I am a white #blacklivesmatter supporter. I support the movement and what it stands for, black lives do matter. The movement has raised awareness of police brutality along with #sayhisname and #sayhername. As a white person I cannot speak for black people but I want to support the fight against our society's blatant racism along with microagressive racism.
I am not a black voice, I know I am unable to speak from the same perspective from being silenced, I am acknowledging that I am still speaking from a place of privilege of having a voice. But I am trying to talk as an ally as well, I don't want to offend any POC by speaking for them, but I also do not want to stay silent on this.
I am a #blacklivesmatter supporter not an #alllivesmatter supporter not because all lives do not matter, they do, all lives do matter but saying all mutes those saying black. Black lives do matter. All lives do matter. But the #alllivesmatter seems so counter-productive it comes across as ignorant. Although those supporting #alllivesmatter may not be coming from a place of racism it is still microagression.
I recently came across a statement that hit me, it hit me hard:
"To the privileged equality sounds like oppression."
It is true. To non-poc #blacklivesmatter seems like oppression.
#Blacklivesmatter has been raising awareness, it has raised my awareness, it has caused me to reflect upon my privilege, it has caused me to view society through a different lens. Yes, all lives do matter, including black lives, so do not silence their voices.
