avatarJohnny Silvercloud

Summary

The article discusses the misinterpretation of the phrase "Black Lives Matter" by some white individuals who incorrectly believe it implies that only black lives have value, rather than understanding it as a call for racial equality and an end to systemic racism.

Abstract

The article "Does the Phrase 'Black Lives Matter' Cause White People to Hallucinate?" addresses the common misunderstanding of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement by some white people who insert the word "only" into the phrase, suggesting it means other lives do not matter. The author emphasizes that BLM is a response to institutional racism and is not intended to diminish the value of other lives. The article criticizes the counter-argument "all lives matter" as a deflection that fails to acknowledge the specific challenges faced by black communities. It also points out the absence of an "all lives matter" movement in practical terms, highlighting that if all lives truly mattered to everyone, there would be significant changes in society, such as the abolition of the death penalty and universal healthcare. The author argues that the desire of some white individuals to be included in every social issue stems from a need for shared victimization,

Does the Phrase “Black Lives Matter” Cause White People to Hallucinate?

Because the word “only” is 100% imaginary

Black man in Washington, D.C., with a shirt saying Black Lives Matter. Photography Credit: Johnny Silvercloud

Black Lives Matter.

This phrase exists both as the name of an organization, and a movement, and a statement. For some strange reason, there has been a large concerted effort to demonize, ostracize, and derail this whole thing. One of the biggest things I’ve noticed in current events is how people make the counter-claim that “all lives matter” when the phrase black lives matter is said. As a socio-political observer, I find this very interesting.

If I ask, “what evidence can you state supporting such claim?” I get a dumbfounded white person, and when I say dumbfounded I don’t mean astonished or shocked, I mean “you and I both found you stupid.” Telling one to show your work like a 8th grade algebra teacher usually nets a lot of stupid faces, blank stares, meaningless nothings, and angry white people.

Usually, I would ask “to whom?” when someone says all lives matter. From there, the person would give a stock answer like, “Me. Everyone, Billions of people!” They would say this with the artificial conviction of a Nebraska cheerleader. These answers never really address the problem of institutional racism as a whole. These answers, are like presenting an empty banana peel to fill a man’s belly, and walking off in the moonlight patting yourself on the back. You’re white; this is how you solve all problems concerning systemic racism and sociopolitical strife.

When I ask what’s the issue with the phrase, Black Lives Matter, I get the same answer each time:

“It’s saying only black lives matter!” ~ Stupid People

“Matter is the Minimum.” Photography Credit: Johnny Silvercloud

How is that possible? To facilitate that message, you have to INJECT the “only” word in a phrase, where it’s not even there. Technically, all of these people are seeing something that’s not there at all. These people are hallucinating. The word “only” is a very specific word, and much like most words, it must be present to modify the sentence or statement. To see adverbs when they are not there, is pure idiocy, or insanity, or both.

Strange enough, this logic would not fly if you place it in any other context:

  • If I asked the plumber to fix this sink, it doesn’t mean fuck the toilet.
  • If I said “save the palm trees”, that doesn’t mean fuck pine trees.
  • When your mom always told you to “eat your vegetables,” she didn’t mean fuck the meat group.

No one ever applies this all lives logic anywhere else.

Interestingly, if someone were to say the stock phrase “Support the troops”, no one ever runs out in break-neck speed and say “support all people!” Likewise, when someone says “think of the children”, No one ever feels the urge to inject the notion that adults are being left out. No one ever tries to make the troop supporters or those mindful of children feel like they are wrong for doing so. Should those who support the troops be considered a hate group? What about those who are mindful of children? Why not? They didn’t make mention of all lives, all people, correct? Here’s a couple of other examples of where this logic falls apart:

  • “Support the Troops.” Why not say, “Support all Professions?” Isn’t it elitist? When you say “support the troops,” you are really saying support ONLY the troops. They commit crimes. I don’t see military uniforms. I’m professionblind, yet, I’ll show you some internet links to war crimes troops commit. When you say “support the troops”, that offends me. That’s offensive.
  • “Think of the children.” Why not say, “Think of all People?” When you say “think of the children”, you are really saying think of children ONLY. That’s offensive because I’m totally age-blind and I don’t see children. And by the way, here’s some links to babies vomiting and pissing and shitting all over the place, to include people! Adults get killed and die, and I’m going to blame you for it. You should be a hate group.
  • “Breast Cancer Awareness.”Why not say, “All Cancer Awareness?” When you say breast cancer, and are saying breast cancer ONLY, which neglects all other cancers out there. I’m totally illness-blind, but, here’s some links to other forms of cancer. You saying breat cancer awareness means you support other forms of cancer. When someone dies of skin cancer, I’m going to blame you for it. You’re a cancer lover!
  • “Save the Rain Forests.” What about Deciduous trees? What about pine trees? When you say “save the rain forests” you main ONLY rain forests, and that’s wrong. I’m totally leaf-blind, but, here’s some links on why rain forests are bad — they take up space for freeways and malls. You are a freeway hater? A mall hater? You should be considered a hate group.
  • “God Bless America.” Why not say, “God Bless All Nations?” You call it patriotism, but it looks more like fascism. It’s fascist. It’s jingoistic. When you say “God bless America” you are really saying God Bless ONLY America, and that’s deeply offensive. I’m nation-blind, but, here’s some internet links showing Americans doing crimes against humanity, torturing people, burning down people’s houses and locking everyone up in prisons, and invading other nations with minimal justification. Non-Americans get killed, and I’m going to blame you for it. Oh by the way, #GodBlessAmerica should be a hate group.

Technically, if these all lives matter folks were honest they would be incredibly busy people. They would be injecting an “all people” answer to every single mention of a specific group. No one ever says for example, all lives matter when Israel is in conflict, when there’s commercials that passively demand that you donate to Jewish people. Yes, I went there.

There’s no such thing as an #AllLivesMatter movement, organization, or group.

Need I mention the fact that all lives matter is not a movement? When something happens such as an unarmed (variable race) person gets killed by cops, there’s never any all lives matter people showing up, speaking to media. There’s no all lives matter organization either. In fact, had there been, holistically there would be radical changes in society.

  • If All Lives Mattered, we would abolish the death penalty.
  • If All Lives Mattered, The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) would be 100% accepted as a good thing with conservative circles.
  • If All Lives Mattered, then civilians could get the same bulletproof vest and sidearms cops do.
  • If All Lives Mattered, gun regulation bills would receive no kickback.

The list could go on. All lives matter, simply isn’t congruent with conservative logic by the time of this column’s publishing.

“Why is it an argument that Black Lives Matter?” Black woman holding a protest sign. Photography Credit: Johnny Silvercloud

The problem is that the phrase all lives matter assumes all lives are under the same threat, which in turn ignores the exact statement black people are saying. I think, with white people, there’s a core wish to share victimization of some sort. Many white men I’ve talked to, lament the fact that they seem like it can never be them who suffer from racism. When these men give me clues to how they think and feel, I find myself baffled… I as a man don’t need to feel the pain of sexism to be aware of it. I don’t get butthurt over the fact that I’m highly likely to not suffer from sexism. But for some reason, these men feel that they must be included to uptake the cause. Currently, black lives matter is specifically calling for a greater amount of police accountability, which is something everyone benefits from. But at the same time, everyone is NOT under the same threat of state sanctioned violence. Colorblind policy, if that’s where the noble effort is placed, doesn’t work. There’s not a single scientific study that support colorblindness and claim that it’s an effective means of countering racism. In fact, being blind of a problem never solves that problem.

And the phrase blue lives matter? It’s funny how “blue lives” and “all lives” are never stated against each other. It’s almost like, all lives are blue lives. It’s almost like, white people are the police. Strange.

Black lives matter — that doesn’t mean other lives don’t. The word “others”isn’t there. The word “don’t” exist there. The word “only”, isn’t there. Stop hallucinating, people.

To say all lives matter in the face of black lives matter as a means of a counter argument, by design is against black lives. That means, it’s against life, period. Martin Luther King once stated “I have a Dream.” Would you dare take his microphone away, and inject, “all dreams matter”, or“we all have dreams”? Can you understand how dismissive that is? Are you capable of reason?

White People: Stop hallucinating.

“All Lives Don’t Matter Until Black Lives Matter. People Marching in protest of Black Lives, 31 May 2020. Washington D.C. Photography Credit: Johnny Silvercloud
Tu Lucha es Mi Lucha! (Translate: Your Fight is My Fight!) Latinx woman at the Black Lives Matter protest, 31 May 2020. Washington D.C. Photography Credit: Johnny Silvercloud
White man at the Black Lives Matter protest, 31 May 2020. Washington D.C. Photography Credit: Johnny Silvercloud
Two Black women at the Black Lives Matter protest, 2 Jun 2020. Washington D.C. Photography Credit: Johnny Silvercloud
Black Lives Matter protest, 4 Jun 2020. Young black woman speaking to the protest she led. Washington D.C. Photography Credit: Johnny Silvercloud
BlackLivesMatter
White Fragility
Systemic Racism
Civil Rights
Protest
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