Letter to the Editor: Support for "Black Lives Matter"

To the Editor:
“Black Lives Matter” just means that the lives of African Americans matter. That’s all. It doesn’t mean that other lives don’t matter. Or that other people matter less. It also doesn’t mean that black people are more morally superior than other people. Black Lives Matter provides the reminder that black lives matter, too. It can be dangerous to be black. An African American is killed every 28 hours by police. About 27% of African Americans live below the poverty line. Black families are seven times more likely to be homeless than white families. African Americans are four times more likely to be murdered than the national average. The statistics go on and on. But the stats also have names: Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, LaTanya Haggerty, etc. These lives matter.
African Americans face danger, discrimination, and injustice that are unique to that community. It’s extreme enough that it needs to be named and addressed. That is the reason for the Black Lives Matter movement. And that’s the reason for our sign. Obviously all lives matter. But not all communities face the same disparities and prejudice. Until the unique challenges that harm the African American community are addressed, then the Black Lives Matter movement will continue to be needed. In a similar way, we can support the unique need for Breast Cancer Awareness month without discounting the importance of addressing other kinds of cancer. Obviously we can support the Black Lives Matter movement without discounting the fact that all lives matter. It’s not just semantics. It’s about systems (and minds) that need to be changed for the betterment of the future. And that future will, in fact, be better for all lives.

Brian Brandsmeier
Iowa City
(1997 graduate of Waukon High School)