SYMBOLS OF CHANGE: POLITICAL MEMES AND VIRAL CONTENT

Black Lives Matter's website explains the movement's history as follows:

 

“#BlackLivesMatter was created in 2012 after Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman, was acquitted for his crime, and dead 17-year old Trayvon was post-humously placed

on trial for his own murder. Rooted in the experiences of

Black people in this country who actively resist our de-humanization, #BlackLivesMatter is a call to action and

a response to the virulent anti-Black racism that permeates

our society.  Black Lives Matter is a unique contribution that goes beyond extrajudicial killings of Black people by

police and vigilantes.

 

When we say Black Lives Matter, we are broadening the conversation around state violence to include all of the

ways in which Black people are intentionally left powerless at the hands of the state.  We are talking about the ways in which Black lives are deprived of our basic human rights and dignity.”

 

The movement has been going strong for several months now and doesn't seem to be dying down any time soon.  I feel it continues to grow strong and as more people continue to use the hashtag #blacklivesmatter on social media and hold protests and rallies, the more the idea behind the movement itself spreads and even changes (but never weakens, thankfully).  I fully support this movement and believe it's making a strong statement that should not be ignored any longer.