What progress has been made in the twentieth century in the fight to realize Founding principles of liberty, equality, and justice for African Americans? What work must still be done?

• I can interpret primary sources related to Founding principles of liberty, equality, and justice in the 1960s to the present day.
• I can explain how laws and policy, courts, and individuals and groups contributed to or pushed back against the quest for liberty, equality, and justice for African Americans.
• I can explain why the civil rights movement fractured in the 1960s.
• I can compare movements for liberty, equality, and justice for African Americans over time.
• I can create an argument using evidence from primary sources.
• I can analyze issues in history to help find solutions to present-day challenges.

Essential Vocabulary

aberration

abnormality

 

Building Context

The Black Lives Matter movement was created in 2013 by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi as a response to the 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin and subsequent acquittal of George Zimmerman, the accused shooter. The movement began as a social media hashtag, #BlackLivesMatter, and grew to national prominence after the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, in 2014. After the 2020 death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the movement led protests and demonstrations against police brutality worldwide. By calling the history of their movement “Herstory,” founders Garza, Cullors, and Tometi signal that they are placing women leaders at the forefront.

Black Lives Matter, “Herstory,” 2014

Source: https://blacklivesmatter.com/herstory/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_fVMmQlDRbfH1hANxf8aX5gwcsok1

Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise. It is an affirmation of Black folks’ humanity, our contributions to this society, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression. . . .

 

In 2014, Mike Brown was murdered by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. It was a guttural response to be with our people, our family—in support of the brave and courageous community of Ferguson and St. Louis as they were being brutalized by law enforcement, criticized by media, tear gassed, and pepper sprayed night after night. . . .We made two commitments: to support the team on the ground in St. Louis, and to go back home and do the work there. We understood Ferguson was not an aberration, but in fact, a clear point of reference for what was happening to Black communities everywhere.

 

. . .

 

It became clear that we needed to continue organizing and building Black power across the country. People were hungry to galvanize their communities to end state-sanctioned violence against Black people, the way Ferguson organizers and allies were doing. Soon we created the Black Lives Matter Global Network infrastructure. It is adaptive and decentralized, with a set of guiding principles. Our goal is to support the development of new Black leaders, as well as create a network where Black people feel empowered to determine our destinies in our communities.

Comprehension and Analysis Questions

1. What is the significance of calling this source “Herstory”? What does this name imply?
2. What is the stated purpose and goal of Black Lives Matter?
3. Why does the statement say 2014 was a turning point for Black Lives Matter?
4. The strategy of relying on decentralized or localized communities to work for change was part of SNCC’s philosophy as well. Do you think this is an effective method, or is top-down leadership more effective? Explain.
5. “Herstory” states that violence against Black people is state-sanctioned. What does this mean?
6. How does this movement compare with earlier movements in the struggle for Black rights?