Mediaboss Marketing

Black Lives Matter still isnt a political statement. Yes, it is a statement. Its a passionate statement. Its a powerful statement. Black Lives Matter are words that feels empowering to some, and like a cry for help to many. And for others, it seems to be a fear-inducing statement, and even a threat. But thats how fear works. When you fear something like a statement or movement, theres a chance thats because you dont understand what it means or where it originated, or even the intention behind it.

As a Black parent, when you learn that little boys and girls around the country who have worn T-shirts that say Black Lives Matter have been removed from class and kicked out of daycare, its beyond frustrating. Just last week, two brothers in Oklahoma, ages 8 and 5 (they attend different schools)m were made to sit in an office or turn the shirt inside out the entire school day when they wore their T-shirts. Last summer, a 6-year-old girl in Arkansas was told she was no longer welcome at the daycare she attended for six months because her shirt said Black Lives Matter.

More from SheKnows

While its true that BLM is an emotionally charged movement, is it also true that being proud of who you are shouldnt be called a political statement.

When it comes to the roots of the statement Black Lives Matter, we can go back just eight years ago. In July 2013, three Black women and organizers Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi created a Black-centered movement building project called Black Lives Matter that began with a social media hashtag, #BlackLivesMatter, after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in February 2012. Unfortunately, the movement grew. Unfortunate because its a shame that the senseless deaths continued from Michael Brown in Missouri to Eric Garner in New York to George Floyd in Minneapolis, and hundreds of others, so many that they have to be reduced to a hashtag.

Story continues

Click here to read the full article.

According to the BLM website, the mission is this: By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.

Thats it.

How about putting it in this perspective? Black Lives Matter began in 2012 with the killing of a young boy with a pack of Skittles who looked threatening to a grown man with a gun, and the young boy ended up losing his life. As a parent, if you have a grade-school-aged child, its likely that theyve grown up with the phrase Black Live Matter, like some of our parents grew up with the chant No justice, no peace, or singing, The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind.

Granted, theres a lot to unpack about our history as a nation. So much emotional and psychological harm has been done that has brought the collective us to this point, where it has to be stated that a certain race of people matter. Some may read the above BLM mission and not like the idea of creating space for Black joy, but this is the language of human rights, and unfortunately, human rights havent come as naturally and easily as they should.

Honestly, its a shame that Black Lives Matter even needs to be said. That its a chant, a hashtag, a logo thats put on T-shirts like a favorite baseball team or pop singer. But here we are.

While Black Lives Matter has become a movement, its all about people. People asking, demanding, begging to be treated equally. Not better than, just equally. Its not tied to a political party, so schools should not be teaching that message.

Add these childrens books starring boys of color to your kids shelves.

Best of SheKnows

Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter.For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

Visit link:
The Problem With Boys Being Removed From Class for 'Political' Black Lives Matters Shirts - Yahoo Lifestyle