If there’s anything I’ve learned from the past couple of weeks, it’s that there are still a large amount of people who don’t understand that they have a certain privilege that others do not. I keep seeing and hearing people respond to the Black Lives Matter Movement with, “well, don’t all lives matter?”
Now I know, most people want to respond with frustration.
“How can they NOT understand that Black Lives Matter doesn’t mean that other lives matter less?!?! It means that black lives matter AS MUCH as everyone else’s. All lives SHOULD matter, and that’s the reason BLM exists - to make the systemic changes so people of color are treated the same as the rest of white America.”
Now while we do have a lot of racists running around rampant throughout our country, there are many who are genuinely confused and cannot see their privilege.
We need to educate these individuals, and I’ve found some super useful analogies you can use if you ever find yourself in a conversation with them (and be sure to click on the link to save the photos to your phone!)
The Fruit Analogy:
If you say you love all fruit, but you hate bananas (like you instantly throw them away, squish them, bruise them, etc) then you don’t love all fruit.
The Broken Leg Analogy:
If your friend's leg was broken and you pleaded with the closest person nearby to get help, you wouldn't hear them say
"What about my legs?" who was standing and perfectly fine.
https://images.app.goo.gl/jSLcwpuQrfaUdCPg7
The Cancer Analogy:
If someone was spreading Breast Cancer Awareness, you wouldn't scream back at them "ALL CANCER MATTERS"
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8388689/Keegan-Michael-Key-ex...
The Eulogy Analogy (this one really shook me, but its message is powerful and clear):
"Imagine your child dying and you are giving an eulogy explaining what your own child meant to you and how special your child was, and then someone grabs the mic and says, 'actually ALL children are special...' That's what 'all lives matter' sounds like"
https://images.app.goo.gl/JM6EMWi6pHbiTJtk6
The Burning House Analogy:
If a house is burning in your neighborhood, you call the fire department to put that specific house out. You don't go to each house in the neighborhood because "all of the houses matter". They do all matter, but one on fire is the one in danger and needs immediate help and attention.
https://www.vox.com/2015/9/4/9258133/white-lives-matter
And if all of that fails, direct them to an 18 year old child who apparently understands this concept far better than many adults above her (gotta love an angry Billie Eilish)
"Stop Making Everything About You"
https://www.etonline.com/billie-eilish-blasts-all-lives-matter-movement-...
-Chelsea
