The Story Behind #BlackLivesMatter

Sitting before a sold-out venue, hosted by the Student Association of UW-Milwaukee, Patrisse Cullors and Alicia Garza, who created the Black Lives Matter hashtag, made it clear why they were here.

“We are fighting back against the tide of amnesia that this country is powered by,” said Garza. “If all of us are not free, then none of us are free.”

The Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin. Over the past three years, #BlackLivesMatter has taken social media by storm.

Cullors and Garza explained why they chose to use a hashtag for such a powerful movement.

“The hashtag was about creating a platform that didn’t just live online, but offline as well,” said Cullors. “Social media allows for us to be our storytellers.”

The women also explained that the Black Lives Matter movement is much more than just a hashtag.

“It is a journey about trauma and resilience,” said Cullors. “The truth of black people’s resilience has shaped why I do this, we are still here.”

Cullors and Garza have done far more than just establishing a hashtag.

Cullors is a self-proclaimed artist, organizer and freedom fighter. Along with being a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement, she is also a performance artist, Fulbright scholar, popular public speaker and a NAACP History Maker. She has also received a number of awards for her roles in activism and movement building and has been named as a Civil Rights Leader for the 21st Century by the Los Angeles Times.

Garza is both an avid activist as well as an editorial writer. Garza has had her writings published in Rolling Stone, The Guardian, The Nation, and The Huffington Post. She has also organized around other social issues, such as health, student services, social and civil rights for domestic workers and violence against trans and gender non-conforming people of color.

Garza explained that, for her, the life of advocacy came easy.

“I had a lot of rage; I had a lot of sadness, but entering the movement world gave me clarity,” said Garza.

Due to a few not-so-peaceful protests over the past few months, such as the unrest in Milwaukee and Charlotte, the credibility of the Black Lives Matter movement has been brought into question by some. Garza and Cullors reiterated BLM’s agenda.

“Our goal is to make sure that everybody has access to making decisions of their own lives,” said Garza. “We are not trying to build black supremacy. We are trying to transform the world we live in. This is not about individuals; it is about systems that impact millions of people.”

Their words resonated with many students and community members in the audience. UWM Junior Karina Laufenberg said that she found the lecture quite inspiring.

“I have had my ups and downs with BLM,” said Laufenberg. “At first, I was hesitant to express my support, but, after educating myself, I believe in this movement so much. This lecture has only motivated and inspired me to keep educating myself and motivate others to do the same. We have to come together.”

Laufenberg also had a message for those who do not share her support for the movement.

“This movement is much bigger than us,” said Laufenberg. “It is powerful, and it is shaking the world for a reason. Read, ask, be a free thinker. This is something that has potential to move mountains.”

Cullors and Garza ended the lecture by stressing both the importance and timeliness of the movement.

“We cannot allow this historical moment to be hijacked by foolishness,” said Garza. “This is a moment in history that will impact us for decades.”