Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter refers to a decentralized political and social movement that seeks to highlight racism, discrimination, and racial inequality experienced by Black people. The term originated in 2013 as the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of African American teen Trayvon Martin. It gained international prominence as a rallying cry against police brutality following the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner in 2014, and saw a massive global resurgence following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.

Usage of the term is often divided by interpretation of its pragmatic meaning. Proponents argue the phrase is a necessary affirmation of human value in legal and social systems where Black citizens have historically faced systemic bias; linguistically, it is generally understood by supporters to imply an unstated "too" (Black lives matter too), rather than an exclusionary "only." Conversely, critics sometimes interpret the specific focus on one race as divisive or implying superiority, often countering with the phrase "All Lives Matter." Furthermore, some speakers distinguish between the general sentiment of the slogan and the specific political positions or management of the official Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, supporting the former while critiquing the latter.

Example:
"The city painted a mural reading Black Lives Matter on the street leading up to the state capitol."

Example:
"While the senator expressed support for the goals of the Black Lives Matter movement, he disagreed with calls to defund the police."