Black Lives Matter Emerges at Ferguson, But Mass Shootings Double Since Then

On August 7th, 2014, the Black Lives Matter movement emerged in response to the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Since then, the movement has been a powerful force for social justice and racial equality across the United States. However, a recent study by The New York Times has revealed that black-on-black mass shootings have more than doubled since then during what is now referred to as the BLM Era. The study found that these shootings make up close to 75% of all four or more killed or wounded mass shootings. This means that while there has been an increase in public awareness and action towards racial injustice since 2014, there has also been an alarming rise in violence within black communities. This trend is particularly concerning given that many of these shootings are motivated by gang activity and drug trafficking rather than racial hatred or discrimination. In fact, some experts believe that this increase could be due to a lack of resources available to underserved communities which can lead to increased criminal activity. In response to this troubling trend, many organizations have taken action to try and address the root causes of violence within black communities. These include initiatives such as providing job training and mentorship programs for young people living in high crime areas as well as investing in education and housing opportunities for those who may not otherwise have access to them. Ultimately, it is clear that while progress has been made since 2014 with regards to fighting racism and inequality through movements like Black Lives Matter, much work still needs to be done when it comes to addressing violence within black communities. It is only through continued efforts from both individuals and organizations alike that we can hope for a future where all lives matter equally regardless of race or ethnicity.