What makes these brothers comments important is the fact that there aren’t too many “prominent” Black men in the media. Stephen A. Smith summarized this by saying “ain’t too many black men hosting a national radio show.” So when one of those few Black men confuses the agenda of the Black community with wordplay, it hurts. Barkley, Stephen A. Smith and other Black media members do not have to support the Black lives matter movement. They don’t even have to understand it. But when they speak on the matter in a negative and ignorant manner it creates confusion. This confusion hurts the credibility, image, and goals of the movement. If you don’t support the movement; then shut up! If you want to talk about Black on Black violence in the black community; then fine. Do just that, but don’t discredit the intentions of someone else’s movement. And say dumb shit like “do you know how we look booing someone who says all lives matter.” No. Do you know how you look siding on the other side of justice in the black community?
This is not something that is done by celebrities and recognizable people only. I have had people on social media asked me the same questions that Stephen A. Smith is asking. What about the little black girl killed riding her bike? What about the little black boy shot in the neck? These are all valid questions, but why asked them when I question the police? Why is that a bigger concern than police brutality? Or why is it a bigger concern than animal cruelty, for that matter?
There are a lot of worthy causes to fight for and against. And there are many factors that contribute to the demise of the Black community. The fear and psychological effect that the police has on the Black community is real. It is dangerous and increasingly becoming one of the biggest concerns in the Black community. This is what the Blacklivesmatter movement represents. This is what is right now for Black folks. Marlon Horton is right now! Sandra Bland and Walter Scott are right now! A vast majority of black people in the Black communities want answers now. It should not be not distorted or minimize to the slogan alllivesmatter. No race encounters the same type of trauma when dealing with the police as Black people does.
Of course from a human standpoint, any sensible person knows that all lives matter. But that is not the issue. If Martin O’Malley and any other political candidate come to the ‘hood’; they need to know the distinction we as Black people are trying to make when we say BLACK LIVES MATTER.