How did the Black Lives Matter movement start? First, it started in phases. After the deaths of Malcolm X in 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, Fred Hampton in 1969, and countless black people, black America was at a crossroads. The Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968 was the Moses Generation seeing the end of overt bondage but not witnessing the Promised Land. The Joshua Generation is part of us. We, who are in this Joshua generation, saw the Jordan River and crossed it into the beginning steps of the Promised Land. Yet, we have not seen justice for all or the full breadth of the Promised Land yet (as economic inequality, book bans, voter suppression, education disparities, health disparities, etc. exist in 2023). The Black Lives Matter movement combined the grassroots, decentralized institution of SNCC mixed with the progressive segment of the Black Power Movement combined. The Black Lives Matter movement was created in July 2013 by three human beings who are Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi. At first, the Black Lives Matter Network was an online platform that existed to provide activists with a shared set of principles and goals. It came after the verdict of George Zimmerman after he murdered Trayvon Martin (in 2012 at Florida) which caused huge outrage in the black community and freedom-loving people everywhere. By July of 2013, the hashtag of #BlackLivesMatter was on social media. The jury acquitted George Zimmerman. This caused a massive movement to grow. Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi were adamantly clear to oppose the police killings of innocent black people. Garza made the hashtag of #BlacLivesMatter. The campaign of Black Lives Matter grew. In 2013, the Black Lives Matter organization was starting to bloom, and 2014 would change everything for Black Lives Matter and the black freedom movement in general. In 2014, Michael Brown was shot and killed by the police in Ferguson, Missouri. The Department of Justice would later document massive racism and economic oppression done by law enforcement against the people of Ferguson (especially against the black residents of Ferguson). In that year, Black Lives Matter members and activists from all over the globe came to Ferguson to protest injustice. Many rebellions happened in Ferguson on such a scale never witnessed in American history since 1992 rebellion in Los Angeles. The National Guard came into Ferguson and used tear gas, sound weapons, and other tactics to control the crowds. Yet, no one can stop freedom and truth. Much of the rebellions included unjust violence against innocent property. I don't agree with that (as people, building our own infrastructure and institutions is better than burning and destroying innocent property. Destroying innocent property has nothing to do with self-defense or fighting a just cause because the state readily exploits that to pass even more authoritarian laws which makes oppression even worse), but people have every right to be outraged at racism and police brutality without apology. People have every right to protest, use civil disobedience, and use self-defense. The vast majority of the protests were peaceful. Later, Darren Wilson, the officer who killed Michael Brown would not be convicted. In July of 2014, Eric Garner was killed in New York City after a policeman put him in a chokehold while arresting him. Protests existed in New York City and globally over such a cowardly act. Later, Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors organized the Black Life Matters Ride, which had about 600 people and sparked the founding of more localized Black Lives Matter groups. Soon, Black Lives Matter would have international chapters in many countries of the Earth. In 2014, the police killed Dontre Hamilton, John Crawford III, Ezell Ford, Laquan McDonald, Akai Gurley, Antonio Martin, Jerame Reid, etc. By December of 2014, many people protested the killing of unarmed black people by the police in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota in 2000-3000 people in protest.
In the year of 2015, there were more incidents of police killings of black people in America. In that year, Freddie Gray died in custody in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore later experienced its largest rebellion since 1968. Freddie Gray was a victim of economic oppression and racial injustice. Economic inequality has been found in many areas of Baltimore and worldwide. This economic inequality contributed heavily to many of the social and political problems founded in oppressed, marginalized communities. Walter Scott, Meagan Hockaday were also killed by the police. Black Lives Matters readily acknowledges the LGBTQ+ community (as Cullors and Garza are part of the LGBTQ+ community) which is why they make it known about the 21 transgender people who were killed in America in 2015 alone (13 of the victims were black people). By May of 2015, a Black Lives Matter in San Francisco being part of the SayHerName movement. SayHerName is about the goal of shining the light on the plight of black women and black girls being abused, raped, and murdered by the police and other folks. They made people be aware of the deaths of Meagan Hockaday, Aiyana Jones, Reki Boyd, and other human beings. By June of 2015, the racist Dylann Roof murdered many black people in a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina. Many people protested and held vigils. About 800 people protested in McKinney, Texas after a video showed officers pinning down a girl at a pool party in Texas. People protested the death of Sandra Bland too who was found hanged in a jail cell in Waller County, Texas. By August of 2015, Janelle Monae, Jidenna, and other BLM activists marched through North Philadelphia to bring awareness of police brutality and Black Lives Matter.
In 2016, Black Lives Matter grew further organizing protests against police brutality and racism against black people. The police killings of Deborah Danner, Korryn Gaines, Sylville Smith, Terence Crucher, Alfred Olango, Alton Sterling, and other black human beings happened. Early July of 2016 witnessed over 100 protests across America after Sterling's death on July 5th, 2016, and Philando Castile's shooting in the next day. 2016 also saw an increased number of celebrities like athletes speaking out in favor of Black Lives Matter like LeBron James, Dewyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony (who opened the awards ceremony in July 2016 by saying "Enough is Enough"). From 2016, in August onward, many people knelled to protest the national anthem at sports games. It started with Colin Kaepernick who knelt during the anthem ahead of an NFL game. The USA national anthem was created by a white racist slave owner from Baltimore named Francis Scott Key (the original national anthem condoned slavery overtly). By February 2017 (on Black History Month), Black History Month was celebrated in America. In 2017, Black Lives Matter put on their first art exhibition to celebrate Black History Month in the state of Virginia. It featured the work of over 30 black artists and creators. Black Lives Matter protests continue in America after the officer accused of killing Philando Castile was found not guilty. 2017 was the historic year of the first year of the racist Trump Presidency. It would be the Summer of 2017 when anti-Semites and white racists were involved in the Unite The Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia to promote racist Confederate monuments on public lands. By August of 2017, Black Lives Matter were among the counter-protestors who desired racial justice. Later, racists assaulted peaceful anti-racist protesters, and one innocent woman was murdered by a Neo-Nazi in Charlottesville. Donald Trump said that there were good people on both sides causing widespread condemnation. In 2018, Cullors told ABC News in an interview that Black Lives Matter helped to promote civil disobedience in America. She said that the Black Lives Matter movement is the foundation of movements like Women's March, Me Too, and March for Our Lives (fighting for gun control). This was the 5th year anniversary of Black Lives Matter.
Greachrio Mack and Kenneth Ross Jr. were killed by the police in 2018. By February of 2019, hip hop artist 21 Savage was arrested and detained by the U.S. Immigration agency of ICE. Cullors convened a group of 60 high profile stars from the music and entertainment arenas to advocate for his release. By May of 2019, Oklahoma teenager Isaiah Lewis was shot by the police and killed. Days later. Black Lives Matter held a 100 strong rally in protest.
By 2020, it was a new era of the black freedom movement. 2020 saw the largest anti-police brutality and anti-racism protests in human history. It was that large. These protests came after the recorded death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The video showed a police officer kneeling on Floyd's neck for minutes. The cop's name is Derek Chauvin, who was charged with 2nd-degree murder. The other 2 officers involved were charged too. Derek Chauvin was convicted for his crimes which was a crucial victory in the movement for justice. Black Lives Matter also organized protests in London after Floyd's murder. Aima who was 18 and Tash who was 21 organized a rally in Trafalgar Square. Millions of people protested in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Berlin, Philadelphia, Houston, etc. John Boyega joined 15,000 people in Hyge Park to stand up for the dignity of George Floyd, Sandra Bland, etc. In America alone in 2020, there were about 15-26 million people who participated in the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.
By November of 2020, Joe Biden won the Presidential election winning Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, and other states in a historic fashion. Black people voted in large numbers to cause Biden to win against Trump. After the 2021 January 6th insurrection, the Black Lives Matter movement was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian MP Petter Eide. By April 20, 2021, former police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts of killing Goerge Floyd. Crowds worldwide celebrated. George Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd and Darnella Fraizer (who recorded the video) celebrated. By May 25, 2023, Floyd's family met with Biden in the White House. By January 2022, the three men who killed Ahmaud Arbery were sentenced to life in prison. President Biden promoted policies addressing police reform. In 2023, now we experience 10 years of the Black Lives Matter movement. We have a long way to go as Trumpism with the MAGA movement has caused another resurgence of far-right extremism. Now, only 51 percent of adults in America support Black Lives Matter in 2023. Back in 2020, about 67 percent of Americans supported the Black Lives Matter movement.
My late 4th cousin Richelieu L. Davis Sr. (1906-1957) married Estelle Pasham (b. 1909). Their children are Davis (1928-1928) and Richelieu L. Davis (1929-1995). My 5th cousin Richelieu L. Davis (1929-1995) married Vivian Solomon Davis. Their children are Richelieu Leroy Davis III (b. 1981), Marvin Davis, Michelle Davis, Derryck Davis, Cassandra Davis, Jerome Davis, and Lisa Davis. The family has lived in the city of Pitsburgh, Pennsylvania for years.
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