including racial profiling and the targeting of individuals based on their race or ethnicity. The prevalence of police brutality has led to significant social movements and activism aimed at reforming law enforcement and addressing racial injustices in society.

Racial Profiling: The discriminatory practice of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on their race or ethnicity.

Civil Rights Movement: A decades-long struggle for social justice and equality for African Americans, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s, which addressed issues like police violence.

Use of Force Continuum: A guideline that outlines the appropriate levels of force law enforcement officers can use in various situations, emphasizing the need for proportional responses.

Michael Brown was an 18-year-old African American man whose fatal shooting by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9, 2014, sparked national protests and became a pivotal moment in the Black Lives Matter movement. His death highlighted systemic issues of racial profiling, police brutality, and social injustice faced by African Americans, invigorating contemporary civil rights activism across the United States.

Black Lives Matter: A decentralized movement advocating for the rights and lives of Black individuals, addressing systemic racism and violence against Black people.

Ferguson Unrest: A series of protests and civil unrest that erupted in Ferguson following Michael Brown's death, highlighting community frustrations with police practices.

Police Brutality: The use of excessive force by police officers, often disproportionately affecting marginalized communities, including African Americans.

Eric Garner was an African American man whose death in 2014 after being placed in a chokehold by a New York City police officer sparked widespread protests and became a catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement. His final words, 'I can't breathe,' became a rallying cry against police brutality and systemic racism in the United States, linking his case to ongoing contemporary civil rights activism.

Black Lives Matter: A social movement advocating for the rights and lives of Black individuals, focusing on combating police violence and systemic racism.

Police Brutality: The use of excessive force by law enforcement officers, often targeting marginalized communities, leading to calls for reform and accountability.

Chokehold: A restraint technique used by law enforcement that constricts the airway of a person, which can lead to asphyxiation or death.

Tamir Rice was a 12-year-old African American boy who was shot and killed by a police officer in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2014. His death sparked widespread protests and became a pivotal moment in the Black Lives Matter movement, highlighting issues of police violence, systemic racism, and the treatment of Black youth in America.

Black Lives Matter: A movement that began in response to incidents of police violence against Black individuals, advocating for racial justice and an end to systemic racism.

Police Brutality: The use of excessive force by law enforcement officers, often targeting marginalized communities, and raising concerns about accountability and reform.

Systemic Racism: The complex ways in which racial discrimination is embedded in societal structures, leading to unequal outcomes for different racial groups.

Walter Scott was a Scottish historical novelist, poet, and playwright, known for his influential works in the early 19th century that often portrayed themes of history and identity. His literature helped to shape the romantic notion of the past and influenced many writers and movements, including contemporary civil rights activism, as it provided narratives that addressed issues of justice, identity, and societal change.

Romanticism: An artistic and intellectual movement that emphasized emotion, nature, and individualism, often reacting against the industrial revolution and highlighting the importance of history and folklore.

Historical Novel: A literary genre that reconstructs past events and incorporates historical figures and settings into fictional narratives, aiming to provide insight into the human experience across time.

Cultural Identity: The sense of belonging to a group that shares common cultural traits, such as language, traditions, and values, which can shape individual and collective experiences.

Freddie Gray was a 25-year-old African American man whose death in April 2015 while in police custody in Baltimore, Maryland, sparked widespread protests and renewed discussions about police brutality and systemic racism in the United States. His death became a pivotal moment for the Black Lives Matter movement and highlighted ongoing issues regarding the treatment of Black individuals by law enforcement.

Black Lives Matter: A social movement founded in 2013 that campaigns against violence and systemic racism toward Black individuals, advocating for justice and equity.

Police Brutality: The use of excessive force by law enforcement officers, often disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.

Systemic Racism: A form of racism that is embedded in the laws and regulations of a society or organization, leading to discriminatory outcomes against certain racial groups.

Racial profiling refers to the practice of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on their race or ethnicity rather than any specific evidence or behavior. This discriminatory practice often leads to systemic injustices, particularly against marginalized communities, and is deeply connected to issues such as law enforcement tactics and civil rights movements. Understanding racial profiling helps shed light on the broader implications of policing, the impact of social movements, and the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.

discrimination: The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, often based on characteristics such as race, age, or gender.

stop-and-frisk: A policing practice where law enforcement officers stop a person on the street and conduct a search for weapons or illegal items, often criticized for disproportionately targeting minority groups.

systemic racism: The institutional policies and practices that create and maintain racial inequality within society, often embedded in legal systems, education, and economic structures.

Structural inequalities refer to the systematic disparities in resources, opportunities, and treatment that are ingrained in societal structures and institutions. These inequalities often manifest along lines of race, gender, class, and other social categories, influencing individuals' life chances and access to power. In the context of contemporary civil rights activism, understanding structural inequalities is crucial for addressing the root causes of systemic discrimination and advocating for social justice.

Systemic Racism: A form of racism that is embedded in the policies, practices, and cultural norms of institutions, leading to widespread disadvantages for racial minorities.

Social Justice: The concept of creating a fair and equal society by addressing the underlying inequalities that affect marginalized groups.

Intersectionality: A framework for understanding how various forms of social stratification, such as race, gender, and class, intersect and create unique dynamics of oppression and privilege.

Hashtag activism refers to the use of social media platforms, particularly Twitter and Instagram, to raise awareness and mobilize support for social and political causes through the use of hashtags. This form of activism allows individuals to easily participate in conversations, share information, and organize movements by tagging their posts with relevant hashtags, which helps to amplify their messages and connect like-minded people. It has become a key feature of contemporary civil rights movements, especially in the context of racial justice and equality.

Social Media Activism: The broader practice of using social media platforms to promote or engage in activism, which can include sharing information, organizing events, and mobilizing supporters.

Viral Campaigns: Campaigns that gain rapid popularity and widespread attention through online sharing and engagement, often linked to social issues or causes.

Digital Protest: Forms of protest that occur primarily through online platforms, leveraging the internet to spread messages, organize events, and draw attention to specific issues.

#blacklivesmatter is a decentralized social movement that emerged in response to systemic racism and violence against Black individuals, particularly in the United States. It seeks to address and challenge police brutality, racial inequality, and other forms of discrimination that impact the lives of Black people. This movement has grown to encompass various forms of activism, using social media to raise awareness, mobilize supporters, and advocate for change in policies and practices related to racial justice.

Systemic Racism: A form of racism that is embedded in the policies and practices of social and political institutions, leading to discrimination against marginalized groups.

Intersectionality: A framework for understanding how various forms of social stratification, such as race, gender, and class, intersect and create overlapping systems of disadvantage.

Civil Rights Movement: A struggle for social justice by African Americans in the mid-20th century aimed at ending racial segregation and discrimination against Black individuals.

#sayhername is a social media hashtag and movement aimed at raising awareness of violence against Black women, particularly in the context of police brutality and systemic racism. It emphasizes the need to recognize and honor the lives of Black women who have been victims of violence, ensuring their stories are not overshadowed or forgotten in broader discussions surrounding racial injustice and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Black Lives Matter: A movement advocating for non-violent civil disobedience in protest against incidents of police brutality and racially motivated violence against Black people.

Intersectionality: A framework for understanding how various forms of discrimination, such as racism and sexism, overlap and affect individuals based on their identities.

Victim Advocacy: Efforts aimed at supporting victims of crime, raising awareness about their rights, and ensuring they receive justice and proper care.

#icantbreathe is a social media hashtag that emerged in response to police violence and systemic racism, particularly highlighting the deaths of African Americans at the hands of law enforcement. The phrase became a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement and symbolizes the urgency for justice, accountability, and change in policing practices and racial equality. The hashtag encapsulates the broader fight against racial injustice and has been used to mobilize protests and raise awareness about ongoing discrimination and violence against Black individuals.

Black Lives Matter: A decentralized movement advocating for the rights and dignity of Black individuals, focused on addressing police violence, systemic racism, and social injustice.

Police Brutality: The excessive use of force by law enforcement officers, often disproportionately affecting marginalized communities, particularly Black individuals.

Social Media Activism: The use of social media platforms to promote political causes, raise awareness, and mobilize support for social justice issues.

Campaign Zero is a comprehensive policy platform aimed at ending police violence in the United States. It focuses on implementing specific reforms to improve policing practices and holds law enforcement accountable for their actions. This initiative is a key part of the broader movement for racial justice and social reform that emerged from the Black Lives Matter movement, emphasizing the need for systemic change within law enforcement agencies.

Black Lives Matter: A decentralized movement that seeks to address systemic racism and violence against Black individuals, advocating for social justice and policy changes.

Police Reform: Efforts aimed at changing the policies and practices of law enforcement agencies to prevent misconduct, increase accountability, and improve community relations.

Systemic Racism: A form of racism that is embedded in the laws, regulations, and institutions of a society, resulting in discrimination and inequities across various sectors.

Blue Lives Matter is a social movement that emerged in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, advocating for the rights and safety of law enforcement officers. It emphasizes the challenges faced by police and seeks to highlight the dangers of their profession, often framing the discussion around police work as a noble calling that deserves respect and support. This movement has sparked significant debate about the nature of public safety and systemic racism in law enforcement.

Black Lives Matter: A grassroots movement focused on addressing systemic racism and violence against Black individuals, advocating for justice and reform in policing practices.

All Lives Matter: A phrase used to assert that all human lives are valuable, but often criticized for undermining the specific issues faced by marginalized communities, particularly in the context of police violence.

Thin Blue Line: A symbol representing law enforcement's role in protecting society from crime and disorder, often depicted as a blue line on a black background.