In 2012, the killing of Trayvon Martin sparked riots across the nation, and ignited a national and global movement to end anti-Black racism around the world. The movement was coined #BlackLives Matter and demanded the abolition of African-American oppression. Dr. Marcus Hunter, chair of African American studies at UCLA, created the hashtag. But soon three African-American women—Opal Tometi, Alicia Garza, and Patricia Cullors—launched the social media hashtag into a national movement. Black Lives Matter (BLM) was built from the ground up by grassroots organizers, is community oriented, and has gained support from white allies. It argues for an extensive conversation with policy makers on state violence in the African-American Community. 

BLM continues the legacy of Black Americans fighting for justice. Often described as the new civil rights movement, the organization is composed of men, women and LGBTQ people of color. The work of BLM is focused on the political intersectionality of race, class, gender, criminal justice as well as immigration law, climate change, wages, voting rights and reproductive rights. The BLM organization calls for police accountability and anti-police brutality, and is diverse in its approach. Echoing earlier movements for equal rights, BLM activists participate in demonstrations, and work with officials and communities to mediate disputes.

Since February is Black History Month, and February 20 is World Day of Social Justice, it’s an appropriate time to learn more about the struggle of Black Americans against racism. The San Domenico Library has many books on Black American civil rights movements. Lower School students can learn about the Birmingham Children’s Crusade in Monica Clark-Robinson’s book, Let the Children March. This award winning picture book is written from the perspective of a girl participating in the March. A Dream of Freedom: The Civil Rights Movements from 1954 to 1968, is an excellent choice for Middle School students. In this book, Pulitzer Prize winning author, Diane McWhorter, uses interviews and oral histories from key participants to bring this pivotal time alive. Upper School students can examine the systemic pressures perpetuating racism in the Pulitzer Prize winning nonfiction book, His Name is George Floyd. The authors, Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, use Floyd’s life and murder to investigate institutional racism in the United States. 

Though focusing on different events, these books all reflect Dr. Hunter’s assessment of civil rights movements voiced on NPR’s Morning Edition in 2019: “A lot of people are disempowered. A lot of people don’t have access as they should. And until people who are powerless or not having access are provided access and power, we’re all in trouble.”