Black Lives Matter. It’s as simple as that. Let’s look at why the “all lives matter” and other similar thoughts are flawed and Jay-Z’s print ad together.

I do feel the need to address the “all lives matter” people, police defenders, and the others focusing on the violence instead of George Floyd and the movement.

  1. No one is saying your life doesn’t matter. No one’s saying that it isn’t dangerous to be a cop. But, we don’t need to be reminded that your life or a cop’s life matters. Time and time again, America has shown that to us. Throughout history, and still today, America shows that Black people don’t matter. That’s why we need that reminder and the movement. There are a lot of analogies you should look at if you still don’t get it.
  2. Being a cop is a choice. Being Black is not.
  3. A lot of the talk about violence is exaggerated and a partial story to the bigger peaceful protests. Maybe you should look into the police violence upon peaceful protests.
  4. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is lauded as a peaceful protester. But, our white-washed history paints a much more glamorized story than most would like to believe. He wasn’t loved at the time. They thought he was dangerous and inciting violence. Then, he was killed by a white man.
  5. In America, it often takes violence for people to listen like in the Boston Tea Party and Stonewall Riots. People are finally listening and paying attention to police violence because of the big protests now. Again, America is showing us that it needed to be taken to this extreme for change to happen.
  6. When talking about privilege in regards to race, it has nothing to do with money. This privilege does not mean you’re living in a mansion in Beverly Hills. We’re talking about the privilege to exist and to live your life without fear. If you don’t fear for your life when you go jogging or hang out in your house, you are privileged.

Okay, moving on…

Most brands have spoken out in support of Black people since George Floyd’s violent murder on Memorial Day. Maybe it’s genuine, maybe they’re just jumping on the bandwagon in fear of losing revenue. Who knows. Doesn’t matter. It’s good they did it. But, Jay-Z did something with Roc Nation that I wasn’t expecting. They came through with the print ad! He paid for print ads in major newspapers in cities where large protests have occurred. The Philadelphia Inquirer was one of them.

Check out a more magnified version at the bottom of this blog post.

This is pretty dang smart when you think about it…

Who still subscribes to print newspapers? It’s not the younger generation where he’d be preaching to the choir, so to speak. No, he’s reaching groups of people who are likely older and more inclined to hold on to past, more oppressive thoughts, ideas, and systems. Those who are more inclined to say “all lives matter” and have their feathers ruffled (unconsciously or consciously) at the thought of Black people gaining power in society. He’s talking to them. This is a great example of good targetting and media placement.

I hope it influences people along with the attention to police violence we have currently. I hope it makes changes.

Here’s what you can do.

  • Realize that you’re never going to understand what it’s like to be Black in America if you aren’t African American. But, listen, learn, and love your friends, family, and peers. Show solidarity. Fight with them.
  • Explain to friends and family who are on the cusp or fully don’t understand it all why this is happening, why this needs to happen, and why it needs to happen this way.
  • Call for change, especially in police reform.
  • Encourage diversity everywhere and hire more if you can. I wrote a whole blog post about that.
  • Donate to worthy causes like
  • Support black creators and business owners.
  • Keep listening and learning and always seek to find the context of every situation.

About Marissa Musings: Marissa Musings are short blog posts that derive from an outpouring of random thoughts. My brain can be a very crazy place. Enjoy with caution.