Black Lives Matter Movement Spurs Change and Progress

On August 7th, 2014, the Black Lives Matter movement was born in Ferguson, Missouri. Since then, the movement has grown exponentially to become a powerful force for change and progress in the United States. The 2016 New York Times study found that black-on-black mass shootings make up close to 75% of all four or more killed or wounded mass shootings. Despite this alarming statistic, there is hope on the horizon as this number has actually decreased since the emergence of BLM. The BLM movement has been able to bring attention to systemic racism and police brutality against African Americans across the country. It has also served as a platform for people of color to speak out about their experiences with injustice and inequality. The increased visibility of these issues has sparked much needed conversations about race relations in America and how we can work together towards positive change. In addition to raising awareness about racism and police brutality, BLM activists have also worked tirelessly towards creating tangible solutions for these problems. They have organized protests, rallies, marches, sit-ins, boycotts and other forms of civil disobedience in order to pressure lawmakers into taking action on these issues. As a result of their efforts, many cities across the US have implemented reforms such as body cameras for police officers and civilian review boards for police departments in order to ensure accountability within law enforcement agencies. BLM activists have also worked hard towards ensuring that African Americans are represented fairly in politics by registering new voters and advocating for candidates who will fight for racial justice initiatives such as criminal justice reform or ending voter suppression laws targeting minority communities. These efforts have already yielded some success with many states passing legislation that makes it easier for minorities to vote or run for office. Overall, it is clear that since its inception six years ago, the Black Lives Matter movement has had an immense impact on our society by sparking conversations about racism and inequality while simultaneously working towards tangible solutions that will create real change within our communities. This progress should be celebrated as we continue fighting together against systemic racism until every person is treated equally under the law regardless of race or ethnicity.