The purpose of this qualitative research is to trace the Black Lives matter through the understanding of the history of the Black Lives Matter movement, identify the misconceptions of the movement, determine what social media has to say about the movement, identify the impact the Black Lives Matter movement has on the youth culture, determine how the Black Lives Matter movement ties back to the police and understand the future the Black Lives Matter movement has after 2016 (all citations). The literature was selected in order to trace the Black Lives Matter movement from the beginning to its current position in 2016 (citations).
The Black Lives Matter official website was used to serve as a rationale or the sole focus of measurement to other literature on the movement in order to get a true comparison of what the movement truly is about (BlackLivesMatter. com, 2016). The research was focused on whether or not the Black Lives Matter movement in 2016 has the potential to affect change and have a long-lasting impact in society as a social movement (all citations). The research traced the Black Lives Matter movement by searching through scholarly books, articles, webpages and news reports in order to collect reliable and valid data on the movement (all citations).
The population studied consisted of the Black Lives Matter foundation which consisted of those who gave light to the history of the movement which are the three co-founders, the 27 chapters and the members of the movement that will later aid in learning how to trace the historical points (“About the,”, 2016; Pearce, 2015; “President Obama,” 2015). The research used the 11 misconceptions to further explain and clear up to society the common misconceptions others think about the Black Lives Matter movement so that others will better understand the mission of the movement and see if it will withstand the test of time (“11 Major,” 2016).
Also, the research used what social media has to say about the Black Lives Matter movement to show the impact and influences that social media has on society in order to determine how large of an effect the movement has caused on society and community members all around the nation (Sidner & Simon, 2015). Next, was the study of the Black Lives Matter on the youth culture and its influences through the music industry and national politicians which will show how the youth culture reacts to their environment around them and the harsh realities of the real world they are born into (Coscarelli, 2015).
Then, the research showed in various of instances throughout of how the Black Lives Matter ties to the police and how the Black Lives Matter movement has many similarities and alike goals as The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing that will display much of their similarities and how the effect of the two working together can build a village (Dokoupil, 2015; Davenport, Jones & Penn, 2015; “The President’s,” 2015).
Lastly, the literature showed us what is in store for 2016 and later with the Black Lives Matter through their future goals to move the movement forward in a productive manner and to see if the movement has the potential to affect change both on the local and national level (Sidner & Simon, 2016; Korte, 2016).
The data collected was organized in this order to show how the movement really began, what people think about it before hearing the true facts, its influences from social media, how the movement’s themes such as those in the music industry and national politicians can affect the youth of today, how the movement is really tied to the police showing both support and opposition and where the movement is going post 2016 (all citations).
Based on the literature, we intend to find alarming statistics on young black males at a young age who are more likely to be killed by the police pre-2016 and post-2016 (CITATION for stats, Campaign Zero; Sidner & Simon, 2015; Korte, 2016). Also, how social media is an example of a way to show the public discourse on race & anti-black racism dating back in history to slavery, using social media comments and the 11 misconceptions that people think they know about the movement through social media (Thompson, 2016; Stephen, 2015; “About the,” 2016; “11 Major,” 2016; Pearce, 2015; “President Obama,” 2015).
The research shows that we can intend to find that the Black Lives Matter movement appears to be the center of many discussions amongst chapter members, protests, media, race topics and police interactions in order to reduce the violent crime and change unjust systems rather than dehumanizing other people (Simon, 2015; Belton, 2015; Petersen-Smith, Year; Sidner & Simon, 2015). Our intentions can all relate to the affect and influence it can have on the youth and other members of society (Coscarelli, 2015).
Some limitations the research showed is that the Black Lives Matter movement has no way of showing its true affect on society because it wasn’t based on any theoretical foundation (all citation). (class notes) The social movement does promote change in various ways but doesn’t base its organization on a theoretical foundation in which we know according to literature that allows one to properly evaluate a program (blm and notes in class).
Although Black Lives Matter is a promoter of all those committed and those who aspire to be leaders – be leaders this is a limitation because the literature shows us the characteristics of what a good leader possesses (notes on leader). Also, in the literature, there is no other research or study completed since the beginning in 2013 that allows us to replicate the Black Lives Matter movement in order to discover the true affect of change the movement has on society (citation). Some strengths the research showed is that the Black Lives Matter movement is a very controversial group that is the talk of many discussions (Simon, 2015).
Next, is that the movement doesn’t discriminate against anyone and invites all to join no matter what occupation, color or how they identify as – they too can become a leader and involved in the Black Lives Matter movement (“11 Major,” 2016). The literature shows that the movement has the right mindset for political and social activists especially with their goals of using Campaign Zero as policy, not only involved in the streets with protests but getting involved in local politics in order to take over as policy makers with the right intentions to move forward, allow change, growth and to be multifaceted post-2016 (Sidner & Simon, 2015).
VIII. Findings The research found that with theoretical foundation and proper evaluation the Black Lives Matter movement has the potential to imprint a long-lasting impact on society as a social movement (all citations). The Black Lives Matter movement has made its name well known and is used in many discussions (Simon, 2015; “About the,” 2016). The movement was measured and studied through scholarly books, scholarly credible articles, reliable webpages and news reports were (citation). Research found that there are 3 Co-founders of the movement and 27 chapters but no original leader or no one in charge of Black Lives Matter (citation).
The 11 misconceptions does shed positive light on the movement allowing others to better understand the mission (“About the,” 2016). The social media aspect has both helped Black Lives Matter by spreading their views but media such as the news has placed a negative label on them by societies interactions (Thompson, 2016; Stephen, 2015). Despite alarming statistics of police brutality and killings against young black males, the music industry and politicians worldwide have allowed the communities who face such injustices on a daily basis a sense of hope that things will be alright and it’s not the end (Coscarelli, 2015; Citation for stats).
Although, Black Lives Matter confronts police department tactics, investigations of police, police contracts, misconduct records, community representation, militarization of police and the use of body cameras literature shows through #BlueLivesMatter and the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing that they too share many common goals despite the medias ways of stirring controversy between the two organizations (“About The,” 2016; Petersen-Smith, YEAR; Belton, 2015; Dokoupil, 2015; “The President’s,” 2015).
For example, in the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing the 6 pillars: Building Trust & Legitimacy, Policy & Oversight, Technology & Social Media, Community Policing & Crime Reduction, Officer Training & Education and Officer Safety & Wellness gave light to the common goals of the #BlackLivesMatter and #BlueLivesMatter movement (“About The,” 2016; “The President’s,” 2015; Dokoupil, 2015). If closely thought upon the Black Lives Matter movement incorporates many of their approaches and/or lessons using these pillars in their work (“About The,” 2016; “The President’s,” 2015).
Both create an environment that it not only takes the police to create change too but also the communities and the police who serve them (“About The,” 2016; “The President’s,” 2015; Dokoupil, 2015). In the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, these pillars were created in order to identify best practices and offer recommendations on how “policing practices can promote effective crime reduction meanwhile building public trust” (“The President’s,” 2015, pg. 1). So, this meant this was the new goal for all police officers nationwide (“The President’s,” 2015).
The Black Lives Matter movement wanted to build trust and legitimacy through their reputation and the goal for the police were to build it within their communities (“About The,” 2016; “The President’s,” 2015; Dokoupil, 2015). Next, the movement had their own goal of policy they wanted to use such as Campaign Zero and the need for the police to carry out their responsibilities according to enacted policies that were reflected upon the communities values (“About The,” 2016; “The President’s,” 2015; Dokoupil, 2015).
Then, the Black Lives Matter movement use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter and their website allows us to see all about the movement such as their values, mission, purpose, goals, community orientation and police officers use of technology can improve practices between themselves and the community with the use of body cameras for example that allow us to see the case in front of us and not make the case a he say she say event (“About The,” 2016; “The President’s,” 2015; Dokoupil, 2015).
As the movement should work with the community on a local level in order to identify problems and come up with solutions to those problems the police officers should too so that they’re capable of producing meaningful results on the communities side and the for police (“About The,” 2016; “The President’s,” 2015; Dokoupil, 2015). One of the movement’s statements was of that police should be provided with more effective training on how to protect and serve those less fortunate communities in particular those of color (“About The,” 2016; “The President’s,” 2015; Dokoupil, 2015).
Lastly, just as the movement would like to have the members best interest at mind in order to carry out these protests or discussions police officers wellness and safety is also an issue so that they may fully commit to all their duties as law enforcement (“About The,” 2016; “The President’s,” 2015; Dokoupil, 2015). Furthermore, some of the questions everyone is asking about the movement is, “What is the organizations plan for the future? Will it have an impact on policy?
Will it just continue to make its presence by protesting” (Sidner & Simon, 2015, pg. 4). With thorough research we find that, members of the Black Lives Matter movement along with social activists such as DeRay McKesson have come out with a policy called Campaign Zero where they are able to map out policy issues and zone in on those areas where real change can be brought upon in areas such as investigations of police and the use of body cameras (Sidner & Simon, 2015).
McKesson says the key goal is to get involved in hyper-local politics not just those national races or debates with Clinton and Sanders it is far more to the street protests (Sidner & Simon, 2015). It’s taking over as just policy-makers in order to change things which will allow this group to move into the next phase of growth, change and become multifaceted post-2016 (Sidner & Simon, 2015). Beyond all of the literature and at the core of the problem is a common theme found throughout of social unjust and inequality (all citations).
As once stated in the literature, the movement is ununiformed or doesn’t have just one original founder or leader allowing it to go in different directions both the positive and negative (all citations). The common positive side would be that the Black Lives Matter movement’s ability to connect with policy change and the negative side would be that without one core leader and a theoretical foundation there is no structure and no true direction for the organization to go and meet these goals once hoped for (all citations).