Montoya Trinity Montoya Professor Mandia English 1301 27 October 2019 Black Lives Matter African Americans by vigilantes and especially law enforcement authorities across the country. This paper reviews relevant literature over the Black Lives Matter movement, and the positive/negative effects of the movement. I believe that this movement is very necessary and the fact that others think it isn’t or that is an excuse to be violent are simply ignorant. Some background information about The Black Lives Matter movement and how and why it was started; BLM was founded by Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors after Trayvon Martin was murdered by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch leader, who was not held accountable by the state of Florida based on his claim of self-defense. This then started the hashtag Black Lives Matter. In 2014, the movement gained even more attention after the fatal shooting of Micheal Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The movement started to spread in response to a number of deaths of African Americans at the hands of law enforcement authorities and vigilantes across America in the recent years. This movement brings awareness to police brutality, a real ongoing danger to people of color, and contributes directly to legal and judicial inequality. This movement is a very controversial topic because people either deeply believe in this movement or many people think that it's not right and it should be “All Lives Matter”and not just “Black” Lives Matter, but a lot of the information is very misunderstood and very unclear. There are many pros and cons about this specific issue. A huge pro about this movement is that it brings huge awareness to the big issues, dangers, and violence that has happened and that is still happening to this day. Unfortunately, racism is still a huge problem that sadly will never be 100% solved especially anytime soon. For this issue specifically, it is very important that people bring awareness to keep it relevant and to make a change. Big ways people bring awareness to this movement is by protesting all throughout the country. Recently a movie was released called “The Hate U Give” inspired by a real even, Amanda Stenberg's life changed forever. When she was 16 she witnessed her childhood friend Aglee Smith killed by a police officer she then soon became an activist. A novel was also written by Angie Thomas called “The Same Name” which was influenced by a true incident of police brutality. Oscar Grant was 22 years old and unarmed, but was shot and killed in 2009 by an Oakland police officer. The more awareness brought to this movement the more of a chance things can change into a positive way. Racism goes back years and years from now and even though it has changed it hasn't gone away. Although racism has drastically changed from what it used to be it has not gone away, and it might be just as bad because it has spread. The Black Lives Matter movement just shows that t ...

1. Montoya
Trinity Montoya
Professor Mandia
English 1301
27 October 2019
Black Lives Matter
African Americans by vigilantes and especially law
enforcement authorities across the country. This paper reviews
relevant literature over the Black Lives Matter movement, and
the positive/negative effects of the movement. I believe that this
movement is very necessary and the fact that others think it
isn’t or that is an excuse to be violent are simply ignorant.
Some background information about The Black Lives
Matter movement and how and why it was started; BLM was
founded by Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors after
Trayvon Martin was murdered by George Zimmerman, a
neighborhood watch leader, who was not held accountable by
the state of Florida based on his claim of self-defense. This then
started the hashtag Black Lives Matter. In 2014, the movement
gained even more attention after the fatal shooting of Micheal
Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The movement
started to spread in response to a number of deaths of African
Americans at the hands of law enforcement authorities and
vigilantes across America in the recent years. This movement
brings awareness to police brutality, a real ongoing danger to
people of color, and contributes directly to legal and judicial
inequality. This movement is a very controversial topic because
people either deeply believe in this movement or many people
think that it's not right and it should be “All Lives Matter”and
not just “Black” Lives Matter, but a lot of the information is
very misunderstood and very unclear. There are many pros and
cons about this specific issue.
A huge pro about this movement is that it brings huge
awareness to the big issues, dangers, and violence that has

2. happened and that is still happening to this day. Unfortunately,
racism is still a huge problem that sadly will never be 100%
solved especially anytime soon. For this issue specifically, it is
very important that people bring awareness to keep it relevant
and to make a change. Big ways people bring awareness to this
movement is by protesting all throughout the country. Recently
a movie was released called “The Hate U Give” inspired by a
real even, Amanda Stenberg's life changed forever. When she
was 16 she witnessed her childhood friend Aglee Smith killed
by a police officer she then soon became an activist. A novel
was also written by Angie Thomas called “The Same Name”
which was influenced by a true incident of police brutality.
Oscar Grant was 22 years old and unarmed, but was shot and
killed in 2009 by an Oakland police officer. The more
awareness brought to this movement the more of a chance things
can change into a positive way. Racism goes back years and
years from now and even though it has changed it hasn't gone
away.
Although racism has drastically changed from what it used
to be it has not gone away, and it might be just as bad because it
has spread. The Black Lives Matter movement just shows that
there is still racism in the world and especially in America. Not
everyone will be equal and im afraid it will never completely go
away. From the article Four Facts Everyone Should Know
About The Black Lives Matter Movement it says “Black Lives
Matter is a group whose goal is the prevention of police
brutality and murder of black people. To put it simply, the
movement wants equal treatment for people of color” (4-facts-
black-lives-matter-movement)
Another pro of the Black Lives Matter movement is that it
unites many people of many races and gives African Americans
something to fight for. I’m hispanic so I definitely do not know
what it is like to be African American and I don't know what
they go through so I couldn't even imagine how hard it is to feel
the way they do. There are many websites and clubs you can
sign up for to join this movement and be apart to make a

3. difference. You can be anybody to join it does not matter. This
movement gives African Americans an opportunity to fight for
what they believe in and to fight for their rights. Many people
are biased towards African Americans and they have many
stereotypes that make them look a certain way, Black Lives
Matter is trying to change things and show people that color
doesn't matter and it is not right to be violent towards someone
because of those stereotypes or the color of their skin.
Many people protest to make a difference, and they join
the movement to make a difference in the community because
everyone's voice matters. No matter who you are if you speak
on a topic you deeply believe in someone will listen to you and
you will make a difference whether you changed that one
persons life or you changed the world. As long as you're
passionate you can change anything. The Black Lives Matter
movement allows people to do just that it is a very deep and
important issue that people are very passionate about and many
people involved do what they can to make a difference in the
African American community.
Just like there are pros of this movement there are also
cons. There is a lot of misunderstanding about this movement.
Many people don't understand that the movement is about
acknowledging that all lives matter including black lives that
have been unfairly treated and killed by police officers who
faced nearly no consequences. A lot of people don't know what
the objectives of the Black Lives Matter movement is and what
they are hoping to achieve. Because people aren't actually
researching the movement and they're reacting to what they see
on social media or the news. Many people are confused about
what this movement is really about and it is turning negative.
People believe that this movement is causing more violence and
condoning it. In the article ``What Are The Positives And
Negatives Of The Black Lives Matter Movement it says “People
are saying that black people are ignoring the black on black
crimes and projecting it onto the Black Lives Matter
movement”(What-are-the-positives-and-negatives-of-the-Black-

4. Lives-Matter-movement) It is true that this movement has
caused violence especially when protesting. People are getting
so angry about the unequal treatment and the killings that they
will do anything even break a law to get their goal achieved.
Communication is very important because people are confused.
Many people feel alienated by the term “Black Lives
Matter” because they believe that all lives matter and the
movement is only focused on African Americans. All lives do
matter, but this specific movement is about bringing awareness
to violence towards black lives specifically and that is another
reason about people misunderstanding what it's really about,
and the goal that is trying to be achieved. It is very important to
communicate clearly what this movement is trying to achieve
and fix. From the article Black Lives Matter is says “Reynolds
argues that while “the civil rights movement valued all human
lives, even those of people who worked against us,” BLM
focuses too narrowly on “black pain and suffering,” shouting
down “those who dare to utter ‘all lives matter.’” She argued in
order to “win broader appeal [the BLM Movement] must work
harder to acknowledge the humanity in the lives of
others.”(black-lives-matter)
Since this movement there has been many people that
oppose the BML and add racist comments whether it be in
person or online. This is one of the worst outcomes of bringing
such inequality and violence to the surface no matter what
people will have their opinions and say whatever they choose
even if it is harsh and racist. In this article it states “Yes, police
brutality is in the news a lot, but what about other forms of
racism? Those need to be addressed as well in order to change,
and that is what Black Lives Matter wants.”(4-facts-black-lives-
matter-movement) Even though the goal is to end racism it
seems like it’s only bringing it out more and more because
people feel the need to comment on this movement because it’s
so popular. A lot of people around America are looking at the
negatives about this movement including condoning violence to
achieve their goals.

5. Certain groups of the Black Lives Matter movement
believe in violence to solve their problems whether that is
violence against police authorities or angry protests. People
against this movement also believe that African Americans are
ignoring crimes caused by their own race. Since this movement
started the percentage of police deaths and violent acts against
them have increased majorly. In the article ‘Black Lives Matter’
it says “The FBI report found that 28% of those who used
deadly force against police officers “were motivated by hatred
of police and a desire to ‘kill law enforcement,’ in some cases
fueled by social and political movements”(black-lives-matter)
Many people are concerned that BLM encourages anti-police
violence. Since this movement people have been looking at
police differently and don't feel safe like they should.
This movement is trying to stop violence and stereotypes
on black people, but it’s only starting violence and stereotypes
against white policemen. People make it seem like all white
policemen do not care about African Americans whether it be
serving and protecting them or mistreating them and acting on
violence. Many people have now become scared of just speaking
or getting pulled over by police because they are afraid to be
killed just because the color of their skin. Not only has it put
pressure on African Americans to be around white policemen,
but has also put plenty of pressure on the policemen as well.
Policemen are now afraid that African Americans will be
violent towards them because it is encouraged by many. This
world has always been a scary place, but it is only becoming
more terrifying to where policemen don’t even make us feel safe
anymore and they are the reason people are afraid for their lives
and are even killed.
Many people of color especially African Americans expect
negative interactions with policemen now. This movement is
broadcasting police brutality making it seem like every white
police officer will mistreat you if you are black. I’m not
condoning or even know the reason why many white policemen
mistreat African Americans, but what I do know is that not

6. every single white police officer in America are against African
Americans and many care about every life in this world and do
their jobs like they should, protecting and serving this country.
The Black Lives Matter movement was created to make a
difference and to show everyone that every single person on this
planet matters including African Americans. Unfortunately it
has changed and many people that have joined this movement
took this issue into their own hands and believe that violence is
the key. Although everyone has the right to fight for what they
believe in and to make a difference in this world violence
should never be the answer to any problem and many groups
involved in this movement condone it and think differently. In
this paper I reviewed relevant literature over this movement,
and the positive/negative effects it has and continues to have, I
do believe that this movement is very necessary and it is not
right that people think or us violence as an excuse.

7. Works Cited:
Farrell, Matthew. “Four Facts Everyone Should Know About
The Black Lives Matter Movement.” The Odyssey Online, The
Odyssey Online, 17 Oct. 2019, www.theodysseyonline.com/4-
facts-black-lives-matter-movement.
“Black Lives Matter.” Black Lives Matter,
www.influencewatch.org/movement/black-lives-matter/.
Pabst, Carly. “Pros and Cons of Black Lives Matters.” Medium,
Medium, 14 Nov. 2018, medium.com/@capabst13/pros-and-
cons-of-black-lives-matters-1f246981bb4.
“What Are the Positives and Negatives of the ‘Black Lives
Matter’ Movement?” Quora, www.quora.com/What-are-the-
positives-and-negatives-of-the-Black-Lives-Matter-movement.
“Is 'The Hate U Give' Based On a True Story? The Story Feels
Vitally Relevant In 2018.” Bustle, www.bustle.com/p/is-the-
hate-u-give-based-on-a-true-story-the-story-feels-vitally-
relevant-in-2018-12125869.