Black Lives Matter Goes Mainstream?

 

Last week, Julie Pace of the Associated Press was on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baer. She made a statement that stopped me in my tracks. (I seem to be doing a lot of that lately.) She said, “Black Lives Matter has gone mainstream.”

I asked myself what she could possibly have meant, and when I did a little research, I realized the insidious nature of her comment, and how we are in the process of making Black Lives Matter a mainstream movement.

And we are in deep trouble.

In this post, I’ll describe briefly the history of BLM, how and why it has changed, and how America is naively and foolishly supporting the BLM agenda.

When BLM formed seven years ago as an outgrowth of the Trayvon Martin killing, it was seen as a divisive and radical force. They were dangerous to our country and were heavily criticized, particularly because many people, both black and white, insisted that “All Lives Matter.”

Gradually, BLM realized that its blatant attacks on the rule of law were working against it. Then they saw that the highly publicized deaths of black men at the hands of the police as an opportunity to highlight what they called “systemic racism.”

‘When we started Black Lives Matter, it was really to have a larger conversation around this country about its relationship to black people,’ said Patrisse Cullors, one of three black women who founded the Black Lives Matter Global Network, with chapters throughout the U.S. and in Britain and Canada. ‘What keeps happening, time and time again, is we’re witnessing black people die on camera, and there is little to no accountability.’

Please note that deaths of police officers didn’t enter into her conversation, nor the high murder rates of black men on black men. But publicly calling for “conversations” rather than violence had a more profound appeal to the wider population.

Thus, people from all sides of the political spectrum were engaged to fight injustice. As emotions escalated, so did the violence and destruction. Entire sections of cities were destroyed; businesses were burned out; even more people lost their jobs following the job losses caused by the coronavirus.

Instead of condemning this lawlessness, Trevor Noah, for one, justified it:

‘Try to imagine how it must feel for black Americans when they watch themselves being looted every single day,’ he said. ‘Because that’s fundamentally what’s ‘happening in America. Police in America are looting black bodies.’
Noah, who hails from South Africa, said black lives are valued less than white lives in America.

‘If you kill a white person especially in America, there’s a whole lot more justice that is coming your way than if you killed some black body in a black neighborhood somewhere.’

You can find a list of media types and politicians who justified or downplayed the violence.

So, we have BLM shifting their strategy in order to engage the public in their efforts to “create a conversation.” They remind people, however, that they shouldn’t try to take over the BLM message:

Like many black activists, Sakira Cook is pleased by such developments but also cautious. She and others worry that businesses and politicians will hijack the slogan without any real commitment to doing the hard work needed to fight racism.

‘Black Lives Matter is not just a rallying cry,’ said Cook, director of the Justice Reform Program at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

‘It actually means you have to start to interrogate the systemic racism and inequalities that exist in our society and help to dismantle them. You must make sure you’re not co-opting this for your own purposes.’

What are the strategies built into this agenda?

  • Police departments are marching arm-in-arm with BLM members at their protests.
  • No BLM leader has emerged condemning the violence, destruction and looting.
  • Recommendations to “defund” police departments are frequently “clarified” to create an illusion of reasonable changes.
  • Lawlessness has been approved in cities such as Seattle, where police are banned from a six-block section of the city, and protestors are negotiating for installing utilities.
  • Without a central figure leading BLM, no one person can be held accountable for the lawless behavior.

These are only a few of the demands of the BLM leadership.

The worst part of the current BLM movement is that anyone who doesn’t actively support them seems to be tone-deaf to what they are saying and implying, and in many cases are agreeing with their propaganda. In my opinion, these are the points they are making:

  • We live in a country of systemic racism.
  • As white people, we are guilty of maintaining the racist system.
  • Law enforcement behaves in lawless ways without accountability for its racism.
  • Black people have been held down, held back, and disadvantaged by the white population which is systemically racist.
  • The larger population must compensate the black population for years of racism, which should include reparations.
  • Law enforcement must be disempowered or eliminated so that people can live peacefully together.

If Black Lives Matter has become mainstream, they have co-opted our country to create anarchy where they will determine what is rule of law, legitimacy, and who are the winners and losers.

Is anyone listening out there?

Are there ways to take back our country?

By the way, the primary article re-printed by many mainstream media newspapers was written by the Associated Press—Julie Pace’s employer.

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  1. DonG (skeptic) Coolidge
    DonG (skeptic)
    @DonG

    The BLM organization has been corrupted by socialists.  Now it is a racial pretense for socialist goals.  That is probably mainstream on Twitter.

    • #1
  2. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    Susan Quinn:

    [W]e are in the process of making Black Lives Matter a mainstream movement.

    And we are in deep trouble.

    Indeed. But sadly in line with history. We used to have Martin Luther King and his call for ignoring color and focusing on (individual) character. That morphed quickly to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton as race hustlers shaking down businesses to avoid racial controversies. The Southern Poverty Law Center became a hate group and benefiting financially (and putting it off-shore) from alliance with progressive money people attacking conservative groups. So the transfiguration of BLM from the descendent of the radical Black Panthers of the 70s to “official” dispenser of indulgences for white guilt is sadly unsurprising. That they are a funding arm of the DNC is particularly infuriating and shows how cynical and malign Democrat politics has become.

     

    • #2
  3. Jim McConnell Member
    Jim McConnell
    @JimMcConnell

    We have only to look at Baltimore to see what it will be like when BLM achieves its goal.

    • #3
  4. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    I agree, @rodin. And I’m trying to figure out how we stop them in their tracks. We need powerful people to stand up, and as trite as it sounds, “Just Say No”! Call them out on their true motives! And yet who can we turn to? So many people who might fight them are afraid of being affiliated with Trump. So many people are afraid of being called names, like hater, racist and any other pejorative they can think of. But we must speak out and do it vigorously. Wringing our hands will not cut it anymore!

    • #4
  5. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Jim McConnell (View Comment):

    We have only to look at Baltimore to see what it will be like when BLM achieves its goal.

    . . . or Seattle’s near future. And more cities will likely follow. Thanks, @jimmcconnell.

    • #5
  6. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    I think the fact that corporations have embraced the movement indicates that the question mark in your post title is likely unnecessary.

    I remember seeing a BLM banner on a beautiful Unitarian Universalist church about three years ago, and just thinking “Oh, it’s just those wacky Unitarians.”  :)

    Now, it seems pretty clear that we’ll see bumper stickers next to Biden ’20 stickers on a whole lot of cars.  And those virtue signaling “Hate has no place here” signs will likely have some company in black and white.

    • #6
  7. Hang On Member
    Hang On
    @HangOn

    And look at the list of its corporate sponsors. 

    • #7
  8. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Hang On (View Comment):

    And look at the list of its corporate sponsors.

    And do the corporations think they’re going to come out of this scot-free? When the socialists finish them, they’ll be in ashes, too.

    • #8
  9. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Hang On (View Comment):

    And look at the list of its corporate sponsors.

    And do the corporations think they’re going to come out of this scot-free? When the socialists finish them, they’ll be in ashes, too.

    Unless the hang the CEOs and Board Members, only the “little people” get hurt.

    • #9
  10. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    Isn’t also among the BLM official goals the elimination of the nuclear family (the institution most likely to improve the situation for black children), and, beyond “socialism,” the destruction of the foundations of western civilization (rule of law, respect for human life, etc.)? I’d try to again find the group’s official site to confirm what I read earlier, but I’m afraid of what might show up if I search for it. 

    • #10
  11. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):

    Isn’t also among the BLM official goals the elimination of the nuclear family (the institution most likely to improve the situation for black children), and, beyond “socialism,” the destruction of the foundations of western civilization (rule of law, respect for human life, etc.)? I’d try to again find the group’s official site to confirm what I read earlier, but I’m afraid of what might show up if I search for it.

    The website is cleverly worded–https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-we-believe/, and has been expanded since they added all the other neglected groups. Although they claim to want justice for everyone, it’s easy to read between the lines that they mean everyone except white people. It’s pretty general.

    • #11
  12. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    I agree, @rodin. And I’m trying to figure out how we stop them in their tracks. We need powerful people to stand up, and as trite as it sounds, “Just Say No”! Call them out on their true motives! And yet who can we turn to? So many people who might fight them are afraid of being affiliated with Trump. So many people are afraid of being called names, like hater, racist and any other pejorative they can think of. But we must speak out and do it vigorously. Wringing our hands will not cut it anymore!

    Direct challenges will fail. The way to defeat the leftists is to violently agree that black lives matter, and do so by mourning and celebrating all the black lives BLM ignores and even endangers. See “Say it again and again: ‘All Black Lives Matter.’ “

    • #12
  13. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    I agree, @rodin. And I’m trying to figure out how we stop them in their tracks. We need powerful people to stand up, and as trite as it sounds, “Just Say No”! Call them out on their true motives! And yet who can we turn to? So many people who might fight them are afraid of being affiliated with Trump. So many people are afraid of being called names, like hater, racist and any other pejorative they can think of. But we must speak out and do it vigorously. Wringing our hands will not cut it anymore!

    Direct challenges will fail. The way to defeat the leftists is to violently agree that black lives matter, and do so by mourning and celebrating all the black lives BLM ignores and even endangers. See “Say it again and again: ‘All Black Lives Matter.’ “

    @cliffordbrown–how did I miss this one? I try to read all of your posts! I love this idea–how could anyone object to it? But I suspect that the leaders of BLM might be uneasy about participating. They will say we are co-opting their message–and they would be right! We would be intervening with the truth. And all of those people who have been brainwashed with the propaganda that all of this is their fault would be reluctant, too. Time to hear the truth!

    Thank you!!

    • #13
  14. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    BTW, if the reason for the question mark in my title is not obvious, I am challenging those who say that BLM has gone mainstream. I refuse to accept that there is no way back from this disruption to our culture. My brain will simply not go there.

    • #14
  15. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    I agree, @rodin. And I’m trying to figure out how we stop them in their tracks. We need powerful people to stand up, and as trite as it sounds, “Just Say No”! Call them out on their true motives! And yet who can we turn to? So many people who might fight them are afraid of being affiliated with Trump. So many people are afraid of being called names, like hater, racist and any other pejorative they can think of. But we must speak out and do it vigorously. Wringing our hands will not cut it anymore!

    Direct challenges will fail. The way to defeat the leftists is to violently agree that black lives matter, and do so by mourning and celebrating all the black lives BLM ignores and even endangers. See “Say it again and again: ‘All Black Lives Matter.’ “

    @cliffordbrown–how did I miss this one? I try to read all of your posts! I love this idea–how could anyone object to it? But I suspect that the leaders of BLM might be uneasy about participating. They will say we are co-opting their message–and they would be right! We would be intervening with the truth. And all of those people who have been brainwashed with the propaganda that all of this is their fault would be reluctant, too. Time to hear the truth!

    Thank you!!

    I do not like the “all black lives matter” mantra, either.  I think that this will be completely ineffective in making the important distinction that you seem to want to make.  I think that the distinction will be lost on almost everyone, and you will appear to be supporting the mendacious and reprehensible BLM movement.

    I’m actually going with Blue Lives Matter, myself.

    • #15
  16. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):

    Isn’t also among the BLM official goals the elimination of the nuclear family (the institution most likely to improve the situation for black children), and, beyond “socialism,” the destruction of the foundations of western civilization (rule of law, respect for human life, etc.)? I’d try to again find the group’s official site to confirm what I read earlier, but I’m afraid of what might show up if I search for it.

    The website is cleverly worded–https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-we-believe/, and has been expanded since they added all the other neglected groups. Although they claim to want justice for everyone, it’s easy to read between the lines that they mean everyone except white people. It’s pretty general.

    Yes, destruction of the family is one of the goals.  There’s also a strange elevation of the bizarre trans agenda, and deviant sexuality.

    BLM seems to be an umbrella group for most of the Wokeist, identity-politics agenda.  As far as I recall, it’s the most notable such group.  It does not seem to make room for white feminists, though the attack on the traditional family is at the heart of feminism, and the dysfunctional nature of many black communities appears, to me, to be the natural consequence of the tragic near-destruction of the black family.

    In my view, this is why I will not go along with the phrase “black lives matter,” even in lower case.  Of course, I believe that the lives of almost all people matter, including black people and white people and others.  There are a small number of people who are such reprehensible monsters that I don’t much care what happens to them, though I do hope that they will repent and change their path.

    • #16
  17. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    BTW, if the reason for the question mark in my title is not obvious, I am challenging those who say that BLM has gone mainstream. I refuse to accept that there is no way back from this disruption to our culture. My brain will simply not go there.

    My hope is that the outrageous actions of the BLM and Antifa-led riots, and the pandering to this lawlessness by Democratic politicians, will lead to a serious backlash.  This may be a Giant Red Pill for a lot of somewhat sensible but Left-leaning Americans.  The suburban moms are one such group.  The law-abiding, cop-loving black folks that Heather MacDonald assures us are out there, who are victimized in their neighborhoods by rampant criminality, are another such group.

    I like the Red Pill metaphor, and not just because I really liked the Matrix movies.  I view Leftism as a strange delusion.  I was somehow immune to most of it, ever since I was a teenager, though I was seduced a bit by the Libertarian version in my youth.

    There’s that old saying: a conservative is a liberal who’s been mugged.  Maybe these terrible events will have the effect of a country-wide mugging.

    • #17
  18. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    BLM seems to be an umbrella group for most of the Wokeist, identity-politics agenda. As far as I recall, it’s the most notable such group. It does not seem to make room for white feminists, though the attack on the traditional family is at the heart of feminism, and the dysfunctional nature of many black communities appears, to me, to be the natural consequence of the tragic near-destruction of the black family.

    Not only are black families being destroyed, but white families are brainwashing their children with “hate America” propaganda, and teaching their kids they are infected with the disease of racism from which they can’t be cured. It’s insane. 

    • #18
  19. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    There’s that old saying: a conservative is a liberal who’s been mugged. Maybe these terrible events will have the effect of a country-wide mugging.

    I sure hope you are right. But the pressure to maintain the illusion will be huge, and it will take courage for people to break away. Although they will be alone in the voting booth. We can hope.

    • #19
  20. OmegaPaladin Moderator
    OmegaPaladin
    @OmegaPaladin

    Here’s the problem – we already tried All Lives Matter.  All Lives Matter means Black Lives Matter, Brown Lives Matter, etc.   Saying All Lives Matter is treated as racist.

    That’s because the real message of BLM is “Submit to us and surrender unconditionally, or you are a racist.” 

    • #20
  21. MichaelKennedy Inactive
    MichaelKennedy
    @MichaelKennedy

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    I agree, @rodin. And I’m trying to figure out how we stop them in their tracks. We need powerful people to stand up, and as trite as it sounds, “Just Say No”! Call them out on their true motives! And yet who can we turn to? So many people who might fight them are afraid of being affiliated with Trump. So many people are afraid of being called names, like hater, racist and any other pejorative they can think of. But we must speak out and do it vigorously. Wringing our hands will not cut it anymore!

    They will, of necessity, over reach.  These radicals always do.  Policemen are quitting some of these cities forces.  White people and middle class blacks are leaving these cities.  Look at Detroit suburbs.  The concern is if they can get enough traction before the  election but I doubt it.  They will go too far and soon.  Baltimore and Portland are both down around 50% of need in police and applications have crashed.  As they become more undermanned, the rest will start quitting because of the schedule.  After talking big about defunding, Lori Lightfoot is now requiring 12 hour shifts and canceling days off.

    I read the “Second City Cop ” blog.

    https://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/

     

    • #21
  22. MichaelKennedy Inactive
    MichaelKennedy
    @MichaelKennedy

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Yes, destruction of the family is one of the goals. There’s also a strange elevation of the bizarre trans agenda, and deviant sexuality.

    The BLM leaders are all lesbians.

    • #22
  23. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    MichaelKennedy (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Yes, destruction of the family is one of the goals. There’s also a strange elevation of the bizarre trans agenda, and deviant sexuality.

    The BLM leaders are all lesbians.

    Are they actual women who are lesbians, or trans-women (who are actually men) who say that they are lesbians?

    I really don’t know.  My general impression is that BLM is more pro-trans than pro-homosexual.  It’s a particularly strange thing, because I had the impression that in prior years, black folks were not generally supportive of the pro-gay agenda.  That was some time ago, though.

    • #23
  24. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    MichaelKennedy (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Yes, destruction of the family is one of the goals. There’s also a strange elevation of the bizarre trans agenda, and deviant sexuality.

    The BLM leaders are all lesbians.

    Are they actual women who are lesbians, or trans-women (who are actually men) who say that they are lesbians?

    I really don’t know. My general impression is that BLM is more pro-trans than pro-homosexual. It’s a particularly strange thing, because I had the impression that in prior years, black folks were not generally supportive of the pro-gay agenda. That was some time ago, though.

    Back in the early nineties, I joked with a (female) coworker that I was a lesbian trapped in the body of a man.  She though for a moment and laughed.  I can’t make that joke anymore.

    • #24
  25. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    MichaelKennedy (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Yes, destruction of the family is one of the goals. There’s also a strange elevation of the bizarre trans agenda, and deviant sexuality.

    The BLM leaders are all lesbians.

    Are they actual women who are lesbians, or trans-women (who are actually men) who say that they are lesbians?

    I really don’t know. My general impression is that BLM is more pro-trans than pro-homosexual. It’s a particularly strange thing, because I had the impression that in prior years, black folks were not generally supportive of the pro-gay agenda. That was some time ago, though.

    Back in the early nineties, I joked with a (female) coworker that I was a lesbian trapped in the body of a man. She though for a moment and laughed. I can’t make that joke anymore.

    Joke? 

    • #25
  26. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    MichaelKennedy (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Yes, destruction of the family is one of the goals. There’s also a strange elevation of the bizarre trans agenda, and deviant sexuality.

    The BLM leaders are all lesbians.

    Are they actual women who are lesbians, or trans-women (who are actually men) who say that they are lesbians?

    I really don’t know. My general impression is that BLM is more pro-trans than pro-homosexual. It’s a particularly strange thing, because I had the impression that in prior years, black folks were not generally supportive of the pro-gay agenda. That was some time ago, though.

    Back in the early nineties, I joked with a (female) coworker that I was a lesbian trapped in the body of a man. She though for a moment and laughed. I can’t make that joke anymore.

    Joke?

    IRL I’m a man trapped in the body of a man.

    • #26
  27. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    MichaelKennedy (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Yes, destruction of the family is one of the goals. There’s also a strange elevation of the bizarre trans agenda, and deviant sexuality.

    The BLM leaders are all lesbians.

    Are they actual women who are lesbians, or trans-women (who are actually men) who say that they are lesbians?

    I really don’t know. My general impression is that BLM is more pro-trans than pro-homosexual. It’s a particularly strange thing, because I had the impression that in prior years, black folks were not generally supportive of the pro-gay agenda. That was some time ago, though.

    Back in the early nineties, I joked with a (female) coworker that I was a lesbian trapped in the body of a man. She though for a moment and laughed. I can’t make that joke anymore.

    Joke?

    IRL I’m a man trapped in the body of a man.

    I still find it odd that Bruce Jenner (who now claims to be a “woman”) has apparently kept all of his man parts and seek sex only with women. Looks to me more like packaging than any real claim to “trans” anything. 

    • #27
  28. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):

    Isn’t also among the BLM official goals the elimination of the nuclear family (the institution most likely to improve the situation for black children), and, beyond “socialism,” the destruction of the foundations of western civilization (rule of law, respect for human life, etc.)? I’d try to again find the group’s official site to confirm what I read earlier, but I’m afraid of what might show up if I search for it.

    The website is cleverly worded–https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-we-believe/, and has been expanded since they added all the other neglected groups. Although they claim to want justice for everyone, it’s easy to read between the lines that they mean everyone except white people. It’s pretty general.

    The Left has always been very good at hiding their real purposes underneath noble-sounding (or at least anodyne) words. 

    • #28
  29. Weeping Inactive
    Weeping
    @Weeping

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):
    I still find it odd that Bruce Jenner (who now claims to be a “woman”) has apparently kept all of his man parts and seek sex only with women. Looks to me more like packaging than any real claim to “trans” anything. 

    Isn’t that situation what used to be called a “transvestite”? Or does that word involve more than a man simply cross-dressing?

    • #29
  30. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Weeping (View Comment):
    Isn’t that situation what used to be called a “transvestite”? Or does that word involve more than a man simply cross-dressing?

    He has beast implants.

    • #30
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