Non-Violent Protests: The Black Lives Matter Movement

The importance of pro-black movements, specifically the Black Lives Matter movement, was discussed within the Speaker Series event, “The Importance of Non-Violent Protests to Oppose Racial Injustice in Ferguson.” Speakers Cori Bush and Osagyefo Sekou stressed the need African Americans have for their lives to be considered as important as the lives of non-minorities, recognition of anti-black terrorism, and the lack of safe spaces for blacks. The motives of the Black Lives Matter movement has been given connotations that do not equate to motives expressed by Bush and Sekou. The movement is described as radical and anti-white by non-allies and black youth are portrayed as exempt from those considered engaged citizens. This disconnect and miscommunication

For example, non-allies often compare the Black Lives Matter movement to the protests led by Martin Luther King. In response to this notion, Sekou stated “Martin Luther King ain’t coming back-stop looking” (10/16/15). Acknowledging that the non-violent protests of Martin Luther King and the Black Lives Matter movement are not one in the same is vital. One reasoning for differentiating between the movements is that the Black Lives Matter movement is openly pro-black. Because pro-blackness is often associated with anti-whiteness, the protests led by Martin Luther King are used to belittle the Black Lives Matter movement. The use of Martin Luther King’s message against protesters in the BLM movement is invalid, in that, youth within the movement are “closer” to Martin Luther King than other protestors (Sekou, 10/16/15). This notion supports the ideas of Dr. Williams. Both argue that youth are socially engaged are participating in the liberation of black people and the fight for equality. Whether it be through social media or protest movements, engaged citizenship− especially when done by youth− proves the personal responsibility of youth is as passionate as past protestors that have aided in the progression of

Michael Parenti, “Capitalism vs. Reality” offered an understanding of how democracy emerged as a reaction to capitalism, the superiority of the “elite,” and how socialism, if utilized, would ensure the equal treatment of all individuals. Dr. Parenti’s argued that there is an imbalance of power within the political system that attributes to corporations controlling a large percentage of wealth. Dr. Parenti notions hold truth, in that, an imbalance of power in the United States’ capitalist system can be seen in the domination of corporations and the exploitation of the working class. Capitalism is a corrupt system that benefits those of immense power. An example of corruption within capitalism is the maintaining of a circulation of wealth amongst the 1%. This denies the working class an opportunity to sustain a suitable lifestyle within society. For this reason alone, a socialist approach to combat the immense imbalance of economic power within the capitalist system could better the lives of the working