“What have you done to help black people?” This question was posed by Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, at her keynote speech on Jan. 19, at Wentz Concert Hall for MLK Week. Cullors reminded the audience who Martin Luther King Jr. was, and that he understood both the need to disrupt and the concept of civil disobedience.
She also commented that if King were still alive, he would be disappointed. “Our job is reclaiming his (King’s) legacy.”
One popular question, both backstage and after the conference, for Cullors was, “what do you say to those who say all lives matter?” Cullors points out that the individuals who believe that all lives are valuable are not the type who organize, they protest in a different way. Something that she suggested was simply, “why can’t you say black lives matter?”
The movement’s opponents have mainly been those identifying as right-wing conservatives. All lives matter ignores the goals of the black lives matter movement including fighting systemic white-established inequalities.
“Racism is a white problem,” Cullors said.
The speech was very participatory, with Cullors calling on the audience members to speak the names of black people who had been killed by law enforcement.
Cullors pointed to the power of the imagination, reminding the audience that the concepts of jail and cells all originated in someone’s head. She also brought public perception of black people into the picture, and as an example, offered the opinion that when people talk about black people, it is “black death” that they are talking about.
“If we imagine black death then it’s going to happen,” said Cullors.
Although the movement itself does not endorse a particular presidential candidate, Cullors leaves little to the imagination with her political opinions, criticizing the right-wing conservatives and calling Hillary Clinton “corporate.”
Cullors also expressed a difference in this movement, in that it is being led by black women, and said, “We’re gonna show up as our full selves,” referencing the LGBTQ presence in the movement.
Also explained by Cullors was the difference between an organizer and an activist when she recounted her involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement, which began at age 17.
“Black Lives Matter comes from a place of love, but it also comes from a place of rage,” shares Cullors.
After Trayvon Martin was shot the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter started appearing after reading a Facebook post by fellow cofounder Alicia Garza that ended with that phrase. They along with Opal Tometi founded the movement that today is known as Black Lives Matter, that has been gaining steam.
What is the end goal for such a movement? “I don’t like to be the one to answer that question,” Cullors said. When it comes to the future of the movement, Cullors hopes that it will remain prevalent in the coming years.
Assistant Professor of Communications Emily Cramer was present at the speech and said that she felt conflicted about the solution. Her husband works as an attorney who has defended police officers in the past Cramer said she felt there needs to be, “more of an open dialogue.”
Rep. Bill Foster and members of Sandra Bland’s family attended the speech.
The speech concluded with a chant led by Cullors: “It is our duty to fight for freedom. It is our duty to win. It is our duty to support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”
