George Floyd was killed in the custody of police officers, along with many other people of color. We can’t bring back the lives that have been lost to the acts of racism, but we can honor their memory by trying to change the future of black citizens. Racism goes back years, many years, and though slavery isn’t around in America anymore, there is still racial inequality. To make judgements of somebody for the color of their skin is completely unacceptable. What’s worse is converting those racist thoughts into actions. Hurting somebody, killing somebody, treating someone unfairly for the color of their skin is beyond terrible. But it happens. And it will continue to happen unless we do something. You may think there isn't much you can do; your parents won’t let you participate in a peaceful protest, and you may not be able to donate to BLM charities, but there are still things you can do. You can do your research on race-related history and news, talk to your family members about it, and be there to comfort your friends of color. To clarify something: When people say “Black Lives Matter,” they are not saying that black lives matter more than other lives. They are saying “Black Lives Matter” because black lives are treated like their lives don’t matter. “All lives matter” does not apply until “Black Lives Matter” does. It may not make sense to you, so here is an analogy that you may understand. If somebody in your class cuts their hand, would you say “All kids matter,” and hand out band-aids to everybody in the class before the bleeding kid, or do you give it to the injured kid first? By saying "All lives matter," you're redirecting the importance of the Black lives matter movement. Of course all lives matter, but black lives are the ones that are in the most danger, the ones being treated unfairly the most, the ones that face the most discrimination, and to say "all lives matter," you're taking away the attention that the black lives matter movement needs.
Everyone matters. Everyone is special in there own way. We have to stand up to racism. We all matter. Space key for next picture.
