When did the Black Lives Matter movement start? A) 1962 B) 2012 C) 2019 D) 1834 When did the Black Lives Matter movement start? A) 1962 B) 2012 C) 2019 D) 1834 You have just been suspended from school. You decide to go and stay with other relatives for a while to keep you out of trouble. You are talking to a friend on the phone after coming home from the shop to buy sweets and a drink. What dangers could you face as you walk home from the shop? BLM started in 2012 Trayvon Martin (1995 – 2012) 17 years old • George Zimmerman was a neighbour hood watch volunteer. • Trayvon was coming home from the shop after buying sweets. George Zimmerman called the police as he thought Trayvon looked “suspicious.” • The police told Zimmerman NOT to pursue Trayvon Martin • Zimmerman ignored these instructions and chased after Trayvon Martin. • George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin in the chest. Trayvon was unarmed. • George Zimmerman was acquitted of second degree murder. George Zimmerman only ever stopped black people whilst volunteering as neighbourhood watch. What are your thoughts about this? Numeracy Task Put these events in the correct order of when they took place. 2019 In 2013 Renisha McBride, 19, knocks on In 2012, George Zimmerman Elijah Mcclain was reported as a the door of Theodore Wafer's home in the shoots unarmed 17 year old suspicious person as he was wearing early hours of the morning after she is Trayvon Martin. a mask due to a skin condition. He involved in a car crash. died after police injected him with ketamine. Wafer fatally shoots her through his door In November 2014, 12 YEAR OLD Tamir Rice is shot by a May 2020 police officer after playing George Floyd died as a result of a police officer kneeling on his neck and with and carrying a toy gun refusing to move even after Floyd yelled “I can’t breathe.” This lasted 8 in Ohio. minutes. Floyd died from asphyxiation. July 22, 2016 March 2020 Charles Kinsey was shot while lying on the ground with his arms raised in the air and Breonna Taylor, a nurse who pleading with officers to hold their fire. worked on COVID wards, was shot Mr Kinsey's leg was injured in the incident, which came as he tried to help a 8 times in her own home. Police disoriented autistic man who had wandered away from a group home where Mr officers raided the wrong address. Kinsey works as a behavioural therapist. Because of the recent killing of George Floyd, there has been a number of protests to support and oppose BLM. 1) What do you know about this? 2) What are your thoughts on the protests? 3) Do you know what has changed as a result of these protests? 4) Are we starting to become “equal”? 5) Have you done anything to be an ally for BLM? “BUT ALL LIVES MATTER!” A response you might have seen is ‘All Lives Matter’. Of course all lives matter. When we say ‘Black Lives Matter’, we aren’t saying that the lives of other races aren’t important. But in our current society, black lives are often valued as being worth less than the lives of people of other races, which is shown in the way black people are treated in society. “PEOPLE SAY WHITE PRIVILEGE BUT I’M NOT EVEN RICH!” White privilege that we have not had to experience certain things that other races have. Here are a few examples: 1) Generally have a positive relationship with police. 2) The media softens the crimes of my race compared to others. 3) We learn a lot about white history in schools – not so much about black history. 4) Most media outlets represent my race more than others (books, newspapers, etc). 5) My race isn’t represented by violent stereotypes (aggressive, threatening, criminal). 6) We have the privilege of not experiencing bullying due to the colour of our skin. “LEE RIGBY WAS KILLED BY A BLACK MAN. WHERE WERE THE PROTESTS FOR THAT?” Lee Rigby was killed by a terrorist. The black community are angry as black people are dying at the hands of those meant to protect and serve. Lee’s mother also asked people to stop using her son’s murder to oppose the BLM movement. “WHY DON’T THEY JUST GO BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM?” This is actually an extremely racist thing to say to someone of any other race. If this is something you think you may have said – don’t say it again. If it something you have put on social media then delete it! People have recently been fired from their jobs for posting such hateful comments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyEqvZfpq3k&t=29s “Black Lives Matter isn’t important in the UK. There is no racism here.” “WHAT IS MICROAGGRESSION?” This is when people's biases against marginalised groups reveal themselves in a way that leaves their victims feeling uncomfortable or insulted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O CBJZQrqXG0 How can I be a good ally? Understand this is not a trend – it is a movement. Keep supporting BLM even after the protests have stopped getting media coverage. Challenge prejudice and discrimination – speak out if you see something that you know is Sign petitions regarding wrong. injustices to other races. Educate yourself about racism Stop using micro aggressive and oppression. terms. Listen and empathise with black voices. Be mindful of comments that you may have made in the past and how you can become a better person. OUR MESSAGE TO YOU: We may be from different races and our skin colour may be different but we all deserve to be RESPECTED! BE KIND! .