We must affirm black lives matter

I have struggled to understand the backlash against the Black Lives Matter movement, especially in light of the horrific events of the last week. My first instinct is to imagine that anyone who objects to the phrase “Black lives matter” is expressing a belief that, in fact, black lives don’t matter. And in too many cases, that is exactly what critics of the movement mean. But I recognize that in other cases, this interpretation is too ungenerous.

Some people — and, let’s be honest, primarily white people — have adopted the view that any recognition of the existence of race is itself an expression of racism. So they hear, “Black lives matter,” and reflexively respond, “No, all lives matter.” This is a reflex that is borne of naïveté (at best) or of bad faith (at worst).

To begin with, it is quite possible as a white person in 21st century America to pretend that race does not exist when it is relatively easy to lead an existence in which your own race is largely invisible to you. People of color know they don’t have that same luxury. American society has a way of reminding you if you are not white. Even if you attempt to ignore race, there are no guarantees that race is going to ignore you.

The Black Lives Matter movement simply asks that American society recognize the full humanity of a group of people who have been marginalized, abused, and, yes, murdered under color of law. It is a simple demand, really: “Treat us as worthy of dignity and of life.” What a tragically small thing to ask, given the enormity of historical and contemporary experience.

And then to be rebuffed even for that? Heartbreaking.

Look more closely at the rejoinder, “All lives matter.” In practice, the word “all” is not as inclusive as we might like to imagine. The Declaration of Independence famously claims “all men are created equal,” but then goes on to list among its grievances “domestic insurrections” by slaves and “merciless Indian Savages.” The circle had been drawn, and “all” clearly excluded the millions of people of African ancestry who had been brought here by force, as well as the indigenous population of the continent.

It is perfectly reasonable for us to doubt that “all” truly includes everyone, particularly in light of abuses of power that are disproportionately and overwhelmingly experienced by minorities, especially African Americans.

One final critique of the Black Lives Matter movement holds that it is somehow anti-police. It requires a shocking failure of understanding to imagine that opposing police brutality is somehow the same thing as opposing the police. To hold this position requires that you imagine that all police officers are brutal – or should be.

This is not true of the law enforcement officers I know and admire. They have taken on that difficult calling out of a love of their communities and a desire to serve. They are not brutal people and require no defense of brutality to do their jobs. Indeed, one of the hardest things about the assassinations of five police officers in Dallas is that by all indications, the Dallas Police Department takes community policing seriously and has become really good at it.

This spirit showed during the demonstration Thursday, as the department’s Twitter feed posted pictures of officers posing for pictures with demonstrators. Those same officers would later show bravery and professionalism in protecting themselves and the civilians around them in the face of a deranged attacker.

If you find yourself defending police brutality, or claiming that it does not exist, you are part of the problem.

In conclusion, I wish to affirm one thing clearly and without equivocation:

Black lives matter.

I hope for a day when that goes without saying. But that day is not today, and from what I have seen, I fear we will not see that day for a very long time.

Tom Ellington is a resident of Macon.

This story was originally published July 11, 2016 at 9:02 PM with the headline "We must affirm black lives matter."