When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of… I think of so many things right now. First, I think of hope - the hope that maybe things will change... if they are gonna change this is the movement to do it. Next of course I think of Trump and Trump’s America that has encouraged hatred to dig its heels in. The fact that Black Lives Matter is a controversial idea makes me feel sick. I think of how small and insignificant I feel to make a difference. I have to keep telling myself the little things I do can help just so I’ll keep doing anything at all and not fall back into a stupor. But also, in the context of you asking, I think of a whole mess of feelings about where we came from... DCS... and how badly it prepared me for the roll-your-sleeves-up, down-in-the-dirt bloody truth of the world. I wonder how you must have felt there. I think of the anger I feel for not being taught about racism in our country... in ourselves! Fed to us every day by our world. I feel angry we weren’t immediately and thoroughly taught how to fight it. But ultimately, I think of how much energy and perseverance it must take for anyone who is Black to still be fighting. I have awe and reverence for it. And despite the fragile, flimsy little taped together shred of belief in God I have left, I still pray so hard we see real change and not ONE MORE murder.

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When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
Angry white people

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
Deceit

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
People coming together to support human rights

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
Teaching my children to look beyond themselves and make sure that everyone has the same opportunities that they have. To put their hand out and lead, or walk along side, or step aside and follow when the time is right. Our children are much better at this than we are, and I hope that natural love for their fellow man of any color will only grow as they inherit the earth.

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
the rallying cry of our generation

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
People still fighting for equality. Not to be better than, but to be equal. Equal!

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
my disappointment with America. This should be common sense and widely accepted.

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
How overwhelming it is for me as a white person, so I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be a person of color, how cultural racism is everywhere and sometimes I know how to be better but if I am honest most the time I am so unsure. That leads me to think about what I can do and maybe that is how I bring awareness to the people in my circle of influence to realize that whiteness is relational. "White" only exists in relation/opposition to others in the racial hierarchy. Sadly for many whiteness is a state of unconsciousness, invisible to white people, and that perpetuates a lack of knowledge or understanding of a root cause of oppression, it is more comfortable for white people if it "invisible" to those of us privileged by it, but it sure isn’t invisible to those oppressed/disadvantaged by it. I hope that if more people understood whiteness we could start to address cultural and institutional racism. Love you!

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
That the sentiment behind it as a mainstream movement I agree with, but there's a lot about the actual organization that I don't agree with which makes me hesitant to use the slogan or hashtag.

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
the 1960’s... I was 4 when MLK was assassinated. I have a welling hope that perhaps our nation is finally willing to finish the task and make true equity real and systemic racism a thing of the past.

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
How insane it is that it’s 2020 and we’re STILL needing to fight for blank people to be treated fairly.

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
The frustration that this statement is still not fully realized in our nation. I think of the unending pain and suffering. I think of the shame I have for being complicit. I think of the ways I need to be better and fight for what’s right. I think of the groans and wailing for equality that too long has been ignored.

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
All of the education I should be investing in to understand the racial injustice that has caused a deep systemic problem within our country. I think about the lives impacted day in and day out from systemic racism and how I want to learn more, do better, and have hard conversations with those who have opposing opinions of my own.

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
BLM makes me feel hope that America can eventually live up to its idea of being a place of freedom and opportunity for All people not just the select few. And that our county has only been through systemic change by pressure, force, and by those who speak out against the current status quo. I hold on to the hope.

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
Equality and that Black lives are not equal to others in America.

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
all the sufferings of the entire black race and how old, white, male-dominated government has done everything in their power, still to this day, to ensure black and brown people aren’t equal. I think about how not enough has been done, how nothing has been done, to combat systematic racism in this country. I think about the young black children that are marching in the streets demanding they be treated as equal. Children. I think about how behind America is. I think about how this isn’t just a movement, that this is a generational change, a change that will forever reshape the future of America and the world. I think about the laws that need to be changed and will be changed because #blacklivesmatter and because it’s time everyone wake up.

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
My racist family members who vehemently deny they are racist

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
A movement based out of the need for equality and a harder look, breakdown and critique of our current culture/society/police force etc. About how we treat black lives. BLM doesbt say other lives dont matter. It doesnt say black lives are better. Its saying they are equal and can be great and worthy of praise they deserve just like everyone else is worthy.

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
Love, hope & eye-opening

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
Acknowledging where things are not truly equal in this country, the systems that keep equality from existing, and protecting and advocating for those who are oppressed by those systems (specifically the black community) while fighting for lasting change so America can be what it claims to be.

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
my ignorant family members who think that “Blue Lives Matter.” SMH

When I think of Black Lives Matter, I think of…
I think of an important cause seeking to rectify a historic and current wrong in our society. I also think of some "backward" (I feel bad saying that) white folks who get mad because of defensiveness or racism. My third thought is of a movement that is important, but sometimes not strategic in their approach. Too many gatekeeper, too much extremism. I believe their important goals would be better met if they were welcoming of the moderates. Personally I'd like to be an ally of BLM, but often I'm scared to speak up because the more extreme members of the group may be triggered by something I say. Thanks for asking the question. It's hard to talk about this in today's zeitgeist.

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